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Knights Speak: Students start off 2022 with resolutions, predictions and words of wisdom

After a year of uncertainties, 2022 may seem to be a promising year for livelihood and getting personal goals back on track; however, for others it may just be another year of understandable pessimism.

We wanted to get Norrix student’s opinions on what the new year might bring for both themselves and the world around them.

For many students the new year is a time for self-improvement.

Freshman Osdy Orta (pictured left) highlights his own goal for 2022. “I personally want to be more proud of myself,” he said. “I used to have a very low self esteem, but now I feel like I should get more used to myself and be more happy about who I am.”

This new sense of self-improvement seems to be a trait accompanied by the looming threat of COVID-19, as attributed by Orta.

“I feel everyone has a resolution this year because with the whole COVID thing, I feel like everyone is just trying to get out,” said Orta.

Junior Norah Deyoung confessed that she has the same sentiment of self-improvement. “I’m trying to focus more on myself… I wanna do better in school.”

Alongside academics, Deyoung seems to focus on her athletics as well. “I’m committing to weightlifting now… It’s been cool, it’s hard and I'm sore all the time.”

Exercise and healthy habits have always been a long going trend when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, one that sophomores Geremu Walker (pictured right) and Cash Newton (far right) seem to hold onto as well.

“I think I’m gonna start working out again so I can get bigger,” said Walker, followed by Newton explaining his own motivation for working out. “Yeah I gotta get swole. I’m real skinny right now.”

Newton and Walker are also excited for the Norrix production of “Something's Rotten,” a musical that they are both participating in.

“I’m excited for our play! We get tap shoes, we get to tap!” said Walker.

The excitement for this year's events are a main driving force for optimism this year, especially for students who have a very important ceremony coming in June: the class of 2022’s graduation.

Seniors Neida Jaimes (pictured far left) and Chanel Wilson (left) shared their ideas on post-graduation growth.

“I will definitely be getting a new start,” explained Wilson. “We have a lot of options as far as where our life is gonna go, so right now is really a time for self-development, self-growth, whether that’s growing in your financial decisions, or growing in your self-confidence or self-love.”

Jaimes explained how she sees the rest of her senior year playing out. “I think it’s all just going to come naturally, whatever happens, happens,” she said.

As Wilson and Jaimes highlight the pure optimism of the new year, other students share their worries.

Norah Deyoung (pictured far right) predicted that the in-person school year might not last much longer. “We’re definitely going to shut down. I give it two weeks,” Deyoung said.

In a time of turmoil, these feelings rooted in pessimistic nature do not go unwarranted: it’s hard to feel as though life will be blissful in the new year.

However, in the words of Chanel Wilson, “I’m going to be better than I was at the beginning,” a way of thinking that could give us all strength through the new year.

Credits:

Amady Mboup, James Hauke, Josephine Velo