New Year's Resolution

                We have just entered into a New Year.  Many people see the New Year as an opportunity to change, to grow, to take risks.  The New Year also provides the opportunity for a fresh start.  One of the many things people do is to make resolutions for the New Year.  Usually it is the adults that make resolutions while young adults just view the New Year as another day.

The idea of change, growth, risk and a fresh start got me to think about how we should use these motivational ideas with young adults in school.  What would happen if parents and teachers talked to young adults about using the New Year as an opportunity to change, to grow, to take risks and to have a fresh start in school?

                What if young adults were asked by their parents and teachers to use the New Year to make resolutions on improving their grades, improving their behavior or becoming involved in school clubs?  What if young adults were told they could have a fresh start in school if they made resolutions and committed to keeping those resolutions?  What if the young adults knew they could be supported by their parents and teachers in their attempt to achieve their New Year resolutions in school?

                On the first day back to school, how would young adults feel if their teachers welcomed them back and told them “today is a new year and in this New Year we are all off to a fresh start?”  If teachers set the tone for young adults by letting them know they will encourage and support their efforts to change, grow and to take risks, young adults may re-engage, work harder or expand their mastery of the academic content.  

If young adults had the support of their parents and teachers to encourage them to sustain and achieve their New Year resolutions for school, how transforming would that be for young adults and for education?