A Clear Reflection in Cloudy Waters: How I Navigated 2021 Through Turbulent Transition to Adulthood
- Though this past year brought pain to many, we must never truly put the past behind us. It's important that we learn from its trials and tribulations.
The 21st year of the 21st century has been anything but ordinary. As we approach the New Year, I can’t help but think about these peculiar past 12 months. A year that began with riots at the nation’s capital and the continuation of a deadly pandemic now comes to a close with more uncertainty than ever surrounding life as we know it.
However, amidst all the chaos, we have found ways to continue living life in a way that is our new normal. While masks continue to be worn, campuses and offices opened back up and students and workers were able to return to their “normal” routines. While time may seem to be frozen still, life goes on and society continues to grow and evolve with every new change.
To be completely honest, 2021 seems like a blur. I began the year as a high school student in my hometown and as it comes to a close, I look in the mirror to see a college student studying on the other side of the country. I’ve seen myself and my peers evolve over this past year and while the negative mental effects of the pandemic are clearly evident in society, the positive changes in America’s youth are clear to see as well.
Amidst civil unrest, political shifts, economic downturn, and an unprecedented health crisis, young people have had to navigate the turbulent transition to adulthood like any other year. As I trace back my timeline of 2021, I recall celebrating the victories of Ossoff and Warnock in the Georgia Senate runoffs, an election I had worked on and followed closely.
Soon after, I turned 18, days after the attack on the United States Capitol and the second impeachment of Donald Trump, uncertain of the nation’s political future, but hopeful of what was to come, having worked so actively in politics with other young people over the past election cycle. This hope began to dwindle as hate crimes against Asian Americans began to surge and my own friends and community members began to fear for their lives in their own country.
Now into March, a ray of hope seemed to shine through amidst all the pain as most Americans began to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated, I lunged into the end of my senior year. With college commitment, prom, and graduation, an entire chapter of my life was suddenly over. I dove headfirst into the next phase of my life with an online summer semester at my new university.
As I trace back my personal timeline of 2021, I recall celebrating the victories of Ossoff and Warnock in the Georgia Senate runoffs, an election I had worked on and followed closely.
While I occupied myself with economics homework, George Floyd’s murderer was finally held accountable for his actions and sentenced to prison. As the summer progressed, I felt a stronger sense of belief in myself and my future goals as I saw women of color achieving extraordinary feats, from the first Black woman being selected to lead a NASA center to an Asian American woman winning gold for gymnastics in the Olympics.
The summer soon ended and I ventured into the unknown to start the next chapter of my life. Once on campus, I found myself surrounded by like-minded young people driven to create change and a brighter future. I was inspired to observe that the pandemic and turbulence of the past year had not dampened the fighting spirit of this generation.
Much like the Renaissance after the Middle Ages, these past few months for me have been filled with a revitalization of appreciation for the arts, academic growth, community building, and a sense of social and political responsibility. After a year online due to the pandemic, I am thankful to have been able to expand my horizons and develop as a human being in my short time being in an in-person setting. I have seen, first hand, the mental and social shifts in young people as they emerge from this period of darkness and attempt to cope with the changing world around them.
While uncertainty always remains, 2021 has allowed me and many others to focus on the truly important things in life. As I evolve as an individual, this past year has shown me more than ever, who I am and what I value as a human being. I’ve made friends with individuals that I connect with on a deeper level, joined organizations that give me a sense of fulfillment and purpose, and learned that within the hustle and bustle of life, it’s important to prioritize hobbies that bring you joy, even if they may not seem crucial to your success.
So as we reign in the New Year, take some time to reflect on your own life. While we as a society value “the grind,” think about the people and interests that supplement your soul and remain cognizant of these when the world may seem full of chaos and negativity. Though this past year brought pain to many, we must never truly put the past behind us. It is important that we learn from the trials and tribulations of 2021 to move forward as a society into 2022 and beyond, shaping the future that we deserve.
(Top photo, by Ishani Peddi)
Ishani Peddi is a college student from Irvine, California. She has been writing for as long as she can remember and published a fictional work in middle school. A passionate poet, who has won numerous literary competitions, Ishani has an extensive political background, having worked with AAPIs for Biden, the Democratic Party of Georgia, and Students for Ossoff and Warnock, to name a few. She is also the Founder & Editor In Chief of SANCTUARY Publication.