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Just like that, 2021 is almost at an end. It seems like only yesterday that we were all praising the end to 2020 and welcoming in a new year.

Like everyone else, I have some mixed feelings about this year. It has been odd. Lots of ups and downs as always and another year muddling our way through this pandemic. Looking back on the year that has passed, my brain echoes back a question. 

I think I’ve had a good year, right?

I think I have had a good year. There were definitely times when it did not seem good but when I think about what has changed and how I have changed over the course of this year, there is no doubt it has been good for me. It has been a year full of learning, both in the classroom and my personal life.

What am I looking forward to?

As I always feel nostalgic about the end of the year, it has got me thinking about what I am looking forward to in 2022. There's some big 21st birthdays, some exciting opportunities around the corner and a whole wave of unforeseen events coming. As always, I’m excited to see what the new year brings for my friends and family. I’m looking forward to the celebrations, the birthdays, the triumphs and even the failures for 2022.

What about regrets?

I always reflect back on the year and wonder if I regret anything. This year is no different. While I’ve definitely made some mistakes, I don’t think I have any regrets. I’ve put my trust in the wrong people at times, navigated changing friendships, finding a new place, moving house and once again reassessing where I want to be in life and what I want to do. I don’t think I’ll ever be sure of what I want to do for the rest of my life but I find there are times when I fluctuate between feeling a sense of belonging and community and then times when I feel lost and out of place. I have recently been transitioning out of this feeling and reevaluating where I am in life.

New year's resolution?

I don’t really do the whole new year's resolution thing, mostly because I forget my resolution after a few months and then move on. However, maybe this just means I haven’t found the right resolution to commit to. Going into next year, there is always the choice between a practical, physical goal like giving up coffee or a vague non-material resolution like being a better person. I think a resolution I want to set is towards my career. Firstly, that I will be more confident in my abilities and secondly that I will try some of the things I always talk about doing. For example, learning new skills and applying for jobs that I think are beyond my abilities.  

Whether I like it or not, 2022 is just around the corner and I'm sure it will be filled with just as much eventfulness as years gone by. So cheers to embracing it.