New Year’s Resolutions: In or Out?
More stories from Haliey West
Students writing resolutions
A New Year’s resolution is a secular tradition, most common in the Western Hemisphere. It is when a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year’s Day.
Senior Derek Wise said, “My New Year’s resolution is to get more sleep and finish senior year strong. I want to be able to get out of Carlisle and have success in the future. I really want to keep this promise. It is my number one goal.”
New Year’s resolutions can be very personal or just something to which make a person feel better about him or herself for awhile.
Senior Chanele Davis said, “My New Year’s Resolution is to stop speeding. I tend to speed all the time.”
Some people have a strong belief in keeping their word and going along with their resolutions all year. Some people can’t even last a week. But some would say that anything is better than nothing.
Yet for some, the idea of a resolution to do better in a new year is dying out. People see it as an old trend and don’t feel like being a part of it.
Junior Sarah Pavlovich said, “People make them on New Year’s, then forget about them the next day. So what is the point? No one cares enough, anymore.”
Others feel like the timing doesn’t matter.
Junior Joe Rodriguez said, “I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. You shouldn’t have to wait an entire year for a fresh start. You should change when the time is right and do it because you want to do it, not because it’s a new year and everyone else is doing it.”
For those who enjoy making resolutions, and actually go along with them all year: good luck!
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Haliey West is new to Periscope this year. She is writing in the student life section. She is a senior this year and can not wait to start the next chapter...
Cassie Hageman • Jan 28, 2015 at 5:19 pm
The idea of a New Year’s Resolution is a good one, but people do not usually tend to stick to them. I agree with the statement saying it should not take an entire year for you to decide to change yourself. If you are truly motivated that’s great, but people do not stick to them way too often.
Forest Edwards • Jan 20, 2015 at 11:00 pm
I don’t think that most people follow through on their resolutions, but if even one in ten or so do, then that’s fantastic. There’s certainly no harm in people not following through, so I see no reason to not let people indulge in them, even if the chance of it helping them is slim
Matt Fuller • Jan 20, 2015 at 10:52 pm
In the beginning of the year, the gym is always packed with new people. Then as the year goes on, they seem to disappear. I’m not implying that working out more is a bad resolution, but more that people should stick with it. It’s not the first week or two that changes your fitness, it’s those months and even years.
Brandin Dyche • Jan 20, 2015 at 7:50 pm
I think the worth of a New Year’s Resolution is 100% personal. If it helps someone then more power to them but, if not, then it doesn’t really matter. Whatever someone does to make themselves a better person is always a good thing as long as they keep to it.
Kimberly Nickle • Jan 20, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Over the years I have noticed that New Year’s resolutions have been put kind of in the back seat. People commit to a resolution and then, usually, forget about it or give up on it. If people don’t have the drive to complete their resolution, they just won’t. That is why I think it makes more sense to decide to change your life whenever you feel like you need to. Whether it be in January or July, when a person has the drive to do something they can do it.
Maddie Shultes • Jan 20, 2015 at 1:39 pm
This is an interesting article. While I myself do not tend to make New Years Resolutions I do not necessarily see them as a bad concept. I believe in making resolutions every day to better yourself in order to ensure that you are always improving yourself. However I think that New Years Resolutions simply provide more of an opportunity to think about the big things you want to change within yourself and make changes in the new year. If someone feels that the concept of a new years resolution hurts them more than helps them than they shouldn’t do it however if you are someone who can put your mind to a difficulty and make a change I think you should go for it and make a New Years Resolution!!!
Micqel Barksdale • Jan 20, 2015 at 1:28 pm
“New year, New me”
The goal of new year’s resolution is to improve yourself/life in the upcoming year. I don’t usually ever make new resolutions for the new year. I could set a goal for myself any day everyday. Some may say it is easier to commit to a resolution during the new year because it is traditional or because it is easier to blow it off till later when they feel more obligated to do so. I don’t completely disagree with new year resolutions because a lot of people have them for different reasons, but waiting for the new year to change something in your life is sort of a waste of time unless it is meaningful like, buying a new house, saving this amount of money for something you want, or even setting goals through out the year is better than waiting for an entire year.
Gary Pariseau • Jan 20, 2015 at 1:08 pm
New years resolution is great and all but who actually follows through with them? pretty much no one.
Chanele Davis • Jan 20, 2015 at 12:54 pm
I feel like the idea of “New Year’s Resolutions” are dying out because so many people give up on their aspirations shortly into the New Year! If it’s something you really want to achieve and work on, what time is better to begin than the start of a brand new year?!
Jake Milligan • Jan 20, 2015 at 10:29 am
I think new years resolutions aren’t something to put down, but they are something that can be a waste of time. I think that people who make new years resolutions are those who are looking for a “reason” to change. They see new years as an opportunity to improve themselves in some aspect of their lives. Some see it as a fresh start. For others, who see new years resolutions as a dumb reason for people to change when they have all year do encourage people to change their lives whenever they want, but its up to a person’s approach to life that makes them change. Whatever works for them, I encourage them to continue doing it.
Breanne Clippinger • Jan 20, 2015 at 10:04 am
I think that New Year’s Resolutions are great… if you intend on keeping them. If you know you will not stay true to your promise there is no point in making one in the first place. I also agree with Joe. You should change for yourself when the time is right rather than waiting for the New Year mark.
Leanza Lopez • Jan 20, 2015 at 4:31 am
I think it is great to make resolutions or goals throughout the year. Personally, there is always something I am working hard to achieve. Recently, I feel like I am drowning in homework but I like knowing when I have gotten something done and out of the way. This way I can move on to my next task. The best part about making resolutions or meeting goals is the rewarding feeling you get afterward.
Alex Ruf • Jan 20, 2015 at 1:03 am
I think that the idea behind New Year’s resolutions is a good one. A new year is seen as a fresh start, and if that encourages people to make changes, then they should do it. However, Joe is right in saying that you shouldn’t wait until New Years to make a change. Changes should be made whenever they need to be made, and should be independent of what time of year it is. I made a New Years resolution this year that I have so far managed to keep (it’s to stop doing my homework during my math class). Overall, though, people should make changes as they feel they should.
Sarah Ann Jensen • Jan 19, 2015 at 8:50 pm
I really do think that Joe makes a good point. If you feel like your life needs to be improved or it is time for a change, then you should take the leap and start right then to better your life. I believe people tend to make them more at New Years because they remember that this is the time reserved to do it. However, some people simply feel like it is almost a requirement, and just come up with a resolution very quickly; one that does not have a true meaning or value. I think that if you decide to make one, there should be time spent really coming up with one and with a plan of implementation. If you are thinking of one in those final seconds before the New Year, then it is really not that important for you, and it probably will not last. The point is not to come up with one quickly because everyone else is, it is to better your life.
Justine Douglas • Jan 19, 2015 at 12:33 pm
I think that many people make a New Years Resolution but at the end of the week it is forgotten. They say how the gyms are packed the first couple day of the new year but after a couple weeks it is empty again. That is because people start to forget or give up on their new years resolution.
Kayla Hallman • Jan 14, 2015 at 7:58 am
I tend to agree more with Joe Rodriguez. Although New Year’s resolutions are great, I think it’s more effective to make a positive change every day so that you constantly better who you are. I also see the point of focusing on something each year as a big topic to make better so I see both sides, I just tend to agree with Joe more.
Destiny Billot • Jan 13, 2015 at 2:23 pm
I really like this story, I think New Years resolutions are great if you do it, but you have to keep your mind to it! 😀