The new year has always been seen as a fresh start. And, for many Coronado residents, it’s the time for goals and the age-old habit of setting resolutions.
Aryton Reyes, a 13-year-old Coronado Middle School student, said he wants to help out the community and stay active in school during 2025. He’s the president of the Junior Optimist Club and hopes to contribute a lot more to the group.
“I just want to be more active with my friends and maintain good grades,” Reyes continued. “I made some plans with them after school and I would, like, if they don’t have enough money, I would pay for them.”
He’s made resolutions in the past and said he tries to stick to them as best he can.
From a middle school student to a mother of two, the Coronado community is setting goals, no matter the stage of life. Ashley Mathews is a Coronado resident whose second child was born earlier in 2024. She also has a few goals this year.
“I birthed a baby last year, so that was my goal,” Mathews quipped, her 10-month-old daughter babbling away next to their picnic blanket at Spreckels Park.
This year, Mathews has a long list of resolutions: “To focus on health – physically and emotionally, spiritually. To have fun, vacation more … Date nights.”
Mathews said she likes to set goals at the beginning of the year and make them “more like habits” for daily life, rather than a list of resolutions to check off.
Aria Kayhan, a sailor who recently moved into barracks at the Naval Amphibious Base after finishing basic training, said he’s set a goal that he will “for sure, definitely” achieve: Getting a motorcycle license.
Kayhan said he normally doesn’t make resolutions, but this year he wanted to do something new and the Navy offers motorcycle training to its personnel at no charge.
“Basically you talk to a chain of command and they’re going to send you to school,” Kayhan said. “They can help you. They have free courses and stuff.”
Lori Boyle, 64, is determined to follow through on her three resolutions this year.
“My parents are aging, and I think it’s important for this year to spend as much time as I can with them,” Boyle said.
Boyle also has a daughter, Abigail, who is currently living in Australia. “For my 65th birthday, my resolution is to go there and visit her.”
Boyle said she, her husband and their daughter write down resolutions every year and then read them back 12 months later. She said she’s good at sticking to her goals – with one exception: “The only one I don’t do is the weight one, because it’s stupid. It was supposed to start yesterday!” Boyle laughed and said she was kidding and working on her health is always important.
Every day, go in and be a good human.
Lori Boyle, Coronado resident
Her third resolution is to continue to have wisdom and faith. “Every day, go in and be a good human,” Boyle said.
Camille McPherson, a resident of Coronado for the past 20 years, said she hopes to learn how to use her phone better in 2025.
“Usually I don’t (make resolutions) … Last year, I didn’t keep them,” McPherson said lightly. “But for sure I’m going to do my phone because I have an appointment with the tech person over at Spreckels Center.”
