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A Year to Get Organized, Learn about Science or Become an Artist

September 20, 2016
Students share their hopes and dreams for the 2016-17 school year

The new school year is a time for new schedules, new books, new teachers and new classmates. For many students, it’s also a time for setting new — often ambitious — goals for the year ahead.

As the 2016-17 school year gets started, the Walton Family Foundation asked elementary school students to share their hopes and dreams for the new school year.

“I want to get a lead role in the fifth grade play,” one student told us.

“I want to speak Latin,” said another.

“I want to be a role model,” said a third.

The students’ hopes were as diverse as the students themselves: Some are hoping to learn new skills from playing a new instrument to learning a new language. Others want to build up knowledge in particular areas like science or geography or math. One student aims to learn the location of every country on Earth. Many hope to hone character strengths, from leadership to grit to standing up for what’s right. Still others are thinking long term: hoping to learn what it takes to one day teach or to be a “true citizen.”

Here are some of our favorite — and most inspirational — submissions:

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"This year, I want to be more organized." - 5th Grade, BASIS San Antonio
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"I hope that this year I can learn and memorize all the countries on Earth." - 5th Grade, BASIS San Antonio
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"I want to learn more about space in science." - 5th Grade, BASIS San Antonio
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"I am also looking forward to becoming smarter." - 5th Grade, BASIS San Antonio
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"This year, I hope to accomplish being a good student all the time." - 4th Grade, Brooke Roslindale Charter School
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"This year, I hope to accomplish being a better person." - 4th Grade, Brooke Roslindale Charter School
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"I have a lot of hopes and dreams for next year." - 4th Grade, Westside Atlanta Charter School
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"I want to work on my blog this year and make art!" - 3rd Grade, Westside Atlanta Charter School

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