MA Faculty Resolutions

By Leslie Rosoff '27 in Winter 2026

New Years' is a time of reflection, redemption, and renewal. One of my personal favorite ways to remember this is to create resolutions to better myself physically, mentally, etc.

This year, I needed some inspiration, so I looked to MA's amazing faculty and staff, polling what they hope to accomplish in 2026.

Over half of respondents reported that their resolutions related to mental wellbeing. Steven Spangenberg, a member of the science department, declared that he hoped to "find more joy!" in the New Year, a resolution I can get behind. Sometimes, improving your life starts with improving your state of mind.

Taylor Tan, a math teacher, hopes to change his parking mindset, seizing "the first spot [he] see[s] within a reasonable walking distance to [his] destination" instead of waiting and praying for a closer spot. New Years' resolutions don't have to be grandiose to be effective, and I imagine this one will help Taylor in a number of ways, both for his peace of mind and with getting some extra steps in (outside of the ones he spends pacing rows of struggling math students).

He's not the only one focused on being more active, however. A large portion of MA teachers and staff hope to improve their physical health through exercise and spending time in nature. Emily Kamen from the history department wants to spend a whopping 31 days (that's a whole month!) outside camping this year. That's wild, and also wildly more time than I can devote to a resolution–good for Emily though!

So, I turned to some more low-key, hobby-focused resolutions. Nicole Stanton of Human Development fame, the fashionista that she is, will be ringing in the new year by wearing more of her handmade jewelry, scarves, and shawls. She's already pretty good at her craft, but it's never too late to start something new, which is what Charlie Wilson from science will be doing by learning to sew!

Of course, it's tough to find time to do any of this. Commitments don't stop once the new year rolls around, but with enough determination, there are absolutely ways to find the time. Many staff members will do so by minimizing the role of their phones in their lives, and honestly, that feels like a pretty good resolution to me.

With that being said, 2026 is a whole new year. You don't need to become a whole new person, but changing your habits for the better can never hurt. Whatever their individual resolutions, MA's staff can all attest to that!