Hey 2017,
It’s almost been another revolution at the tail end of this year, so I thought it would be a good time to reflect on where we’ve ended up as we await the dawning of 2018.
This year, let’s be honest, was anything but smooth sailing. Tragedy and heartbreak became expected like the sunrise and sunset each day. Media was constantly under fire for the amount of representation of issues, which led to the emergence of the unofficial term of 2017, “fake news.” Our world was ravaged by global warming, but the increase in the Earth’s natural temperature was hardly a contender against various hot button issues that were discussed in political environments (gun control, women’s rights, net neutrality, just to name a few). Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria went on paths of destruction, and many of Hollywood’s influential men went on similar paths of demolition with a sea of sexual assault and harassment allegations. The dark times of this year, although terrifying, tumultuous, and tragic, did not altogether cancel out the light at the end of this tunnel.
This year also brought about some of the most radical and widespread movements of activism, as well as stand-out individual voices (celebrities and otherwise) who shared their insight on desired societal change. 2017 gave us some of the most powerful acceptance speeches, especially this excerpt from Viola Davis who won the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role in Fences:
“Thank you to the Academy. You know, there’s one place that all the people with the greatest potential are gathered. One place and that’s the graveyard. People ask me all the time, what kind of stories do you want to tell, Viola? And I say, exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories. The stories of the people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition. People who fell in love and lost. I became an artist—and thank God I did—because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life”.
Her passion for progression of diverse representation in stories in her field of work was one of the most touching speeches given. She used her heightened celebrity status to advocate for a more inclusive and understanding world, and it really resonated with a wide demographic of people. And with those famous forces to be reckoned with, there were also monumental displays of resistance and unity by ordinary people doing extraordinary work, like the Women’s March. It brought out close to 500,000 people in DC and roughly 5 million participants worldwide, and it was all in the name of exercising the rights of women everywhere. For every story about tragedy, there were articles about heroics of individuals and widespread resilience when faced with perceived insurmountable obstacles. Chance the Rapper made generous donations to his hometown by gifting 20 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) with a net amount of 2.2 million dollars for art education programs. The collective force of people coming together, whether it was financial donations or simply word of mouth petitions, aimed to help those in times of weakness and gave us the strength to rise from the ashes when the world was intent on burning us to the ground. These highlighted events and many others helped illustrate the tone of 2017; despite the never-ending source of blows we took as a nation, our ironclad resolve allowed us to stand together in all the different faces of adversity.
On a more personal note, this year brought about my graduation from Willowbrook High School and marked the beginning of my journey at Winona State University. I have discovered new angles of my personality through introspection and exploration, including forging bonds with friends at the end of high school and the beginning of college that I can already tell will transcend many, many years. I have also seen myself become more confident, especially throughout my self-expression in Her Campus. I had the time of my life in the pit at the Dierks Bentley concert at Tinley Park over the summer, felt fulfilled by my summer job as a lifeguard through the experiences of saving two lives, and attended enough grad parties to make my heart almost explode with pride at the successes of my friends. I turned 18, which warrants entering adulthood, but I realized I’m far from that. I was able to come home to see my favorite comedian with my dad, and I found an even deeper love and respect for all the friends and family who encouraged me along every step of this year. I learned, laughed and loved a lot in so many different facets of this life that I’m blessed to be living, which is especially remarkable with all the misfortune going on around me.
Although I know the Earth doesn’t rotate fast enough to feel it, 2017 has definitely been a year to make my head spin.
As this year draws to a close, I want to share my thanks for another 365 days to be able to wake up and face each day as a new beginning. This year challenged me to become less inhibited and naive about the decisions for the future, because I want an active part in creating the best one for myself and others.
So with that, I am ready to bid 2017 farewell and encourage 2018 to be another 365 days for self growth and awareness. I wish for more hope and less heartbreak, more amiability and less animosity, more heroes and fewer villains, and a cleaner, kinder slate for 2018 as the future shines bright on the beginning of this new year.
Sincerely,
Hannah M Hippensteel