Simple Wishes From Young Minds – A New Year’s Resolution

Ordinarily, when students go back to school in January after the winter or Christmas break , they would be asked by their teachers to list down their New Year’s Resolutions. Based on experience, it is much easier to encourage middle school kids to formulate their resolutions than those in high school and college.

New Year’s resolutions can be similar to formulation of short, medium or long-term plans and programs in a corporate or business settings. The need to review the past year’s performance and make assessments on which areas or operations should be stopped or would require improvements are deemed important. The same is true for all of us, we make appraisals and judgments of ourselves as basis to do good and perform better next time around.

Encouraging the kids at an early stage to undertake New Year’s resolutions by their parents or teachers is an effective tool in raising them to be focused and diligent in their studies and making them realize more what life is all about. As much as possible kids resolutions should be uncomplicated, doable and achievable to avoid failures and hitches along the way. Said resolutions should be foreseen as a positive realization at the end of the day. Some of these could involve household chores, study habits, play time and their relationship with family and friends. We often hear kids tell their parents and teachers specific things to undertake such as: a) I will do my homework and sleep in time, b) I’ll be a good friend, stop bullying my classmates, c) I’ll limit my use of computer and get away from video games and spend more time in studies, and so on and so forth.

Regardless of their beliefs, some kids surprisingly start their resolutions thanking God for the blessings received, others wished for good grades in class, and most of them included certain changes in their relationship with family especially with their Moms and siblings. Here are samples of the resolutions done by the kids in class:

“I just wanted to thank God for giving me life, food and shelter. My New Year’s resolution is to know more about God, do my chores and respect my parents. Thank you for protecting my family, giving my parents money to buy food for the family and giving me an education.” – Zeina

“My New Year’s Resolution is to be healthy, also try my best to do good in school, get good grades and also to behave in class”. – Tiffany

“For 2012, I want to help my sister and my Mom to learn English.” – Amy

“My New Year’s Resolution is to read more than 100 books. My second resolution is to eat more healthy food and eat fruit and vegetables.” My third resolution is to get better grade in school. My fourth resolution is to help my Mom to do something with my brother. I hope my New Year’s resolution comes true.” – Karen

“My New Year’s resolution is to help my Mom do chores, help my grandma clean up the house, and help my brother clean up too.” – Isabela

“My New Year resolution is to wash the dishes more and help my Mom clean up more. …I also want to stop being shy.’ – Kaitlyn

In a classroom with a ratio of 10/15 girls to boys, it has been observed that the boys were hesitant to write down their resolutions and were not as expressive as the girls. In fact, one boy even posed a query  if it was possible to write a “No New Year’s Resolution”. Of course, his wish was not granted, he was convinced to put his resolution in writing. Here’s what he wrote:

“ I want to be cool and awesome”! – Jeffrey

Parents and teachers play a vital role in assisting the kids achieve their goals, no matter how simple their  wishes are. Who knows it could be the first step in our quest to mold future better men and women and leaders in this world. Yes, it could be the first out of the long and winding steps! But this one step could definitely have a positive impact on one child’s wish to the very least!

Any other thoughts?