This story was originally published in the fourth edition of The Lion’s Tale (February 7, 2021).

Overall, 2020 was a rollercoaster of a year. From Kobe Bryant’s devastating death to the tragic wildfires in Australia and California, it didn’t always look like we’d make it to the end. Looking back, we had no idea of the events that were to come when we were counting down to the new year in Dec. 2019.

By early March, the Covid-19 outbreak had forced us to put our lives on hold and enter quarantine, and school became virtual for the remainder of the year. By July, TikTok was nearly banned for the first time by then-President Donald Trump, an issue that reappeared in September. However, it remains standing today. The Black Lives Matter movement dominated the summer after the police killing of George Floyd in late May. The country held an extremely contentious election in November, which, despite numerous claims of election fraud, concluded in Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration as the 46th president of the United States. By the end of the year, scientists from pharmaceutical companies Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech had successfully developed vaccines for the coronavirus, giving many people hope as the new year dawned.

Going into 2021, spirits are high with anticipation of the events that are yet to come in this new year. One of 2020’s many disappointments was the cancellation of concerts, travel plans, and numerous other events. Now, with increasing rates of vaccination and the steady revival of the economy, there’s hope that those things may actually occur this year.

Many people have set personal goals to have a successful year full of self-reflection and growth. While masks and social distancing will likely be here for some time, it’s possible that, depending on how distribution of the vaccine goes, we may be able to begin resuming our normal lives sometime in late summer or early fall. It’s safe to say that that possibility will motivate us all this year.

“It will get better, honestly, I don’t think it can get any worse,” said sophomore Sandy Fraig.

Although 2020 did not go as planned, hopes are high for 2021.