2020, you son of a b!tch — you have been a wild and crazy ride. Worst ride I’ve been on, to be frank. It’s crazy to think that this time last year, I was packing for my trip to Tokyo and Manila. No doubt, I’m repeating what others have said in their reflections: I feel like I’ve aged a decade in this year alone.
I’m going to be honest — this post is hard to write. How can I put this entire year into a few short paragraphs? Would it even be possible to describe the fear, confusion, paranoia, anger, anxiety, bliss, and jubilation I felt this year? Whirlpool? Yes.
I had to write and rewrite this multiple times over because it was starting to turn into a rambling mess. Easier said, than done. Even so, being able to reflect is an important skill to possess. How else can we learn from our mistakes and not repeat them if we don’t take the time to look back? In the end, I saved those bits and pieces onto a Google doc that I can read in the future.
In the midst of all this good news that I will share, I want you to please take the time to read up on current events. We all want to be able to cut out a safe space for ourselves in the middle of the chaos. However, I believe that those of us with platforms should use our voices to uplift the voices of those calling out for help and to share legitimate, true facts with our readers/viewers.
Here are just a few things that I hope you would take the time to read up on:
- http://helptheph.carrd.co
- http://junkterrorbill.carrd.co
- http://parasapinas.carrd.co
- http://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
- https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
- https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=38864
- https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/coronaviruses
- https://www.nejm.org/coronavirus
I especially want to highlight those links about COVID-19. Please continue to take this pandemic SERIOUSLY in 2021. We are not out of the woods. Keep our communities and frontline workers safe.
Wear your mask over your nose and mouth.
Wash your hands with soap and water — or antibacterial hand sanitizers if you don’t have access to soap and water.
Social distance whenever and wherever possible.
No large gatherings — especially indoors.
Remember your actions impact everyone around you. Even if your family and friends are not directly impacted, your actions are impacting the community and making it harder and harder to reopen. Furthermore, your actions help spread the virus and thus lead to hospitals becoming overwhelmed. You may not
Quite frankly? If you’re unable to wear a mask due to “medical issues” (like that “asthma” you claim to have), you really shouldn’t be outside! Stay home! Why risk getting sick since your “asthma” makes it so unbearable? After all, you wouldn’t want to have a tube stuffed down your throat to help you breathe, right?
Now, to good news!
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I graduated from nursing school in December and have been accepted into a RN-BSN program!
Despite this hell year throwing this pandemic at us and ruining plans, I survived nursing school and will be attending a BSN program in a few weeks. I am also now eligible to take the NCLEX!
Am I currently drowning in a sea of emotions known as imposter syndrome? Yes, absolutely. Even so, I am proud to have graduated despite the circumstances. The hardest part is over — now it’s to confronting the NCLEX, starting my BSN program, and finding a job at a hospital.
Still waiting on the ATT and those UWorld codes my cohort was promised, but I will be starting to do at least 75 questions a day. Although I’m missing pieces, I have a study plan sort of outlined.
Always remember to go in with a plan — even if it’s not fully realized.
On the other hand when it came to books?
I went into 2020 not really having a set TBR. Mood reader = me going with the flow. In a way, this has helped me so much because not only did I meet my fifty (50) book reading challenge goal by reading sixty-four (64) books this year, but I also ended up with twenty-six (26) five (5)-star reads.
TWENTY-SIX!
I also ended up with twenty-three (23) four (4)-star reads and eight (8) three (3)-star reads.
And even better? Only ONE (1) ONE(1)-STAR READ!
Basically?
It was a really good reading year.
I do have a few favorites I want to highlight:
- Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
- The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
- The Shadowglass by Rin Chupeco
- The Ever Cruel Kingdom by Rin Chupeco
- The Ikessar Falcon by by K.S. Villoso (review)
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
- Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
- Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
- Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly
- Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles (review)
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (review)
Maybe one of these days, I’ll reread them.
Either way?
Goodbye 2020. I won’t say good riddance to you. I’ll be looking back to you as a lesson and a reminder of what not to do. You have been one ruthless a$$hole. But you have proven that even in the midst of stupidity, selfishness, and just complete and utter contempt for others — there are amazing, wonderful people out there who love and care for their neighbors and their community.
So I want to end this by saying thank you.
Thank you to the frontliners for all you have done.
I send my love and thanks to our healthcare workers, delivery/postal workers, grocery workers, truckers, transit workers, sanitation, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs, and everyone in the restaurant industry. Without you guys, we would collapse. You have kept our society moving.
I hope that the government wherever you are provide/continue to provide you with the much needed protection you absolutely need and are entitled to in your line of work.
Thank you to the scientists everywhere but especially those who worked on the vaccines and on COVID-19 related research.
You guys are heroes, too. I hope that you guys continue to get funding to work on/continue your research — whatever it may be.
Thank you to retail workers.
Man, bless retail workers but especially right now. I hope that you, too, get the protections you need to stay safe as you deal with customers.
Thank you to the restaurant industry.
It’s been hard for the restaurant industry. It breaks my heart to see so many people out of jobs because restaurants are unable to pay them. Until it’s safe again, I will continue to order food from local restaurants when I can.
Finally, thank you to teachers and educators who did everything they can to ensure their students succeeded.
I can’t forget about teachers, professors, and educators everywhere who made every effort to ensure their students succeeded. I have so much respect for these kinds of educators. Thank you for caring about students and advocating for us.
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