For Coppell High School AP English 4 teacher Kimberly Pearce, New Year’s resolutions are a way to keep you on track.

As the ball drops on New Year’s Day, millions around the world rejoice in the prospect of new beginnings, and this year, the start of a new decade. 

In all things new, one tradition that seems to be recycled every year is writing New Year’s resolutions – a list of goals from academic to personal, which people are on a mission to master. 

“I make New Year’s resolutions because I need a destination,” Pearce said. “Goals help me reach those destinations, whether it is personal, professional goals or whatever they may be, my goals help me get there. If you don’t make any goals, how do you know you ever arrived?” 

The history behind the tradition of New Year festivities dates back to the Akitu celebration observed by Babylonians, where it was later adopted and modified by the Romans to fit their calendar, which starts  Jan. 1. The term New Year’s resolution first appeared in print in a short article titled “The Friday Lecture” where the author argued that people justified their misbehavior up to New Year’s Eve with their new resolutions. 

CHS senior Samantha Lai partakes in New Year’s resolutions because they provide her a ground to start putting her goals into action. 

“I feel like we all have something we want to improve on and make better, and the idea of the ‘new year’ is the fresh start that we need to give us a jumpstart on actually making the change,” Lai said. “[This year] I want to spend more time with my family, read more and spend more time taking care of myself.”

As popular as this tradition may be, according to U.S. News, research found that only a small percentage of people stay committed to their goals for the entire duration of the year.

“Year to year I usually have the same health goals because during school it’s easy to let stress get the best of you,” Lai said. “Usually it’s the excuse that I’m too busy, but in reality it’s because often I just waste a lot of time and I feel like I’m lazing around which caused me to get stressed.” 

Likewise CHS senior Vinny Runfola does not partake in New Year’s resolution.

“I don’t like making resolutions because I don’t see the point because I don’t keep it,” Runfola said.