As 2015 comes to a close, we are able to recognize all the great things that happened this year. While many articles at the end of the year highlight the not-so-great happenings to give readers an idea of what needs to be fixed in the upcoming year, I felt that it was important to highlight the happiest times of 2015. In 2015, we had many landmark events as well as more minuscule events. To highlight the importance that this year has brought us, it is essential to look at every type of event from the year. Below is a list of some, but definitely not all, of the most memorable moments that we can take with us into the upcoming 2016!

1. The economy is in good shape
If you've only been watching GOP debates, you might have thought otherwise, but despite popular Republican arguments, the job market is up, unemployment rates are down, and the wage growth is finally picking up among other advancements.

2. United States embassy in Cuba
After severed ties between the United States and Cuba since 1961, President Obama and Raul Castro announced they would be restoring ties between the two nations.

3. Same-sex marriage bans are ruled unconstitutional
On June 26, The Supreme Court announced that banning same-sex marriage violated the 14th Amendment. The results of this case brought marriage equality across the states of America.

4. All military combat jobs are open to both genders
Starting in January, it has been decided that the defense department will lift all gender-based restrictions for military service, clearing the way for women to fight alongside men in combat arms units.

5. Never before seen images of Pluto
NASA's New Horizon's spacecraft revealed many photographs of the surface of Pluto showing its range of landforms and complexity that scientists have never seen before.

6. A woman will be on the $10 bill
The United States Treasury has decided that in 2020, a woman will be featured on the $10 bill. Though a woman has not been chosen yet, this is groundbreaking for many feminists and equal rights protesters. Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment!

7. Obama orders government cuts to greenhouse emissions
President Obama used his executive authority to help mandate the constant issue of climate change. By doing this, President Obama begins to help the United States cut its carbon footprint. By the end of 2015, it had been announced that the drop of CO2 emissions had reached groundbreaking lows.

8. Pope Francis visits the United States
During the Pope's visit to Washington, New York, and Philadelphia, Pope Francis addressed the United Nations, a joint meeting of Congress, and talked at Philadelphia's Independence Hall. As it was the first time Pope Francis has been to the U.S., many people from all over the country flocked to hear the Pope speak about major movements affecting the world.

9. Three Americans receive a badge of honor from France
The three boys, on board a train through France, had heard gunshots and took down the armed gunman. The boys were later awarded in a ceremony by President Francois Hollande of France.

10. Gays can lead Boy Scout troops
The Boy Scouts of America executive committee unanimously voted to allow adult gay leaders to lead troops. The announcement is the beginning of the end on the old ban on gay leaders!

11. New York holds first Disability Pride Parade
With more than 3,000 participants, New York City held its first disability parade kicking off the city's recognizable support for the fight for the disabled.

12. High school dropout rates declining
As the nation's high school graduation rate has increased over the last few years, the dropout rate has significant declined from about one million to around 750,000 in recent years.

13. Local homeless rates drop faster than the national rates
Major cities around the U.S. have reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of major declines in homelessness in large cities.

14. Mental illness numbers drop in the young
The severeness of mental illness in younger generations has substantially dropped, according to studies of children and adolescents over the past year.

15. Several cities banned Confederate flags
Slowly but surely, several cities are removing the Confederate flag from public places throughout the United States. The former southern symbol is no longer seen in many cities and is no longer produced by even more!

And Around the World...

China lifts the One Child Policy
China's policy, which was started in 1979, has been lifted by China's communist party this year, now allowing two children. In the past, those who violated China's One Child Policy faced punishment such as fines, loss of employment, and forced abortions.

Nigeria bans female genital mutilation
Although the United Nations had made a worldwide ban for the practice in 2012, a new Nigerian law represents a commitment to the ban. This law in Nigeria helps bring the world one step closer to ending the practice, which is very common in Africa.

Beijing begins a public smoking ban
China, being the holder of one third of the world's smokers, has over 300 million smokers. Citizens who break this law in Beijing will face serious fines if seen smoking in the nation's capital. (As someone who has visited China, I see this as a very positive thing for the country, who overlooks the extent of smoking dangers.)

New Ebola vaccine is 'highly effective'
This new vaccine is suspected to prevent the spread of past, current, and future outbreaks. The vaccine has begun testing in different regions of Africa and have created positive results!

Africa has had a polio free year
For the first time, Africa has completed a full year without any new documented cases of Polio. Experts have not confirmed that the disease has been eradicated, but a year without any cases has been monumental for Africa.