This year has been a wild one for sure. Some are calling this “the worst year ever”, but is it true?  

There have been many important events happening throughout the year, ranging from the COVID pandemic, to the presidential election. Let’s take a look at what else has happened over these past 12 months. 

Early 2020 started with the end of the Australian bushfires, one of the most devastating wildfires that displaced thousands of people from their homes. On January 9, the WHO declared that there was a new strain of coronavirus emerging, named COVID-19. On January 26, one of the most iconic and legendary figures in the NBA history passed away tragically in a helicopter crash. Kobe Bryant was only 41, and his daughter with him, Gianna, only 13. On Feb 9, president Donald Trump was facing an impeachment trial, ultimately being acquitted by the senate. The COVID pandemic played a huge role in a global recession, causing the stock market to crash and setting record low numbers on March 9. On April 15, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was rumored to be dead, however there were multiple false claims and he was in fact still alive. George Floyd, a middle aged African-American man was killed on May 25, 2020. A video was taken that had shown a police man kneeling on the man’s neck, ultimately leading to his death. The video went viral, and many people were outraged. Black Lives Matter protests were occurring in every city, and they continue to be a big topic today. Over the summer, Asian murder hornets invaded the US. These were much larger than traditional hornets, and more dangerous as well. In Beirut, Lebanon, a massive explosion caused by the misuse of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate devastated the area and its people, killing more than 190. This happened on August 4. Deadly wildfires emerged on the west coast of the US, ravaging millions of acres of land in mid-august. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Sept 18th. She was the second woman to be appointed to high court. On Nov. 7th, Democratic elect Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the presidential election. Finally, December 5th, Time magazine, one of the most popular papers ever, declares 2020 “The Worst Year Ever”. 

Over all of these events the main topic seems to be the COVID pandemic, as it effects just about everything around us. However, maybe 2021 won’t be quite so terrible as the Vaccine is manufactured and distributed. We can all say that this new year can’t come soon enough.