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Reflecting On 2016

Looking back can help move us forward

Samantha Baker

Jan 03, 2017

Colorado State University-Pueblo

FreeWebPoint

A new year means new opportunities. New opportunities in love, in work, and in relationships. This also means that the new year is full of missteps and mistakes because not every step we take is the right one. Many may want to leave everything that happened in 2016 there, but history is important.

Without history we would not exist. We would not be who we are today. Whether you like who you are now or you plan on making changes, you wouldn't have anything to work with if you didn't remember your history.

This is why I propose reflecting back on 2016 in such a way that will make 2017 better. Remember the good and the bad in a neutral way that will allow you to learn from what you did. What is past is gone, nothing can be changed, but looking back can help us from making the same mistakes in the future.

Remember when...

January 2016: Iran Nuclear Deal went into effect, Taiwan elected its first female president

February 2016: Super Bowl 50, #OscarsSoWhite

March 2016: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton pulled ahead in presidential race, former first lady Nancy Reagan died

April 2016: Obama moves more troops to Syria to fight ISIS, airstrike killed 50 people in Aleppo, Syria hospital

May 2016: EgyptAir flight MS804 went missing over the Mediterranean

June 2016: Orlando club shooting killed 49 people, Olympic athletes bow out due to zika virus in Rio

July 2016: Pokemon Go is launched, Dallas shooting killed 5 police officers

August 2016: Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Brazil female president is impeached

September 2016: U.S. and Russia have Syria cease-fire, Government recalls Samsung Note 7

October 2016: 141 people arrested at Dakota Access Pipeline, Cubs win World Series

November 2016: Donald Trump wins the presidential election, Ohio State sees someone crash car and begin attacking individuals with a butcher knife

December 2016: Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher died

All of this happened in the world around you. Some of it directly affected you while others were just something in the news. History is being made every day. So take some time to reflect on your history. You might learn something about yourself or others, and that something just might make 2017 the best year yet.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Reflecting On 2016

Looking back can help move us forward

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May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

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