Thank you, 2020, for starting off strong. Even though we had very high expectations for you, you helped us realize how important it is to never take anything for granted—high school dances, school trips, or even studying for first semester finals in a coffee shop. 

Thank you, 2020, for teaching us to live with the unpredictability of life. Back in March, the uncertainty of life was something none of us were grateful for, but nine months later, we realize how inevitable it is. No matter how hard it was for us to face it.

Thank you, 2020, for the amazing thing we call technology. All of us could never have accomplished a second semester of school or nine more months of work without it. 

Thank you, 2020, for the awkwardly funny moments Zoom has given us. Zoom introduced us to the awkward phase of green screens during classes and just how confusing it can be trying to talk with hundreds of people flashing up on a screen at once. 

Thank you, 2020, for giving us a wake up call on how far we have come but how far we have yet to go. From the summer’s social justice stage to the fall’s emphasis on voting, the world in a pandemic allowed us to focus on what actually matters and what still needs to be done. 

Thank you, 2020, for giving us various accessible platforms through which we can use our voice. No matter the cause one is fighting for, we were all able to defend the causes most important to us through Instagram stories, eloquent tweets, and even sharing YouTube videos created for the sake of fundraising.

Thank you, 2020, for giving us the time to finally watch the T.V. shows and movies we’ve been putting off for months (or even years). And thank you for giving us that time to rewatch old favorites too.

Thank you, 2020, for more time with family than we could ever ask for. Virtual or in person, we’ve all grown closer with our family members in one way or another. 

Thank you, 2020, for the comfort of our own homes and for the people who make any place feel like home.

Thank you, 2020, for allowing us to make fun of you through thousands of various memes and jokes. We deeply appreciate the thick skin you grew over this year.

Thank you, 2020, for the moments when we weren’t our brightest and best selves, because, through those valleys, we grew stronger for the future.

Thank you, 2020, for the glimpses of hope you offered, because even on the cloudy days, the sun is still shining.

And, finally, thank you 2020, for granting us the hope we need to remain strong this December and to make 2021 better than this year. Even though the pandemic won’t disappear and virtual classes and sessions will still be a possibility, we now know how to attack our weaknesses and improve on our strengths. We now know how to create community in periods of isolation, making the world a closer-knit community than anyone ever imagined. We now know how impactful this year has been, and we can’t wait to see you in the history books someday, knowing just how mind-boggling it was to live in the year 2020.