As I prepare myself for my senior year of high school, I think about how 2017 has been filled with some of the toughest moments people have seen. Whether it be near or far, these things could happen in your neighborhood, and it's on us as a human race to read and educate on these things, to better our future & set a tone for coming generations.

Let's start out going back to February in Baghdad where at least 48 people were killed and 60 injured, when a car packed with explosives drove into the bustling city that beautifully markets and car dealerships called home. ISIS had announced through their news system that they were targeting Shia Muslims during this attack. This attack is now deemed one of the deadliest this year done by ISIS.

Moving further into the year, an attack that had me reeling for weeks. In early April, Steven Stephens posted a video on his Facebook of how he was going to murder people, leading a massive manhunt across 4 states. One of Mr. Stephens's victims that stuck with me was 74 year old Robert Godwin Sr., who was walking to his home when Steven approached him. Mr. Stephens had asked Mr. Godwin for the name of a woman who he believed to have some connection between them and says she is the reason why he shot Mr. Godwin. Mr. Stephens's actions later gained him the name of the "Facebook killer."

The next event that ripped my heart right out of my chest was the Manchester bombing during the ending of the Ariana Grande concert in the United Kingdom. 23 people were killed and 250 people were injured after a suicide bomber entered the foyer of the Manchester Arena with explosives, where patient parents waited for their kids and as teenagers called to get a ride home. This attack was the deadliest since the 2005 transit attack.

Lastly, there was a more recent ban on transgenders in the military. Trump stated in one of his many tweets, "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military". Along with that, he also tweeted, "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail". These quotes were found from an article written by Jeremy Diamond for CNN Politics. I have never been a fan of Trump as it is, but this took it to another level. The President of the United States will not allow people who want to serve their country because of how they identify themselves. This was a major slap to the face for the LGBT community and their supporters.

I suppose what my point is in all of this is that we, as a human race, need to show more love and compassion. If birthday wishes were real, my only wish would be for the last four months of 2017 to have a more positive and loving outlook. Hug your neighbor. Give a stranger flowers. Pay for the coffee for the next person in line. Help those in need, and tell people you love them.

"The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds." - Dalai Lama