Ode to 2020

2020 has been a rough year.

It started with a bang, "the roaring 20s are back!" people exclaimed, and with it, the U.S. military killed an Iranian official causing massive demonstrations and escalation of tension between the U.S. and Iran. Looking back on it now, it's insane to think the most craziest thing we thought was going to happen this year was a war - but this was just the beginning.

For many people, this was a year when many of their lost ones passed away due to the Pandemic. Maybe you lost your home during the bush fires in Australia or the forest fires in California. Or maybe you were stuck at home taking online classes while a dysfunctional family distracts you from studying. Or maybe, you watched as anti-Asian and anti-Chinese sentiment soared across the U.S. and the globe, as the Coronavirus heightened the sense of Xenophobia.

Now, I get it. I may not have lost friends and family over COVID, but I know family who have gotten the virus and suffered because of it. I know the fear of having a parent work during a pandemic and risk spreading the virus at home. I know the feeling of being cooped up at home and struggling to stay focused in classes. I also, as a Chinese-American, felt the fear of feeling targeted by people in my country while I watched an elderly Chinese woman get set on fire in New York City. I even felt the impending doom that humanity really doesn't care about our place on the Earth towards our fight against Climate Change.

But we made it, and I, you, everyone, should be proud. 2020 has been a year of hardships, but it has also been a year of activism, elections, and fighting for things we believe is right. This year, we've had the largest turnout of any election in U.S. history. We used social media to fight for undue justice for Black and Brown people in our country. And, we used these platforms as a tool to educate people on issues that affect us, and getting people to vote! So many people will say that they accomplished so much more this year, but honestly, I think so many of us have accomplished so much by just making it through this year.

However, this isn't the end. We need to keep fighting, keep believing, and keep questioning about our society and the world around us. Keep our politicians accountable, and never stop supporting causes you believe in!

As for me, I've been able to expand this website, add more content, as well as complete my courses this semester in Chinese, Statistics, Accounting, and Global Works in Society. Although I'm not sure what my grades are, I am sure as hell proud of what I've been able to accomplish.

Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year to all of you :)

- Akiyoshi Tan