What a crazy year we had, right?

There wasn't a single day this year that you could deem to be not news-worthy. From the deaths of many beloved icons, to what could possibly go down as the craziest presidential election in history, 2016 sure did not disappoint in the news department. I guess you could compare 2016 to something like a roller coaster ride, filled with ups and downs and weird twists that, frankly, nobody could have seen coming. For me 2016 was a jumbled mess of personal highs and dreadful lows, and I'm sure many of you can relate to that.

I think the biggest thing I can take from this year is that no matter what, people will always enter and exit your life.

You make new friendships and sometimes you lose old ones as well. For whatever reason it is, it happens. You may not realize it, but many people come and go in your life. Everyone comes and goes for a reason, but you can always learn something from each and every one of them. Learning to accept that was something I really had to deal with this year and was possibly the hardest thing I will ever do. I've met some of the most amazing people this year, whether it be through friends of my friends, my classmates, or even through social media, everyone I've met this year has meant so much to me. But for the friends I've made and the friends I've lost or grown apart from, here's a little personal thank you for being involved in my life and helping me become who I am today.

I never really understood why the changing of a date on the calendar meant so much to some people until this year.

Every year feels different in its own right, and 2016 really showed me that some years are definitely better than others. But as fun (or not fun) as reflecting on a previous year is, we must always look forward. A new year brings new opportunities, as cliché as that sounds. There will always be new things awaiting you in the future. You will go new places, meet new people, see new things, learn new things. How you go about doing those things is up to you. Don't spend all of your time thinking about what you could have done before, always focus your attention on the future and all of the things that the world has in store for you.

The new year will only be as good as you allow it to be, so make the best of it.

So what should we look forward to in the new year? For me personally, I'm looking forward to transferring schools, meeting new people, traveling to new places with my friends, discovering new music, and most importantly, Star Wars Episode VIII (do not judge).

As a society, I hope we make greater strides in the fight for true equality and rights for all. I hope we make progress in becoming a united nation after the craziness of the election this year. And for as much as I dislike Donald Trump, I hope he can prove me wrong and be a good president. We are stuck with him for at least the next 4 years, after all. So let's make the best of what we are given, and work to improve on what has done. Bring it on, 2017.