It’s that time of year. With the beginning of a new year comes the well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions. Many people set goals about health, exercise, or breaking bad habits. According to Forbes Magazine, for 2024, the most popular New Year’s goals are improved fitness (48%), improved finances (38%), improved mental health (36%), weight loss (34%), and improved diet (32%). Although admirable, most of these goals do not stick. January 17 is known as “Quitter’s Day” because that’s about how far people go with their lofty goals.
Despite the fact that most New Year’s resolutions fail, many KO students still make them. “I feel like New Year’s goals can definitely be helpful in looking ahead,” sophomore Alex Doering said. “They give me a fresh start and a new perspective from the following year.” Resolutions can also aid with self-reflection. “With the new year, I like to think about the areas I need to improve in and reset my mind,” Alex explained.
A common theme that junior Izzie Mendelovici highlighted regarding the failure of New Year’s resolutions is everyone’s busy schedules. “I get so caught up in the busy schedule that I tend to forget,” Izzie said. “I try to make multiple resolutions in case one resolution does not work out.”
Sophomore Ciaran Concepcion agreed. “Most of mine in the past did not work out due to my schedule being busy with other things,” he said. Many times, a New Year’s resolution centers around an upcoming event. “One of my New Year’s resolutions this year is getting my driver’s license since I am turning 16,” Ciaran said. “I write my goals down and save them into notes on my iPhone.”
For many KO students, New Year’s resolutions center around academics. “I want to focus on applying myself more in school while balancing my varsity soccer and tennis goals,” Alex said. Senior Iliana Brett is looking ahead to college. “My New Year’s resolution is to finish high school on a high note and enter Wake Forest in September with all the successful strategies I have learned at KO,” she said.
Whether you write down your goals or simply take a moment to reflect, the new year affords an excellent opportunity to leave behind old habits and look at life from a fresh perspective. The new year can be whatever you want it to be.
