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New Year, New Beginnings 

BY AASMI BORA

JANUARY 23, 2026, 8:01 A.M.

As 2025 came to an end, students at East Brunswick High School celebrated in different ways, depending on what they needed most after the busy year. While some imagine New Years as parties and staying up late, many EBHS students spent the break focusing on rest, schoolwork, and spending time with loved ones.

For some students, the break was the chance to relax and recover. Junior Rebecca Morcos said, “I caught up on some rest and got some schoolwork done.” 2025 was a stressful time for everyone, and everyone's schedule was crammed. With midterms coming up, a lot of students used the break to sleep in, relax, and prepare themselves for the next half of the school year.

As college deadlines approached fast, many seniors had a different focus during the holidays. Stressed as they were, many took advantage of the free time to finish essays and submit their applications.

“It was kind of difficult to keep up with finishing applications while also managing schoolwork,” said Senior Gargi Patel. “Break allowed me to actually sit down and give my essays the focus they deserved.”

The rest of the EBHS community chose to prioritize their loved ones. Junior Vaishnavi Mutnuri shared, “I spent time with family and friends.” After months of school stress, being around their families helped students feel refreshed and ready to start the new year. Celebrating the holidays, or simply enjoying the snow brought people together to enjoy the time away from school.

Overall, EBHS students welcomed the New Year in simple but meaningful ways, balancing relaxation, responsibility, and personal time as they prepared for what the New Year has to offer.