By Amanda L
KUCHING, Jan 4: In the first days of 2026, as routines slowly return and resolutions begin to take shape, young Sarawakians are approaching the new year with a mix of ambition, restraint and reflection.
Some are setting concrete goals tied to work, health and finances. Others are choosing something simpler: patience, balance and space to grow.
For Elvina Stanley, 27, the year ahead already feels full. At the top of her list is securing a job, a practical step she views as essential to everything else she hopes to accomplish.
“There are many things I want to achieve this year, but getting a job is the most important so I can start saving,” she told DayakDaily.
Savings matter because life is happening around her. There are trips planned, a cousin’s wedding to attend, and longer-term hopes still taking shape.
Alongside these plans, Elvina has set herself a demanding personal target. She hopes to lose 50 kilogrammes by the end of the year.
“It’s going to be hard, but I have to make sure I reach my body weight goal,” she added.
She also hopes to continue her studies when the timing feels right. Yet even with a long list of personal aims, her wishes extend outward. Above all, she shared, she hopes for good health and good fortune for her family.
For Azam Yusri, 25, the past year marked a clear shift into adulthood. In 2025, he bought his first car using his own earnings and completed his first full year in the workforce, experiences that reshaped how he sees himself.
“Everything was new at first, and it was a bit overwhelming.
“But I took it step by step, asked questions and stayed positive. Slowly, I became more confident,” he said.
Looking ahead, Azam is focused on building stability. He hopes to advance in his career, manage his finances more carefully and grow more mature in how he approaches life.
“I hope 2026 will be a year of stability and development,” he reflected.
Meanwhile, Victor Chong, 30, is entering the new year with goals that are modest in wording but significant in intent. Health is a priority. He wants to eat better, lose weight compared to last year and avoid slipping back into old habits.
“My resolution is to get fit, eat healthier and hopefully lose weight compared to last year,” he said.
Beyond that, Victor hopes for financial improvement and steady progress at work.
“I also hope to earn more, have good luck for our household, and succeed in my career so I can provide more for my family,” he added.
Not everyone, however, feels the need to define the year ahead with strict resolutions. For Nastyiana Lenta, 28, the decision to ease expectations feels intentional.
“Honestly, I don’t have any major resolutions for the new year.
“I’m choosing to go with the flow and take things as they come, rather than putting too much pressure or expectations on myself,” she admitted.
That mindset, she noted, allows her to stay grounded and recognise progress in smaller, more meaningful ways.
Still, as she prepares for a major life transition, one hope quietly stands out. She is about to become a mother.
“If wanting to be a better soon-to-be mother counts, then that would be one of them.
“It’s a little scary because it’s happening to me now, when for the longest time I’ve only watched others go through parenthood,” she voiced out.
With nine nephews and nieces, and ten if she includes a close friend’s child, Nastyiana has seen parenting up close. Experiencing it herself, she observed, feels entirely different.
Taken together, these voices offer a portrait of a generation stepping into 2026 without grand declarations, but with clear intentions. Whether through discipline, flexibility or quiet resolve, many young Sarawakians appear less concerned with perfection than with steady progress, resilience and the hope of building a life that feels sustainable and meaningful. — DayakDaily
