2016, to sum it up, has been the year of Brexit, Trump, the refugee crisis, celebrity deaths and Zika. Really, it’s all been a bit overwhelming and everyone just wants to forget that this year even happened.
Sure, we can look at some of these events as major setbacks to the progress we’ve made on human rights and tolerance in society and we can also look at these as tragedies that have shaken us all up, but we cannot keep thinking it will go downhill from here.
Despite everything, I truly believe we are progressing and will continue to in the years to come.
2016 doesn’t make me think things will get worse, instead, I have a feeling of optimism. Since most of this generation were disgusted with the results of everything this year, I am confident that in order to not generate the same outcome, we’re going to try our best to make the future better – and 2016 will be our incentive.
So we shouldn’t forget this year happened, we shouldn’t forget about the utter embarrassment politics has been or how injustices continue and civil wars carry on. We should remember these events because our generation is going to have to be the generation that counteracts them.
Honestly, I don’t think we get enough credit because we are more socially aware than ever before. We are more accepting, tolerant and politically active. We have potential. A lot of us weren’t allowed to vote for the world we live in today but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to do anything about it.
A flaw our generation does have is that sometimes we are fixated on assuming things won’t get better. However, I know that many of us refuse to inherit a world full of crisis, so trust me when I say this: 2016 is a turning-point. 2017 won’t be the year everything suddenly improves, but gradually and eventually, we will get there.
Please remember that this year hasn’t been all bad, so as 2016 comes to an end, there’s a lot we can reflect on and be proud that we’ve accomplished. I sincerely wish your 2017 to be filled with blessings and hope.
