In just a few short days the year of 2016 will officially be over. But before we end the year, I thought it would be nice to look back on all that has changed this year, personally, nationally, and globally. I have heard some people say that 2016 has been the most surprising year, and not always in a good way.
The Good:
Personally, I turned twenty, started my third year of college, gained some new friends as well as some new experiences. Finances may always be thin, but new friends and experiences can never run out. I also started to speak out more this year. As a kid, I was always very quiet and shy, passively agreeing with what other people said. But this year, something really changed for me. I could no longer stand by and see the hate and negativity before me. I’ve lost friends and family that way, but I have no regrets. Though this year has been horrible, I proved that I am no longer a little girl. I am now adult with her own voice and opinions.
Nationally, Lin-Manuel Miranda won a Tony for Best Original Score, and delivered a heart wrenching speech. “Love is Love is Love is Love is Love…” His speech brings me some hope, especially when it comes to remembering the Ugly.
In between the Good and the Ugly is the Bittersweet. We lost some really great people and celebrities this year as well. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Mohammed Ali, Harper Lee, and Gwen Ifill were only a few of the greats who died this year. I wanted to write their names in remembrance of those we have lost, nationally, globally, and personally.
The Ugly:
Events that stand foremost in my mind as horrible are the presidential elections in the U.S and Brexit in the U.K. Each event shows that there is still prevailing hatred and discrimination in this world. People like to say that the horrible vents of the past should not be remembered, but I think this year, more than any other, has proved that we need to remember past events. I have often heard the phrase that history is cyclical, that it repeats itself. History has definitely repeated itself this year.
Though the war raging in Aleppo is no fresh news, the damage is not something that should be ignored. People are crying out for help, for the world to recognize the destruction and chaos that is occurring.
Earlier this year, one of the hardest hits to the LGBTQ+ community happened: Pulse Club shooting in Orlando, Florida. This horrible event is something that we still have to recover from. The struggle for equality on all fronts is not over.
Events like these prove to me that there is still a lot that needs to be fixed in this world.
New Year’s Eve, 2015, I would never have expected the events that have transpired in 2016. This year has been a constant struggle, filled with surprises that were mostly unwelcome. My only advice to my readers who feel the same way is to keep your head up. Stay strong and stand up for your rights and beliefs. Stay safe while doing so, there are still people who care about you, so defend yourself and remember who cares about you.
Happy Holidays everyone!
