New Year, New Me? — How We Treated Resolutions in 2026

The second semester of school is always a whirlwind of varied emotions. We’re sad the break is over, tired from adjusting our sleep schedules, happy to see our friends, and stressed about our GPA. In this sense, school is really the same. But there’s a freshness that comes along with a new year—humans like a clean slate, after all. There’s a surge of motivation to embrace self-improvement and a sober determination to be the “you” you always wanted to be. 

What better demonstrates this sentiment than a New Year’s Resolution?

When I was younger, I believed that a new year meant I would fundamentally change as a human being. My habits, my attitude, my desires. So, naturally, I made dozens of resolutions that I would have no problem keeping. But I failed. Miserably. And the rest of the year, I wallowed in pathetic shame.

Obviously, “new year” doesn’t actually mean “new me.” I’ve learned as I get older that the freshness of a new year is simply the nudge I need to consider what I want from my life—not a magical veil that will grant me the strength to work out 4 hours every day. But I digress. I’ve learned that my “resolutions” actually need to be framed as realistic goals. And they need to be treated as such—not as my worth, nor as my identity. 

But maybe y’all figured that out before I did, because talking with students and teachers gave me the impression that the New Year is actually just a time for reflection for most people. In fact, according to my Instagram poll, almost half of you didn’t even make resolutions this year. The ones that you did make were thoughtful and geared toward what growth you truly want to see for yourself this year. Some were straight-to-the-point—like bowling a 200. Others were gentle, like trying new things and listening to more music. The point is, I think we’re in a good place when it comes to personal growth. We may not know who we want to be, but we do know how we want to be.

What was even more interesting on this resolution-journey was speaking to my teachers. Most of them stated clearly that they never make resolutions. Their reasoning was logical. Coach Morgan said, “If I have a life goal, I should just do it.” Maybe our teachers are old enough to realize they don’t need to wait until January 1st to create the life they want. This is valid, but it was also encouraging to hear about the goals of some of my other teachers. Mrs. Richardson proudly declared, “New year, same me—but a little better.” Her goals for this year involved strengthening every aspect of her life—stronger muscles, stronger friendships, stronger mind. But she also reminded me of the importance of grace.

So, maybe that’s the thing. New Year’s Resolutions aren’t bad, but holding back grace from yourself is. Happy New Year, and be kind to yourself in all your self-improving glory!