2020: A year of many surprises

The year of 2020 has undeniably been a massive roller-coaster ride for most people. With the year already more than halfway over, the world has already been struck with quite a number of highs-and-lows, with the latter dominating much of 2020. Some of these events have transformed the lives of people positively, while others have only ended in devastations.

Two women wearing masks in London as part of the Coronavirus protocols Photo courtesy of Barry Lewis/Getty Images

The most significant event to the new start of a century would be that of the Coronavirus that has affected millions of lives worldwide. The virus that started off as a minor speculation towards the end of December has now turned into a wide-scale pandemic in the span of nine months. In this time period, nearly one million deaths from the Coronavirus have been recorded. While some people might consider this experience as a time of self-reflection and other positive aspects, it has also, to a greater extent, harmed the lives of many both physically and mentally. Whether it be the loss of a loved one or being stuck in quarantine for months, the Coronavirus has been a major low point for the most part.

A protest held in London on 10 July Photo courtesy of Daniel Leal-Olivas

Along with the Coronavirus gaining much of the media’s attention these past few months, another notable event would be the “Black Lives Matter” movement against racism and police brutality. Although the movement itself started in 2013 with the murder of Trayvon Martin, it has returned to bring justice for Black people that have been oppressed for hundreds of years. This event serves as a movement of big importance for many, especially the lives of black people as their voices are being heard.

Kobe Bryant as pictured on the right with his daughter Gianna Bryant on the left Photo courtesy of Allen Berezovsky

While the Coronavirus has caused a continuously rising number of deaths, the non-corona-related deaths of several celebrities have also shaken the world as a whole. The year started with the deaths of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Bryant, on 26 February from a helicopter crash. The legendary NBA player who has won five championships in his lifetime was not only an inspiration to people of all ages but also a father to four daughters.

A portrait of Naya Rivera taken in 2016 Photo courtesy of Today News

The death of Naya Rivera, an actress who was best known for her role as Santana Lopez in the successful series “Glee,” also upset the millions of fans she had. Rivera’s death that happened early July was caused by a drowning accident while she was on a trip in Ventura county’s Lake Piru with her four-year-old son. The fans who grew up alongside the “Glee” era continue to mourn the loss of this celebrity as she has impacted the lives of many.

Chadwick Boseman at Vanity Fair in 2018 Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Chadwick Boseman, a celebrity best known for his role as Black Panther in the Marvel world, passed away on 28 August from colon cancer. Known as a superhero in terms of acting and in real life to countless Marvel-lovers, Boseman’s death also sent out a wave of shock to the world as no one was expecting it. The 43-year old influencer had been keeping his illness private to himself and his family for four years, hence the unpleasant surprise.

A photograph of Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a women’s activist Photo courtesy of Nikki Kahn/GettyImages

More recently, the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, has taken on the label as one of the most significant events in political world history. Ginsburg was the longest-serving female judge in the Supreme Court whose legacy would reign amongst the lives of women and the LGBTQ+ community. She was an advocator for gender equality and a protector of women’s rights. Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87 from pancreatic cancer.

With the unending list of events that keep piling up for 2020, daunting thoughts of what is to come has surely made its way into the minds of many individuals. While some events have been considered as beneficial to the world, much more have caused a detrimental impact on society.

Featured Image — The highs and lows of 2020 compared to a roller coaster Courtesy of Hermin Utomo/iStock

by Sara Tee