Grace Patterson (10)

What is one word or phrase that describes what you want to focus this year?
→ [I want to have] a brighter outlook and a more positive mindset going into things.

Why do you think New Year’s Resolutions have been so important in the United States?
→ I think it’s because January is the start of a new year. It’s a checkpoint to reflect on how last year went and make some changes for next year.

Do you personally believe in New Year’s Resolutions?

→ It really just depends on what type of character you are. If you have perseverance and if you’re a strong enough character then you can do it but if you don’t care that much about it, then you’re probably not going to keep it.

Have you had any resolutions last year that you were successful and completing our well last year?

→ Over the holidays, we went to her grandparents house in Massachusetts and we had a lot of chocolate. So then through January [and] February, [my family] decided to have no [added] sugar.

Do you have any resolutions for this year?

→ My goal is to do 14 chinups every day.

Harris Watson (10) 

Why do you think New Year’s Resolutions have been so important in the United States?
→ Because in order to improve themselves, people like to have a source of motivation that comes from somewhere other than themselves.

Do you personally believe in New Year’s Resolutions?

→ I believe that we should try to better ourselves as people whenever we see an opportunity to do so rather than waiting for a specific day on the calendar, and that although New Year’s resolutions are a good way to celebrate a new year, in the end that’s all they are— a celebration. So although I am not opposed to the idea of New Year’s Resolutions, they seem rather arbitrary to me.

What were your resolutions from last year and how were you able to fulfill them? If not, what went wrong?

→ I didn’t celebrate the new year with any resolutions.

Noora Asayesh (9)

What is one word or phrase that describes what you want to focus on this year?

→ Patience- I want to be more patient with myself and not get disappointed with myself when I don’t reach my goals instantly because I know that it will take time.

Why do you think that New Year’s Resolutions have become so important in the US?

→ I think they’ve become important in the US because it’s a form of motivation to start the new year in a good way.

Do you personally believe in New Year’s Resolutions?

→ Yeah, I do. I don’t think everybody has to have one but I guess I try to have one even if it doesn’t always work.

What were your resolutions for this year?

→ I think most of them were school-wise to put in more effort and really try my best.

Have you been following through with them?

→ I think so, so far. I’ve been procrastinating less and when I do study, I really focus and am not on my phone or doing other things.

Divya Jakatdar (11)

Why do you think that New Year’s Resolutions have become so important in the US?

→ [New Year’s Resolutions] symbolize a chance to restart [and] be better.

Do you personally believe in having New Year’s Resolutions? why/why not?

→ I believe in trying to change my lifestyle for the betterment of me and my…community but not this whole idea of each year you completely restart [or] change your focus.

What were your resolutions from last year and how were you able to fulfill them? If not, what went wrong?

→ Get solid exercise, eat healthier, make conscious decisions to prevent people feeling the ways I’ve hated to feel. That’s from a couple years ago but I try to fulfill them each year. I think I did, doing the obvious things for the first two, and for the last by making gestures towards others whenever I thought about how it would feel to be in their position and how I would love to be treated.

Hunter Lunsford (12)

Why do you think that New Year’s Resolutions have become important in the United States?

→ I don’t think they actually have become important. I think that people see it as a tradition now, then they don’t actually keep them.

Do you believe in New Year’s Resolutions?

→ Honestly, not really. I just try to keep a healthy lifestyle all the time and a new year doesn’t really change that for me.

What is one word or phrase that describes what you want to focus on this year?

→ Not procrastinating

Why do you think that people who have resolutions keep up with them?

→ I think that they want to keep up with them because they have something that they want to change.