As we come to the end of the first month of the year of 2025, with the first semester of the school year also at an end, many individuals, teachers at THS among them, have been trying to pursue their new year’s resolutions for about four weeks now. Overcoming the most difficult stage of the process, our teachers are due a package of admiration and further support for the rest of their year-long pursuits.
There are a couple of reasons why the month of January is the hardest for one to maintain their resolutions, but a notable one is that it includes Quitter’s Day, usually the second Friday of the month. Based on its name, it’s easy to assume what Quitter’s Day is—the day when most people give up on their goals. However, with determination and consistency, it’s easy to overcome this particularly challenging day and to stick to your resolutions for the rest of the year. Below are a couple of THS teachers who are determined to accomplish their new year’s resolutions for the upcoming year of 2025.
First, AP Literature and Composition teacher Mr. Rosko seeks to spend more time exercising at his home gym during this year. With his two young children, he says that his time at the gym is in “short supply,” which explains why he wants to maximize it. Without the help of a schedule, however, Mr. Rosko is simply hoping to find more time to exercise throughout the year.
Next, APUSH and AP U.S. Government teacher Mr. Hegarty plans to spend more time with his family all together. Mr. Hegarty and his family members often find it difficult to do this at this stage in their lives, when they “are all being pulled in many different directions.” In order to find more opportunities of spending time as a group, Mr. Hegarty plans to construct a “master calendar” that includes each person’s activities, responsibilities, and designated times when everyone is available.
Third, AP Language and Composition and Humanities English teacher Mrs. Oppedisano, although not a fan of new year’s resolutions, hopes to be more intentional with her time, especially the people in her life with whom she spends it. In a complex, busy society like ours, and with a seemingly useless healer in her favorite video game Marvel Rivals, she hopes to treat others, and especially herself, with more kindness and patience during this upcoming year. However, outside of her resolutions, Mrs. Oppedisano simply wants a “nice, boring year, please.”
Teen Pep and Peers teacher Ms. Capone seeks to be the best mother, daughter, and teacher she can be during this year. As these three roles hold the most value for her, succeeding in each one will make her truly happy. In order to improve in these three areas, Ms. Capone plans to “practice patience and tolerance” and focus on each day at a time.
Creating and pursuing new year’s resolutions, although often difficult, is a healthy way to reflect on the level of satisfaction that one may have regarding their current life and the things they seek to accomplish in the upcoming year. It’s a fresh start and a new opportunity to make room for progress and improvement. Even though it can be challenging at first, pursuing new year’s resolutions is very worthwhile and possibly rewarding if successful. Therefore, I commend these four THS teachers for their creativity and dedication to accomplish their goals and wish them the best of luck in doing so during the rest of the year of 2025.