It’s the beginning of a new year!

Around this time people all over the world set New Year’s resolutions in hopes of becoming a better version of themselves in the new year. We all know the classic “I’m gonna work out, lose weight and eat clean” that only lasts a few months into the year, if that. Studies show that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail, so what can we do to achieve our goals for the new year?

In English class at Salisbury High School, students were asked to share their New Year’s resolutions but in a new way. Instead of listing multiple, unrealistic aspirations, students were asked to follow the SMART goals layout. SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time based goals. This pushed students to think of tangible goals whether they be short term or long term and devise a plan on what they would do daily, weekly, monthly, etc. to achieve this goal.

The idea behind SMART goals is to create specific, measurable goals to allow for effective planning that can be reasonably accomplished within a given time frame set by yourself.

The achievement of your resolution should lead to your overall success and well-being and further align yourself with your passions and beliefs. An example of a SMART goal would be taking a simple resolution such as wanting to read more and elevating it to reading one self help or nonfiction book a month and slowly increasing that amount as time progresses and you fall into the habit of reading. This goal is specific, leaves room for growth, achievable and time based to add that touch of healthy competition with yourself.

I had the privilege of asking a few SHS students their personal, tangible New Year’s resolutions whether they range from academics, athletics, personal hobbies or self improvement.

“My New Year’s resolution is that I want to be able to express myself more and feel more confident in the things I like doing,” Aliyah M’Bai said. M’Bai is passionate about fashion and wants to make time this year to explore this interest and strengthen her skills. As an athlete she hopes to “improve in soccer and even track because I felt like I was falling behind and lacking in athletics this year.”

Carlee Zigenfus said she wants to “get better at time management and be able to have more time to spend with my family and really balance school and family.”

Hunter Rothrock wants to take time this year to spend more time in nature. He hopes to take more time to hunt and fish with his family and friends. “I’m going to put more time into nature ... fishing more, exploring different types of fish and ways to fish. The same goes for hunting,” Rothrock said.

A special thank you to these students for allowing me to share their New Year’s resolutions.

Think about going into this new year with attainable goals ... don’t put too much pressure on yourself to instantly be a “new you” by February. Enjoy the process and enjoy your 2021.

That’s all for this week; stay tuned for more student news!