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25 Good Things That Happened In 2016

It's been a rollercoaster of a year, but there was plenty of good to go around this year.

Jan 10, 2017

It's easy to say that 2016 has been quite the year for everyone. 2016 was a metaphorical Pandora's Box. The year opened with hate and animosity, but somewhere deep down in the year, we found hope. Despite all of the negatives of the year that people want to focus on, a lot of positive things happened this year. To be completely honest, 2016 was a tough year. We lost musical sensations Prince and David Bowie, beloved actors like Alan Rickman, and boxing legend Muhammad Ali. It was a busy year for our judicial system, dealing with many high profile criminal cases like the trials of Brock Turner and Dylann Roof and cases that hit home on campus related to the football team and other campus assaults. Violence ran rampant throughout the year, but none of this stopped us from having good moments. 2016 was a record year for scientific breakthroughs, pop culture excitement, and total athletic domination. Focusing on the bad will only create resentment within our country, so focusing on the good that came from this year is what is important. So, for everyone that feels like only bad things came out of this year, here are some things to remind you that not everything about 2016 was terrible, and, for people who want to focus on the positives of 2016, this one is for you.

1. Sexual Assault survivors got a bill of rights

2. The Ice Bucket Challenge actually helped scientists find a gene linked to ALS

3. Giant pandas are no longer endangered

4. A woman was nominated as a major party presidential candidate

5. Wild tiger populations increased

6. Murtaza Ahmad met Lionel Messi

7. The Cubs won the world series for the first time since 1908

8. Chance the Rapper was too pure for this world when meeting Beyoncé

9. Michelle Obama's Carpool Karaoke

10. J. Cole going platinum with no features

11. Leonardo DiCaprio finally won an Oscar

12. The Ozone layer is starting to heal itself

13. A group of people formed a human chain to save a dog

14. The many, many memes

15. Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg getting a TV show

16. All day breakfast at McDonald's

17. There were so many dogs to celebrate this year

18. The meme that Ted Cruz was the Zodiac Killer

19. NASA'S Juno spacecraft reached Jupiter

20. American Horror Story: Roanoke was actually really good

21. This year was really good for movies....

22. ....and music

23. Child mortality is down worldwide and continues to go down

24. Drinking coffee has been proven to be good for you by reducing suicide rates and helping to curtail cancer

25. Harriett Tubman is replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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25 Good Things That Happened In 2016

It's been a rollercoaster of a year, but there was plenty of good to go around this year.

1. Sexual Assault survivors got a bill of rights

2. The Ice Bucket Challenge actually helped scientists find a gene linked to ALS

3. Giant pandas are no longer endangered

4. A woman was nominated as a major party presidential candidate

5. Wild tiger populations increased

6. Murtaza Ahmad met Lionel Messi

7. The Cubs won the world series for the first time since 1908

8. Chance the Rapper was too pure for this world when meeting Beyoncé

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16. All day breakfast at McDonald's

17. There were so many dogs to celebrate this year

18. The meme that Ted Cruz was the Zodiac Killer

19. NASA'S Juno spacecraft reached Jupiter

20. American Horror Story: Roanoke was actually really good

21. This year was really good for movies....

22. ....and music

23. Child mortality is down worldwide and continues to go down

24. Drinking coffee has been proven to be good for you by reducing suicide rates and helping to curtail cancer

25. Harriett Tubman is replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill

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

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Doing the friendly wave to every boat you pass.

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Watching in awe at the bigger, better boats that pass by.

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The momentary fear for your life as you get launched from the tube.

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Having unexpected problems with your boat.

Having a name for your boat unique to you and your life.

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

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