On November 2nd 2015, 4th grader Tyshawn Davis was strolling towards a park to play basketball in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. Still in his school uniform, a member from a local gang approached the young boy. Luring him into an alleyway, the assailant opened fire, leaving Tyshawn's body sprawled on the pavement. Tyshawn was gunned down by multiple rounds of bullets that struck him in the face and back; He was pronounced dead at the scene. 22 year old Dwight Boone-Doty was later charged with first degree murder for pulling the trigger. The crime was linked to a gang rivalry between Boone-Doty, and the victims' father, and it just so happens that Boone-Doty felt enticed to gun down the 9 year old boy, who had nothing to do with this conflict.

It is gang violence like this that has plagued the city for years, and as a result, has given Chicago copious amounts of bad press. I have asked many students who have come from out of town to attend college here what the outside perception of Chicago is like, and out of all of the things that were said, there was one recurring theme from every answer I got; Chicago has a HUGE gun problem. Gun violence is an every day occurrence in this city, and has made Chicago as divided as it is segregated. Racial tension is as high in this city as anywhere in the country, possibly the entire world. This goes without saying, but Chicagoans are not proud of this. However, something happened recently that has made Chicago the center of attention, and believe it or not, it was something other than gun violence.

For the first time in 108 years, the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series! This season was truly a something of a fairy tale for this team. They won over 100 games, they had the best record in baseball, and were extremely fun to watch all year. The playoffs truly lived up to the hype; Thrilling comebacks, pinch-hit grand slams, and heroic performances truly kept every die hard Cub fan on the edge of their seats. Game 7 of the World Series was a game that no one who watched it will ever forget.

To the Chicago Cubs, I say the following:

Thank you. For Everything. Thank you for giving this city something it not only longed for, but something it badly needed. Thank you for the unforgettable season, and one of the most thrilling playoff runs in the history of professional sports. Thank you all of the tears of pure joy that were shed after you won, showing that you truly care a great deal about this beautiful city. Thank you to all of the players who came to Wrigleyville at 6 AM the following morning to interact with the fans. Thank you for signing all of those autographs. And most importantly, thank you for truly bringing this city together, and giving it something that it can be collectively proud about. I don't think you guys know how much this victory means to the city of Chicago. Yes, it is a VERY BIG DEAL that you won the franchises's first title in 108 years. Yes, it is a big deal that it happened in such dramatic fashion. But to me, as well as countless other Chicagoans, it's so much more than that. You brought an entire city together during a time of social turmoil. You brought people from all walks of life together under the same umbrella. You made a city heavily divided, into a city united. That's what we are most thankful for.

I'll never forget the hours that ensued after you won. I wasn't able to make it up to Wrigleyville, unfortunately, but I heard and saw plenty from my dorm room downtown. People were shouting with elation in the streets, horns were honking the entire night, and chants of "Go Cubs Go!" could be heard from miles away. There was no negativity, just celebration. A city brought together by the common good of a singular purpose. Yes, there were a lot more bandwagoners than true fans, and I'll be the first to admit that I was one of them. But everybody who was fortunate enough to be a part of this story will remember this forever. The way you brought everybody together, from die hard fans to bandwagoners, was truly significant, giving people memories that will last a lifetime. This story represents many things that go way beyond victory; It represents hope, unity, and inspiration for many to contribute to the betterment of society as we progress forward in time.

To the players, as well as Joe Maddon, you guys are not only fantastic at your profession, but fantastic individuals who serve as role models for the entire city. You guys care way more about winning. You guys have consistently demonstrated that you care about this city, and Chicago is EXTREMELY grateful for that. You guys understand that the Cubs' fanbase is among the most loyal in sports, and I feel as though you guys have been loyal to us as well. I cannot express enough gratitude towards the humility, professionalism, and grace that you all have expressed throughout the entire season.

Most of all, thank you for giving the city something that it can be proud of. Thank you for placing Chicago in front page headlines for something that is immensely positive, giving us a break from the norm. When out-of-towners think of this city, they'll now have something other to think about than violence, corruption, and social turbulence. They'll think about championship sports teams, and the sense of unity that a championship can bring to a city like Chicago. I would like to conclude my thank you letter how I started it; Thank you guys for everything that you have done.

I am fully aware that the Cubs winning the world series does not do anything in terms of fixing the social unrest that exists in this city. It won't do anything to make the murder rate go down, or to freeze the flames of violence that this city has itself engulfed in. These problems will continue to persist, and the process of fixing them will be long and treacherous. Solutions to these problems are for a whole other article. But what this event has done, is give this city hope that there could be a better future. It has brought people together in participation of a common goal. It has shed light on a more positive side of this city, and reminded lots of people that there is plenty of good in Chicago. The citizens of Chicago are among the most loyal in existence. This loyalty manifests itself in our sports teams, as well as day to day life. The way this city came together after the Cubs won is a prime example of that. The Cubs represent the strength of this city. Their resiliency to win a title after 108 years of frustration is indicative of the cities' current fight towards violence and unrest. Its people are strong, loyal, and are damn well proud to be where we are from. We have reversed the curse, and are damn well NOT afraid of no goat.