Realizing the parts people do not like about themselves seems to come at a certain time every year: New Year’s. As Christmas celebrations end and the New Year gets closer, people start to plan out what’s going to be better about the next year–a New Year’s Resolution, as many call it. Whether it’s about getting in better shape, breaking a habit, or hoping for a drama-less school year, a lot of people (whether they know it or not) create something in their head to make the next year better. For the first few days or weeks of the New Year, the hopes seem possible; but then, they slowly start to fade away.

When the 2016 New Year rolled in, the internet flooded with tweets and Facebook posts about how 2016 would be the best year of people’s lives, but it slowly faded away. Personally, people may have achieved goals, but as a country, almost the entirety of the population is biting their nails at what’s to come this week. In January, before the presidential primaries, 2016 appeared to be a great year. Then, as the ballot narrowed down to the two people who ironically seem to be the ones people dislike the most, not only 2016 but the years to come after this election are scary for everyone.

As a population, people seem to focus on all of the bad things that happen in the world, especially in the media: shootings in Chicago, terrorist attacks throughout the world, a gorilla incident, rapists getting away with assaulting women, and the election on Nov. 8. Maybe it’s time to bring out some of the good that has happened in 2016, rather than focussing on all of the bad.

To start things off on an extremely happy note, the Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years. If that doesn’t excite the whole country (Cubs fan or not), not much else will. Almost six million people flooded the streets of Chicago for a long-awaited celebration of victory. The lovable losers now mark history again.

Back in mid October, President Obama announced the rise in graduation rates, pointing out that more and more young adults are seeking a higher education after they finish high school. Obama also announced the change in the 20 dollar bill, deleting Andrew Jackson from the profile spot and replacing him with Harriet Tubman.

With the legalization of gay marriage in June 2015, this year has brought forth a better understanding of people in society. Sarah Meyers, senior, says, “The acceptance/tolerance of different types of people in our culture has improved a lot this year.” Although the election has brought forth the opinions of many, the acceptance of all people is gaining progress.

Seeing horrifying pictures of hunters with their slain ‘zoo’ animals has haunted many people throughout the past few years, but in light of all those killed, the tiger population has started increasing again for the first time in over a century. Lovers of animals should be happy to see conservation efforts succeeding after decades of hope. Meyers added that in her personal life, tigers don’t make an appearance, but, “I’m super excited to get two new puppies.”

Despite all of the tragedies the world has received this year, a lot of good has happened even though it’s buried underneath all of the darkness. As the year ends, people will create new resolutions for 2017 and hope it’s better than this year, even though they know it may not be. Hopefully this next time around, there’s more light to focus on and darkness will only fill small holes in a big universe.