2017 Was A Polarizing Year
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

2017 Was A Polarizing Year

I hope 2018 will be a better year for not just me, but the world.

67
2017 Was A Polarizing Year
Patrick Olde Loohuis

2017 has been a crazy year for me, to say the least. Not just in terms of current events, but my personal life as well. I finished my first semester of my junior year at Washington State University while completing a plethora of difficult classes that I did not have much faith in passing.

I think it has been a year that everyone should reflect on because our world may be giving us even more magnificent spectacles than it already has, but it has also given us a glimpse of how dangerous it is becoming.

There have been many significant events throughout the year, and it is impossible to remember them all. So I will just give you a quick recap of some of the things that caught my attention. U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration was in January, and nobody could forget how he bragged about how his audience was larger than that of the previous president, Barack Obama, even though he used a photograph from Obama’s 2009 inauguration to attempt to prove it. Trump would continue making controversial statements throughout the rest of the year, including avoiding questions from reporters by diverting the subject or saying something vague.

Trump took some unexpected actions as president along the way. Most notably, he issued Executive Order 13769, which has become more commonly known as the “Muslim Ban.” The executive order banned refugees from entering the United States for 120 days and prohibited citizens of Somalia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya from entering the U.S. for 90 days. There were eventually revisions to the ban, and Americans do not think about it as much these days, but the reaction to it further exemplified how divided the citizens of the United States really are.

The total solar eclipse on August 21 was also very noteworthy. On the first day of classes last semester, my anthropology professor took the class out to see the solar eclipse with special glasses. It was a quite a sight to see, and it is something I will always remember.

There were more hurricanes over this summer than ever, including Hurricane Harvey, which brought a significant amount of damage to the city of Houston in Texas, and Hurricane Irma, which devastated the Caribbean and parts of the Eastern United States. Those tropical storms left a lasting impact on me because it made me realize just how far the Earth’s climate change has progressed, even though I live in Washington.

Finally, there was the repeal of net neutrality by the Federal Communications Commission. This will give American internet service providers (ISPs) the power to charge more money than normal for visiting certain websites and block access to websites altogether. This is not to say that they will do this, but the fact that they can do this is quite disconcerting.

2017 has been quite a ride, full of many potholes in the road, but I never let any of them faze me. It is time to look to the future. I hope that 2018 will be a better year for not just me, but the world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58796
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37944
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959474
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

195168
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments