A lot has happened this past year, so I'd like to commemorate 2015 with various GIFs and pictures. This year was an extremely eventful one, from political surprises to the most recent Miss Universe fiasco. Let's take a journey through the seemingly never-ending year of 2015.
Netflix and Chill
This is the hip new saying which, surprisingly, does NOT mean you're going to just hang out and watch some Netflix. If that were true, I would encourage Netflix and chilling, so then you have a friend to binge watch "Grey's Anatomy" with. It would be a lot less lonely that way. However, what it really means is that you and a potential love interest are going to turn on some Netflix documentary or show you don't give a damn about watching and do the dirty. This year threw the saying "keep it PG" out the window.
This term can be used with so many different topics, too. Trust me, kids these days have come up with neverending "...and chill" sayings. It's amazing how creative teenagers are.
Some of us "adults" have even coined terms that are similar to "Netflix and chill," but are much more realistic.
Deez Nuts
Don't even get me started on "deez nuts." It's a video that went viral (maybe a little too viral). By now, the craze has died down, but the reference is still hilarious. There's even a "deez nuts" card in the game Cards Against Humanity (and it wins every time.)
I will admit, I am guilty of referencing this one too many times when I first saw the video. I also watched all of the "deez nuts" remake videos, and listened to songs that replaced some words with "deez nuts," such as Ed Sheeran's song, "Thinking Out Loud." "When your legs don't work like they used to before / And I can't sweep you off of your feet / Will your mouth still remember the taste of deez nuts (real lyrics: my love)?"
Artists that knocked our socks off
No doubt, 2015 was a spectacular year in music. However, some of the music and music videos made were just plain awful. I hope you're thinking of the one music video I'm about to talk about. And let's be honest, who isn't? "Hotline Bling" by Drake. I am concerned not only with his lack of dancing skills, but also with his songwriting. Apologies for anyone that likes the song, but it is literally the dumbest song out there.
However, it was pretty hilarious when memes of Drake dancing hit Facebook. I actually hadn't seen the music video or heard the song at that time, but those memes were fire.
In other, better news, we had artists that simply killed it in 2015. Adele, after almost three years of not releasing an album, absolutely shattered the world with her single "Hello," which came out a few months ago. I honestly believe the Internet broke because it was such a powerful song. She made me miss someone I don't even know. The memes from this song are pretty hilarious, too. It's just a win-win for Adele this year.
2015 memes are probably the best of all memes ever.
Who knew we would all become Beliebers by the end of this year? I was a Belieber back in the day, but in light of bad events (Justin being arrested, etc), I doubted my love for the Biebs. No doubt, I still listened to oldies such as "Baby" and "One Time." However, he too brought fire to the music scene with his album "Purpose." I don't know if I've found a song on this album that I don't like. I am a Belieber once more.
However, I'm not sure how I feel about his new hair.
As in past years with the dougie and wobble, there's a new dance to go with a specific song. Silento, singer of "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," gave us the whip and nae nae. There are many other dance moves that go with this song, but the whip and nae nae are the most popular.
I'm sure most of the population finds this song annoying now, but it gave us a simple and ambiguous dance move. You can whip to basically any song.
#TheDress
Tell me, what color dress do you see? I have seen both, depending on the photo. This fiasco blew up my newsfeed for weeks back in early 2015. The debate was explained by science, which still didn't shut everyone up about it. I'm just glad it's over and we can move on to bigger and better things. Before ending this, I have one question for you: blue and black or white and gold?
I personally see white and gold, but #youdecide
Presidential Candidates
Get ready, poli-sci nerds, here come the most surprising and weird presidential candidates running for office.
No. 1, and most surprising (and revolting to most)
Donald Trump
I couldn't believe he was actually being serious. I watched "Celebrity Apprentice" and it was definitely one of my favorite shows, but I just can't picture him as a politician. He's a hilarious guy, with his slogan, "You're fired!!" and other side comments. There has been complete hatred thrown at him because of some of his comments during campaigning, though, and I'm not entirely sure that he's fit to run our country. Frankly, none of the others are fit, either. I don't want to know who will win in 2016.
No. 2 and just plain annoying
Hillary Clinton
Remember when your husband was in office? Did that work out for you? Nope. He cheated on you. Also, I don't want our first woman president to be her. She's not worthy of that hefty title. #AnyoneButHillary2016
No. 3 and smart-ish?
Ben Carson
He's a super intelligent brain surgeon, one of the best out there. However, he's like me: politics just aren't our specialty. I'm sure he had good intentions, but too bad they were carried out so poorly. I won't be sad to see him go.
No. 4, and last one 'cause I don't like to dwell on politics
Bernie Sanders
Self-proclaimed socialist and giver of all things the people want to hear. College kids such as myself want free tuition since we don't have a decent income, if any at all. He's promising that, along with many other things that appeal to my generation. My problem with him is the reality of everything he's promising. How in the world are we going to get free tuition? My school is exceptionally expensive, yet we're in debt. There's just no way we could handle free tuition. Hell, free tuition is what got us into debt in the first place (we gave out full-tuition scholarships to valedictorians or salutatorians). Sorry, Bernie lovers, but politicians say what they think the people want to hear, and Bernie plays the game well.
You know the presidential candidates suck when #deeznuts2016
Same.
I am extremely guilty of saying "same" to just about everything. It's hard to explain "same," but basically if you agree with something someone says or you relate to something, the word is used. However, it has gotten a bit out of hand in my life, when sometimes I say same to my computer making its sad "my battery is low" noise. College kid problems.
"Back to the Future II"
We finally reached the year to which Marty McFly time traveled to save his children. Some of the predictions in the movie for 2015 came true, whereas others were complete duds. Technology, such as handheld devices and video conferencing, are prominent in today's society. However, auto-tying shoes and flying cars have not been made available just yet, sadly.
Another prediction that didn't come true was the Cubs winning the World Series. That would've been awesome if, a movie that was made 26 years ago, could correctly predict the winner. But thanks to the Mets, their chances of winning were cut off.
Illuminati Confirmed
These videos by Peladophobian on YouTube are extremely stupid and yes, quite funny, if you find stupidity to be humorous. However, I'm certain they lower your IQ whenever you watch them, so I don't recommend it. Essentially, all these videos do is take a simple object or product and correlate it to the Illuminati in the most horrendous way possible. Even if you have free time, I don't recommend watching these videos.
What are thoooose?
This exclamation has been made into multiple Vines and videos, my personal favorite being the one as shown above. This old lady is defending her Crocs after her grandson yells, "What are thooose?"
If you haven't seen these videos already, look them up. You won't regret it.
Man Buns
Some say this new hair trend needs to stay in 2015. I say, on the right guy, it's a beautiful thing. Such as this guy I found via Google.
That jawline could cut me like a knife. However, this is merely my opinion, so feel free to hate on the man bun all you want. You should respect them though, because I'm sure more than half of all men don't know how to tie one's hair up into a ponytail, much less a bun.
Another male hairstyle (sort of?) is very "Hunger Games"-esque; Capitol style, to be exact. It's not quite as intense as the makeovers done in the Capitol, but it's getting us pretty close.
GLITTER BEARDS. You heard correctly. I think it's pretty great, but like the man bun, there are going to be people that dislike this. It does scare me a little, though, because I'd rather not have the Hunger Games become a reality.
Miss Universe Competition
I didn't watch the Miss Universe competition this year, but I didn't have to, thanks to the Internet. Somehow, Steve Harvey crowned the wrong winner. I don't understand how one can mess up so bad on national television.
Miss Columbia's face says it all. As this was quite the fiasco, many memes were created by the beautiful minds of today's generation.
This year was also filled with John Cena memes and videos. As you can see, they're pretty hilarious.
For my fellow Harry Potter nerds.
"I'ma let you finish, but..."
El Niño
As a lifelong New Yorker, I couldn't be happier with the weather this past "winter." We reached highs of around 70 degrees in November, and it was 60 on Christmas Day. While I love a white Christmas, and this abnormality is a sign of global warming, I'm not missing the below zero temperatures we experienced last year. I'm sure the people of Buffalo are extremely happy, after getting snow drifts of around six feet last year.
Some advice for those of you that are single and pining after someone:
Sports
I am an avid sports fan, so I'd like to look back on sports in all different leagues: NHL, NFL, women's soccer, and college hoops.
Super Bowl XLIX, anyone? Apologies to both Seahawks fans and Patriots haters, I know this brings back bad memories. The Seahawks only had one yard to the end zone in a game they were almost guaranteed to win after this play. And they decided to throw a pass instead of running it. The pass was thrown and picked off by the Patriots, allowing the Patriots to win. It was a very shocking turn of events, to say the least.
In NHL action, just recently a player by the name of Jaromir Jagr was in the headlines. Why? To answer that, he was hit in the face by a stick, which knocked out four of his front teeth. This sent him off the ice in a bloody mess. This wasn't the end of his playing time, though, because he came back onto the ice to continue the game. Don't believe me? Here's his tweet.
To my fellow soccer fans, there was huge news this year for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Abby Wambach decided to retire from play. I've been a long time fan of not only the team, but of hers as well. I'm certainly sad to see her go (her retirement speech was tear inducing), but she's been playing for 12 years. We knew the end of her career was coming. She was one hell of a player, and I wish her the best in the future.
I thought I'd save the best for last: College basketball, but not your regular Syracuse Division I action. We're going to Division III basketball at my school, Elmira College. On Dec. 30, the game was tied with eight seconds to go, and the other team, Endicott, had the ball. They came down the court only to have the ball stolen by Elmira's Justin Henderson, who made a wild three-quarter court buzzer beater to win the game. What a way to end the 2015 season. Go, Soaring Eagles!
This play was on the SportsCenter's top 10 at No. 6.
Same-Sex Marriage Legalized
What a year to be alive. I am a supporter of everyone having equal rights, and the LGBT community is no exception. We are all human, therefore we should be able to have the same rights. This was a big accomplishment for the U.S.
"The Start of Something New"
If you don't get this reference, just know I'm disappointed in you. To clarify, this is referencing "High School Musical," specifically because Dec. 31 is the 10-year anniversary of when Troy met Gabriella. I feel old.
This also applies to my life, as I graduated high school this year. Going to college was definitely the start of something new, and it impacted my life in a great way.
Here's to the start of something new. May 2016 bring you happiness and joy. *clinks champagne glasses together*
man running in forestPhoto by 
