Karve Week 2- A Look Back On 2020

As the new year comes, and the old one passes, many are taking this time to reflect on the year 2020. While many look at this year in horror and were beyond excited for it to be over, 2020 wasn’t so bad for me personally.  

Now, I’m in no way trying to minimize the hardships that came with 2020. Don’t get me wrong, 2020 was a tough year. But I gained a lot during these struggles.

The most obvious struggle, for anyone, was the pandemic. Quarantine was hard. I of course missed my friends and my family and got a little sick of the family I was with for three months straight.  I also hated to see how the pandemic affected loved ones, but looking back on it, I try to see the positives.

To begin, quarantine gave me a much-needed break from my hectic life. Did this break need to last three months? No. But it gave me time to recharge and reflect on the person that I was.

It also connected me with family I haven’t talked to in a while. I know this seems counterintuitive, considering we weren’t allowed to see anyone, but with the invention of Zoom, I was talking to relatives I haven’t seen in years, on a weekly basis. 

When the dreaded quarantine ended, it was finally Summer. It was like I pressed fast forward on my life from March to June.   Summer is my favorite time of year, and in a way, it was oddly normal. I got to see my friends and finally see my extended family, while being cautious of the virus.  In another way, it was completely different from those before. I grew closer with all of my friends, which I’m extremely thankful for. We made memories to last a lifetime. I think quarantine made us realize not to take anything for granted. Surprisingly, Summer 2020 was the best summer that I’ve had in a while.

Eventually, summer ended, and school rolled around. While different, it’s not so bad. I know that through virtual learning, I am able to teach myself. This is a skill I know I’ll need for college, so as much as I complain, I am a little grateful that I’m learning it now. Although I don’t get to see my friends nearly as much, we still make plans on the weekends, after school, and on our days off.  When school started, so did dance.  Going to dance is one of my favorite things in the world, so to be able to go, in person, even if we have to wear masks the whole time and stay six feet apart, is amazing.

Soon enough, it was time for the holidays and for the year to come to a close.  I might be weird for this, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all time.  Normally, we go to my aunt's house, which I love doing and look forward to every year.  However, this year, we had a COVID scare and had to stay home. Knowing as a whole it’s one of my family’s favorite holidays, my mom still made an incredible dinner.  It was a nice day actually spent with my family, rather than all of us doing our own thing, which is normally what happens when we are stuck at home.

Shortly after this, it was finally time for winter break.  Christmas Eve was spent with my dad's sister/ her family and my grandparents.  It’s always a fun time with them. Christmas was spent with just my mom, dad, and brother, and the day after we saw my other set of grandparents. This year I put a lot of effort into my family's gifts and loved watching them open them.  Over the break, we visited some family friends who we haven’t seen in a while, and I spent time with my friends.  I rang in the New Year with some of my closest friends, and couldn’t have thought of a better way to finish this crazy year.

Although tough, I’m thankful for all of the good that came with 2020, and I’m excited to see what this next year brings.