Most people don’t have too many positive things to say about the year we have just passed. The infamous year of 2020 has led to the spark of a debate into what year was actually the worst in modern history. 

Though other years have strong cases, I would have to agree that 2020 should be considered one of the worst years in history. However, the rough and tough times in history are from where we can take the most positives for the future. The values and lessons we learn through struggles tend to be more valuable. There are so many impactful events and topics raised that are notable this year more than debatably ever in modern history. 

With Australia’s wildfires, a presidential impeachment, a threat of war in Iran, the COVID-19 pandemic, a stock market crash, the death of young icons (like Kobe Bryant and Chadwick Boseman), the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, an election and much more, the world has faced much trauma last year. With that trauma, it has made people stronger, which seemingly is for the better. Standing together this year has occurred more frequently than normal in these polarizing times. With COVID-19, people unprecedentedly stayed together virtually while we were all physically apart. During the deaths of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor, many stayed strong and peacefully supported the Black Lives Matter movement through peaceful protest together. In all of the events or topics that 2020 was confronted with, an overall positive response occurred for the most part. No matter what happens, people will work together to recover and heal for the brightest future possible. 

What 2020 showed us is that we as humans still can stick together despite differences. The value of 2020 is immense and probably the most valuable year setting up for the future in our lifetime. Though it was not a great year, the history books will show that 2020 was a year for not only social change, but as proof that humans will always stay together when times get tough.