It feels like a year since we’ve last been in January. Out of all the months, it’s always had the grandest welcome with fireworks, countdowns and groups of people gathered in its honor. 

Although on the very first of January, I’ve always felt New Year’s was out of place, buried under Christmas lights and the freedom of winter break. 

At school, January doesn’t feel like the reset that something as grand as New Year’s calls for. I still feel trapped in the same schedule, surrounded by the same faces and same-old routine. You really can’t do much about all that. It’s hard to make a change in yourself when nothing else has changed. 

At this point, I’m more wired into the school calendar than the actual calendar everyone else follows. 

I don’t recount my life in years like 2018, 2019 and 2020. I define those years entirely by second, third, fourth grade and so on. The day before the first day of school is when I enthusiastically make all my new “resolutions” and plans (I really should start celebrating a “School Year’s Eve” instead). It’s when everything finally feels… different.

 A fresh start.

Perhaps New Year’s is something I’d appreciate more in life after school, when my life isn’t structured by bells and classes. When New Year’s will finally be my reminder that the next “grade” has ended and the next has begun. Everyone deserves a reminder that they can make a change to anything in their life if they think they can. 

Even if the timing doesn’t feel perfect or most ideal yet, the positive encouragement of New Year’s promises is something nice to carry into this semester. And maybe I can still host a “School Year’s Eve” in August while I’m at it. Change is still possible on days that aren’t January first.

After all, new year, (eventually) new me.