Dear 2022,

Hectic. Chaotic. Crazy. Non compos mentis (insane or “not in one’s right mind”). These are all words I would use to describe the past two years. With COVID-19 back on the rise, it can sometimes feel like our world has been shaken to its core, leaving us all disoriented and in disarray. Even though we might have had over two years to get over the initial shock of the pandemic, the thought of it never is far from the forefront of our minds. In Texas alone, there have already been 385.5 thousand cases this year as of January 9th, 1,531 of those cases belonging to Katy ISD and 77 coming from Seven Lakes. But this isn’t an article exclusively on COVID, this is an article on how far we have come in the past two years and all the potential this year holds, even if we might only be 12 days into it.

These past two years have been a tale of both triumph and tragedy, leaving you smiling with glee one moment and bawling your eyes out the next. Just recently we lost American television icon Betty White, who at 99 years old was only 3 weeks away from her 100th birthday. Many other influential people were lost in these past years such as Prince Phillip, Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Lewis and many more. These people have touched the lives of many and have helped change and shape the world into what it is today.  

Last year was also a year of strange and unruly weather. Last February, a winter storm blew through Southeast Texas, opening our eyes to the harsh truth of what ice and snow really mean. Power lines were down, pipes burst, water was contaminated, and for many, all hopes of heat and electricity were dashed. Most people who have lived in Texas for a few years can tell you that winter storms like that (or snowvid as people now like to call it) are not very common compared to the usually mild Texas winters. But even though the winter might have been cold and gray, summer came and went in as usual. As most Houstonians can tell you, there really are only two words to describe summer in Southeast Texas: hot and humid. Surprisingly, last summer wasn’t all that bad in comparison to its predecessors, but it still did not give us the most pleasant conditions for going outside.

The last two years have been full of pros and cons. The cons, some of which changed the lives of many Americans forever include: May 25th 2020: the death of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin, a police officer. January 6th 2021: Republicans violently rioted against the announcement of Joe Biden being declared president at the nation’s capitol building. These cons are a tragic part of the last few years and have made their mark on American history. But why focus on the negative when there are so many positives about the last two years? May 31st 2020: the Dragon 2 spacecraft made its first manned space flight to the ISS. December 11th: 2020: First vaccine for COVID-19 announced for people ages 16 and up. Just like the cons, the pros of the last two years were also greatly influential and have helped shape America even through these trying times. 

But the past is in the past, and the future is now. Though many of us may not have very high expectations for this year due to how the last year went, it is important to look on the sunny side of things. Even if the future looks bleak and uncertain, go out there and seize the new year – there are only 353 days left, so get busy! Go make some New Year’s resolutions! Donate to a local charity or volunteer your time. Just put yourself out there in the world and go do something great! Happy New Year!

Sincerely,  

A teen who cares