You sit anxiously waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Watching as the countdown appears on your tv screen, your family and friends start counting down from ten. When the ball finally drops, you hear celebrations from the neighborhood, honoring the new year. Fireworks and yells of happiness fill the air. It’s finally a fresh start. 

New Years’ is one of the most anticipated holidays each year. This year was a lot different from what we were used to, even the ball drop. The typically busy Time Square was bare and performances, some prerecorded, were distanced around the world. Viewers had to enjoy the show from home, which wasn’t too different for most. We welcomed the new year with open arms, looking forward to a (hopefully) better 365 days. 

After the insane year of 2020, many people strive to make 2021 a stronger and healthier year more than ever. It’s common for people to create either a physical or mental list of the things they want to accomplish this year. People want to become the best version of themselves for the new year.

One of the most common resolutions made are bettering our health; whether that be going to the gym more or making healthier eating choices. According to Western Connecticut Health Network, their research shows that around 50% of adults make resolutions each year, but only 10% keep them consistently throughout the year. My own research, a Google Form sent to high school students, showed similar responses of about 50/50 creating new goals for themselves.

Looking back at the previous year, it makes sense that we would want to create resolutions to make ourselves and others have a good 2021. A good percentage of those who responded believed that resolutions were a good way to motivate us throughout the year. Although the poll answers were either “Yes, I make new year resolutions” or “No, I don’t make resolutions”, students were able to voice their opinions on the new year tradition. 

“I think that resolutions are a good thing if they are specific. For instance, a resolution you could make could be ‘I am going to drink 8 cups of water a day,’ which is specific, versus an answer like, ‘I am going to drink more water.’ They help you if you make them reasonable” – junior Aubrey Givens.

“I think that resolutions are a good thing. It helps you motivate yourself to achieve goals and plans that you want to succeed. I feel like it pushes you into actually doing it” – freshman Shauntelle Hopkins-Jackson.

“I think resolutions are a good way to keep a positive mindset at the beginning of a new year, and I think that they help some people achieve their goals. It just depends on how motivated you are and how hard the goal is to reach” – senior Kennedy Gottschalk. 

There were a few who said that they believed it can be pointless, but being successful with one’s resolutions depends on one’s outlook and how determined an individual is to reach their goals.

“I think it’s a mix of both useless traditions but they also help us stick to things and it’s a way for us to attempt to make us work on ourselves” – freshman Destiny Carr.

“I think they can be okay if someone with a decent mindset sets achievable resolutions for themselves. Many people set goals out of reach and never pursue them, that is where they become pointless. Also setting a goal like ‘go to the gym everyday’ is not reasonable for anyone honestly. Things happen, not to mention everyone says that, and it gets annoying for the people that actually go to the gym a lot. When random people show up for like a month then quit their resolution. Set reasonable resolutions and have the right mindset to go through with them, then they are not pointless” – senior Dominic Jackson.

“I believe that resolutions only really work for extremely determined people. Procrastinators or people who really just want to stay in bed like me and resolutions aren’t usually the best mix” – freshman Makinzi Wisdom.

“If people truly have the willpower and urge to hold themselves to an expectation they hold for themselves, then they can work, but most people don’t have that kind of willpower without an outside influence” – junior Eli Jackson.

Then again, there are people who realize that it’s very rare for others to be consistent and keep these goals. 

“(It’s) Pointless. A very small percentage of people achieve them because no one knows how to set a goal and keep it” – junior Treyton Sutton.

“I view them as pointless, personally. I always forget my new year’s resolutions the day after I make them anyway. If I remembered mine, I’d say “Yeah! They’re really helpful!” but based off of my personal experience, they are pointless. I’m pretty sure my 2020 new year’s resolution was something like “let it be a good year,” or something, and 2020 was horrible. I met some good people, but the resolution couldn’t make the year any better.” – freshman Hannah Blevins 

“I think they are pointless unless you’ve proved to be a person that sticks to long term goals. Most people quit after a few months or even weeks” – senior Taylor McQuillan.

Whether you believe in making resolutions or you think they are insignificant to bettering our year, we can all agree that 2020 is going down in history books as the most chaotic, unpredictable years in history. Regardless of what your resolution was, it’s safe to say we all anticipate a better 2021.