With the year in full swing, many people have been striving to make their New Year’s resolutions last throughout the year.
I asked some of the Pascack Valley High School staff and senior students about their New Year’s resolutions and how they’ve been maintaining them into the new year.
Resolutions
After asking multiple seniors and teachers at PV what their goals were, every response was either school-related or wellness-related.
A big challenge for the class of 2026 is battling senioritis. As the final semester of the school year approaches, many seniors are hoping to avoid this common problem.
“I’m just hoping I don’t get senioritis,” Abigail Brayman said.
Sophie Schmoyer shares the same goal, hoping that her productivity lasts until the end of the year. Maya Newell’s resolutions are also very similar, as they are academic-related.
“I want to maintain good grades and work hard,” Newell said.
While some seniors are focusing on schoolwork, others are also focusing on their wellness.
“I’m going to try to work out more,” Jeslyn Abraham said.
“I’m going to be more organized,” Rylee Jurik said.
“I want to get more sleep,” Tyler Sefarian said.
“I’m going to have less screen time,” Benjamin Tracz said.
Mental and physical health are crucial to a productive lifestyle, which is why being more active, more organized, and getting more sleep are common goals for many people.
Similar to both school and wellness resolutions, Steve Wells, a substitute teacher at PV, hopes for a stress-free year.
“I hope that classes don’t cause me too much stress,” said Wells.
Although most people have New Year’s resolutions, PV Art Teacher Jessica Miranda has stopped making them altogether.
“I haven’t made any resolutions in a few years because they’re always broken,” Miranda said.
Checking in on progress
As Miranda said, New Year’s resolutions can often be broken. So, I checked back in on the seniors a month later to see how their resolutions have lasted.
Jurik had originally planned to be more organized, and Abraham was planning on getting more exercise.
“I think that so far I have been doing a good job, especially with keeping my room clean,” Jurik said.
“I’ve worked out a little, but I should start more,” Abraham said.
While Tracz has been working on his screen time, Sefarian commented on his sleeping habits.
“Yes, I am still trying to be on my computer and phone less,” Tracz said.
“No, I’m still going to bed late,” Sefarian said.
Finally, Newell, Brayman, and Schmoyer have been successfully focusing on their academics.
“The semester just started, but I think that I am doing well and will continue to work hard,” Newell said.
“I don’t have senioritis yet,” Brayman said.
“I’m doing well with my classes,” Schmoyer said.
After checking in with PV’s students, I found that most of them seem to have been keeping up with their New Year’s resolutions, despite some losing interest. These resolutions can be a fun way for students to start off the new year strong and start better habits.
