The new year is approaching, so many students are reflecting on their experiences from the past year and setting goals for the year ahead. 2025 gave some people personal growth and important lessons, and 2026 will give them a fresh start and a chance to prepare for life beyond high school.

Riya Anand (11) shared her hopes about growing and creating meaningful memories.
“I’m most looking forward to new experiences and making more memories with friends and family,” Anand said.

She also explained that her main goals for the new year focus on balance and self improvement.

“My main goals for the new year are to stay on top of school, be more organized, and take better care of myself, and I plan to do this by making schedules and sticking to them,” she said.

Overall, Reflecting on the last year, Anand emphasized patience and effort.

“One important lesson I learned last year is to be patient and keep trying, even when things are hard,” she said.

She also acknowledged that the new year will come with challenges such as staying focused and managing stress, but she plans to slowly overcome them. 

“I’ll deal with them by taking things one step at a time,” she explained.

Looking ahead, Anand hopes to see more kindness both within her community and beyond.

“I hope that my community and the world can be kinder and more understanding to each other,” she said.

She added that improvement, even in small ways, will help her feel successful.
“I’ll know I’m successful if I stick to my goals and keep improving, even a little bit, and I’ll stay motivated by celebrating small wins along the way,” Anand said.

Also, Aadya Huddar (12) shared that she is most excited about reaching an important milestone.

“I’m really looking forward to graduating this year,” Huddar said.

Her goals revolve around planning for her future and preparing for life after high school.

“My main goals are to graduate, go to college, and also become more financially independent,” she said.

Huddar reflected on the biggest lesson she learned over the past year: personal growth.

“I learned that everyone in high school is constantly changing, and you shouldn’t hold yourself back because of one person. You have to let yourself grow,” she said.

Also, she admitted that the college application process can be stressful, but she hopes to stay grounded through it.

“I know the process is stressful, but I’m trying to remind myself that things will work out the way they’re meant to,” Huddar explained.

Looking forward to the new year, Huddar hopes for a more supportive school environment.

“I hope that the community becomes more uplifting and less toxic,” she said. “College decisions aren’t worth losing close friends over, and staying humble is important.”

As students go into the new year with new goals, many hope 2026 will bring growth, support, and new opportunities.