2017 was a tough year for America. When Americans look back to 2017, it is more likely not many people will remember all the good things, but rather, they will remember the things that shocked not just America, but the world. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Jose devastated the coasts of America and Puerto Rico. Hollywood was rocked by a thunderstorm of sexual assault allegations. There were terrorist attacks all around the world, from London to Egypt to Las Vegas. And so much more.

America forewent a change in presidency and ideology; as that change in government came, the new administration was accused of having ties with Russia during the election. Americans were tested by these questions of what does it really mean to be an American? What makes a colored person and a Caucasian person different? Should they be treated equally? Can people of different faiths be American? Is it OK to not be straight? Should a man and a woman be equal?

People began to doubt the qualities that make up an American — which, in all honesty, should be anything. Anyone of any faith, of any gender, of any race, of any form can be an American because that's what America is, a country built on diversity. Yet time and time again, people refused to believe that. And unfortunately, there are still people who do. It seemed as if 2017 was the year of tragedy.

But I would also like to remind that 2017 was also a year of hope. Because a fire has begun to grow in the hearts and souls of millions of Americans. Movements around the nation, and even around the world, erupted in response to these doubts. Women marched together around the nation to show that they canbe as powerful as men. That they are as powerful as men. Civilians of all races, all genders, all religions and all backgrounds came together to march in the name of science because our world is dying, and our president refuses to believe it. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign only grew stronger and more resolute this year. Even now, when racist organizations have begun to try work their way back into America, BLM will not back down. We saw Native Americans, the original owners of this land, and environmentalists rally together to fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline because this is their home, and like all humans would, they will fight for what is rightfully theirs. People everywhere marched in the name of love and pride because you should not be ashamed of you truly are inside. They marched because it is okay to be different.

Because being different has been the root of this country for centuries.

These protests and fights have shown that the willpower that burned brightly this year can only tell you one thing: you cannot give up. You cannot give up when there are other people who are fighting to make things right. And so maybe a new year is just what America needs, and perhaps it's what the world needs to move forward again. It will be difficult because 2017 seemed to be a year when things almost went backward. But there is hope. There will always be hope as long as there are those who choose to continue fighting.