Dear Reader, 

One of the most vivid memories that I associate with December is the sight of potted poinsettia flowers on my grandmother’s terrace. Lined up in a row with their bright red leaves, they signaled the beginning of the Christmas season for me growing up. Towards the end of last month, I bought myself a poinsettia plant to keep this tradition alive thousands of miles away from home. But the lone poinsettia sitting on my window sill is unable to capture that feeling of anticipation — of those once-a-year family gatherings, of huge Christmas feasts, and of coming home. As I watch the leaves slowly fall off my dying plant (through no fault of my own — I blame the cold weather), I cannot help but fall into a melancholic mood as I realize that this is my first Christmas away from my family. 

The short vacations at home is my chance to reset and recalibrate after grueling semesters in Korea. This year in particular has been difficult for a lot of reasons, and not having that much needed escape is disappointing. However, all these sacrifices we must make in the name of safety will not be in vain. With the promise of a return to normalcy, I am still full of hope that next year will be different.

But before we shut 2020 in a box and label it as a freak year, we should remember the lessons  that this year taught us. Yes, it is easier to start on a clean slate come January, but we cannot just go back to normal. The pandemic has revealed the inequalities embedded in our society, the degrading state of the environment, the weaknesses in our healthcare systems… but it has also shown how much potential we hold when we work together. Behind the statistics of the ever-rising number of COVID patients, there are numerous acts of kindness and social initiatives in our communities. The rise in the number of donation drives and volunteer organizations that help medical frontliners and COVID patients, the rapid exchange of knowledge in the scientific community that allowed the creation of vaccines, and the various forums that discuss potential ways forward are just some examples of the world’s solidarity in the face of tragedy. 

While the world has endured and learned from the pandemic, this year has also been an eye-opening one for me personally. In 2020, I learned to embrace solitude. I’ve spent days at a time without ever leaving my dorm room, forgone travel plans for the sake of social distancing, and learned to truly live with only myself for the first time. And while this has brought on several panic attacks and existential crises, it has forced me to accept my failures and weaknesses. It has also led me to think more about the real values of the traditions that we hold. Spending Christmas alone does not need to equal being lonely; it just means finding creative ways to celebrate with family and friends while being apart.    

We are finally near the end of 2020. We have all overworked ourselves to the point of burnout, suffered disappointments and losses, and sacrificed traditions. But instead of happily closing the door behind this turbulent year, I encourage you, dear Reader, to reflect on how this year has changed you, and how it has changed the world we live in. Forgive yourself for all your shortcomings this year, and take everything that you’ve learned into the next.

Jaymee Palma

Editor-in-Chief