Yes 2016 had a lot of bad happen but a lot of really good things happened too and it’s important to not forget that.

1. Catholic and Orthodox leaders met for the first time in over a thousand year

They met in Cuba, which opened up to the US this year too, and it was a two-hour meeting. How cool! In a year of fights among different groups, how cool to see two religious leaders show the world how to get along.

2. The tiger count is up

I remember being in elementary school and learning about the tiger's numbers going down. Now for the first time in 100 years kids will be learning the opposite. If that’s not something to be happy about then I don’t know what is.

3. Teen births are at a low

Another major thing. Studies are also showing a decline in teens having sex and those who are using more contraceptives. Sometimes, teens, these days are getting a bad rep over teen pregnancy but now they can fire back with that cool fact.

4. The 2016 Rio Olympics

Despite all the fighting amongst countries, they were still able to come together and play in the Olympic games. The games were memorable and fun. Many of the fears spectators (and athletes) had turned out to not even be issues.

5. No more measles in the Americas

It only took two decades of pushing vaccines but it has happened. Wiping out an entire disease is not an easy task so it’s exciting to see another one wiped off the earth. Hopefully, 2017 will extinct more third world diseases!

6. Unemployment is low

Since the recession ended unemployment has slowly been going back down. In 2016 we got back to pre-recession unemployment rates.

7. The World Series

The Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series for the first time in over 100 years! This was not only a proud moment for Chicago but the United States as a whole. Watching reaction videos to the Cubs winning will be fun for years to come.

8. Peace in Colombia

For 50years Colombia and the rebel group of FARC have been in a civil war. That war finally ended this year. Colombia’s president is very excited to see the opportunities this opens for his country.

9. Record high school graduation rates

Not only are teen pregnancies down but graduation rates are up. That’s very exciting. As someone who is a future educator, I like to see that but it’s also good for our country as a whole. There is not much you can do in this country without a high school degree so this will also be helping our unemployment rates! Plus that means more people get to cross that stage with their best friends which the best part of graduating, knowing those who supported you are still right beside you.

10. Antartica gets the world’s largest marine reserve

It’s a year of saving the animals. This reserve came from an agreement with 24 nations and the European Union. This will end commercial fishing in a part of the world that is battling with endangered animals. It’s also another great example of countries working together.

Of course, there were babies born, people getting their dream jobs, marriages, and tons of other positives. Just because we watched some horrific events happen doesn’t mean 2016 was a total lost cause!

*All events from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/13-undeniably-...