New year, new me?

By:Brielle Ferns

Every year, one phrase comes up in January: “New Year, New Me.” As 2026 begins, many people start off strong by making changes to improve themselves as individuals. They set new goals in hopes of becoming better versions of who they are. However, most of these goals slowly lose meaning over time until they vanish completely. This raises the question of how many people can truly commit to their resolutions.

Many high school students believe that people who lack discipline also lack the motivation needed for that level of commitment. A Liberty senior shared her opinion on whether the “New Year, New Me” mindset improves mental health or harms it. She believes it can go “both ways,” depending on whether someone is genuinely trying to improve. If not, she explains that it can actually “diminish” mental health when people fail to reach their goals. The “New Year, New Me” mindset can also diminish high schoolers’ confidence, especially with the overwhelming presence of social media posts suggesting that people need to change themselves. A Liberty freshman believes that the phrase is about “reinventing yourself for the better,” but also argues that it is unrealistic. They explain that you are not going to become a completely “new person” just because it is a “new day.” While “New Year, New Me” can mean different things to different people, it should not be about changing who you are simply to fit in or meet others’ expectations