Coming up with New Year’s resolutions can be tricky, but not for Orono elementary school students. Resolutions are all the rage amongst adults and high school students, but often times it is hard to stick to them. Listening to the elementary schooler’s resolutions gave us an idea of a few small things we can look forward to in the new year.

Kindergarteners, third and fifth graders were interviewed on Dec. 21 about their 2017 resolutions. A few of the resolutions resulted in being kinder to their siblings, sharing more or learning a new skill. These resolutions can remind everyone of simpler, more child-like tasks.

The kindergarteners were shy, and a bit confused about what a New Year’s Resolution means. While many OHS students may think resolutions are common knowledge, these little kindergarteners remind students that they also had to learn it at some point.

The definition of a New Year’s Resolution is a promise to do something different in the new year, or a long term goal that one has to keep all year long.

After learning what a New Year’s resolution is, the kindergarteners were quick to respond with some objectives they wish to do more of. One common theme amongst their responses was that most of the resolutions were directed towards other people. Caring, being nicer and sharing were some of the commonly mentioned words.

“I want to give people presents,” kindergartner Sydney Heess said.

Even though some of these resolutions may seem a bit naive, it is the thought that truly counts. Regardless, these kindergartners seemed to be focused on ways to better people’s’ lives around them.

The third graders included their own goals for the new year, which included sports or skills they wished to improve on, but they also had a similar trend as the kindergartners.

“My New Year’s resolution is to help everyone, like donate money to the poor and stuff like that,” third grader Luka Decubellis said.

In comparison, fifth graders encompassed similar New Year’s trends. Although, their resolutions were a bit more complex than the younger students. Fifth graders expanded on their ideas of how they would accomplish their goals.

“I want to be a better role model, like to my sister. I want to be better around her,” fifth grader Henry Zimmerman said.

These New Year’s resolutions are much different from what OHS students had to say. The majority of elementary school students had simpler topics on their mind, such as caring for their pets, sharing more, or being nicer to people. Meanwhile, many high school students are preparing to venture into their life after high school, and their New Year’s resolutions clearly reflected that.

High schoolers proposed resolutions such as saving money for college, getting better grades, taking better notes, or volunteering. These were some of the common ideas given from the high schoolers.

“I guess just to be more organized and save money to spend at college,” senior Caroline Martin said.

While some students had more practical ideas, others were more philosophical.

“New year’s resolutions are dumb. People shouldn’t wait for New Years to make a resolution to better themselves. Why wait?” junior Blaine Bauman said.

Either way, everyone has things in their lives they wish to improve in the new year to better themselves. Whether someone believes in New Year’s resolutions or not, a lesson can be learned from the resolutions of the elementary school students and try not to get caught up in all the stress student’s daily lives have to offer. Instead, focus on brightening up other’s lives.