With the burst of a firework, the drop of a ball, and the tick of the clock, a new year is among us. 2025 is said to be the year of the snake according to Chinese tradition, supposedly full of wisdom, adaptability, and transformation. While they are all noble pursuits, the Paw Press asked students what their hopes for the new year entail.
Senior Daniel Hicks responded by saying, “For my New Year’s resolution, I want to try and be kind and helpful to the ones around me. With the world being such a dark and scary place for a lot of people, giving a reason to smile or laugh might be the best way to improve the world.” Like Daniel, many people are ditching the old structure of New Year’s resolutions and replacing it with an achievable plan to help his community in any way he can. Other students, such as Hailey Otton, want to be more intentional with the time they have left at Walton-Verona High School: “In the New Year, I want to stop and enjoy every moment, especially in the last semester of senior year. You never know what the year might hold. Anything could happen!” Hailey’s admirable objective for the year, although specific to her senior year, can apply to all Bearcats. From students to teachers, all can learn to appreciate the moments they experience this coming semester. For some, that means first appreciating themselves.
Sophie Neumeister sums up a common feeling of not giving the same kindness to herself that she gives out to everyone else: “My new year’s resolution is to not be so judgmental of myself.” Hopefully, students like Sophie are able to fulfill their resolutions and be intentional about the months to come. Overall, it seems to be off to a good start with such benevolent goals for 2025. Happy New Year’s Bearcats!
