As 2025 ramps up, New Year resolutions are in full swing with the Irvington community as they aspire to better themselves in the new year. In case you aren’t sure of what improvements you would like to make, we have gathered New Year resolutions from students and staff across campus to serve as inspiration.
Pheona Scraller (11) was especially fond of Irvington’s no-phone policy in the advisory period. “I was already trying to reduce my screen time, so following this rule seemed like the perfect New Year resolution,” she said. However, as the minutes dragged on and Scraller was forced to be productive, her phone addiction became simply too difficult to overcome as withdrawal symptoms kicked in. “I started excessively sweating and shaking while hearing voices persuading me to pick up my phone,” she recalled. Other students also reported observing her trying to scroll on blank pieces of paper and physically resist catchy TikTok dances. On Friday, January 3, she had to scroll, and her resolution was broken. However, her outlook on her addiction has since changed, as she said, “I look forward to this new year of scrolling. I can’t wait to see what content 2025 has to bring.”
As students have started to abuse artificial intelligence in school, Aiden Telligence (12) has felt that this increase in reliance has negatively affected his ability to critically think. He recalled times when he completely forgot the structure of an essay and how to respond to free-response questions on tests, so he was resolved to not use ChatGPT in 2025 for his schoolwork. However, as QUEST deadlines approached and he was faced with the task of writing a 2500-word essay, his resolve was tested. “I had no idea how to flesh out my outline into 2500 words. It was just too much,” he said. Although he tried fighting his urges by asking peers and teachers for advice, his moral compass eventually gave up, and he used ChatGPT to finish his outline. “Honestly, as long as I reword ChatGPT’s responses, I feel like it is a valid way to finish my assignments. It’s just another tool,” said Telligence.
Teachers have also taken the new year as an opportunity to reflect on their habits. English teacher Lotte Marks’s resolution is to grade her students’ assignments in a reasonable timeframe. “Getting grades in right before they were due made it difficult for my students to clear up any misunderstandings, so I am going to start giving graded assignments back within the week they were due,” she said. However, since senioritis became increasingly contagious this year, Marks was unfortunately affected, leaving her in a helpless and unmotivated state. “Senioritis forced me to stop preparing for lectures, creating tests, and grading assignments on time.” In addition, students received emails riddled with modern slang such as “lol” and “chill out” when asking about their grades. Her resolution was broken merely minutes after 2025 started when she decided to enter grades on the day they were due.
While resolutions have historically been known to be futile, we encourage you all to make them and attempt to self-improve. Don’t forget to share your failures with the Irvington Voice!
