With 2015 coming to a close, we are having a hard time being too upset.  2015 was a year of mass disaster, embarrassing fads, and politics other countries think are a joke.  Not all of it was bad, and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  As we reflect on the past year, one thing 2015 had in common with most other years was that it started in…

January

with a strong gust of negative 14 windchill. The Siberian breeze carried in much excitement to students everywhere in the Midwest who were then able to add more and more days to their break by missing nearly two more weeks of school.  As we were already shocked from the cold, news that shook the world on Jan. 7, were the attacks on Charlie Hebdo.  Two gunmen attacked the magazine in retaliation to a satirical comic that poked fun at the prophet Muhammad, leaving 12 dead and 11 wounded.  Later the two men were both shot and killed by officers in Paris.

To start off

February,

the New England Patriots battles the Seattle Seahawks, 28–24, to earn their fourth Super Bowl title. The real winner that night was left shark, who’s performance in Katy Perry’s half-time show was memorable enough for you to know what I am talking about when I say left shark. In local news, Brent Hawn made DCHS history by breaking two school records in basketball. On the 25th, the Religious Freedom Act was signed allowing business owners to refuse service to anything they deem unjust by their religion. The RFRA caught some attention, but the spotlight was short-lived after Americans formed stronger arguments over whether The Dress was blue and black or gold and white. What color was it really? The world may never know.  

March

began with Hillary Clinton kicking and screaming.  On the 2nd, we were informed that she had been communicating on a private server and the news swept America. Insurgent, the sequel to Divergent, was released on the 11th. Dubsmash ruled the nation and was the meme of the month as teenagers lip synced popular audio clips. And, we must not forget SB2K15.  turn up.

April

brought us the ever-growing fad of lip sync battles. The show that brought it to life is hosted by LL Cool J and features new celebrities “singing” different songs each episode. The show continues to gain popularity. On the 24th Bruce Jenner becomes Caitlyn Jenner and becomes one of the most famous faces for Vanity Fair. The next day, the country of Nepal suffered from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killing and injuring many. After Facebook statuses are updated and prayers are sent their way, America begins setting up formal debates over which pronoun to use to address Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Jenner complains about spelling it, “Caitlyn, and not Kaitlyn,”. 

Right off the bat,

May

. . .hit us with the fight of the century.  Floyd Mayweather claims a unanimous victory against Manny Pacquiao, remaining undefeated. As I love a good pun, May weather was nicer this season than Mayweather.  (I could probably come up with a better pun but it is currently 1:19 AM) A new member was added to Britain’s royal family on the second when Princess Kate gave birth to a daughter they named Charlotte. Sadly, May was also the month we lost a legend: BB King: blues singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. R . I. P. B. B.  He will be missed. May went on to end with a bang, as confetti guns popped, and graduation hats flew, school was out for summer (in the tone of Alice Cooper).

June

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team brought home the World Cup for the third time and became the only country to do so. Dinos and Chris Pratt were brought to the big screen once again with Jurassic World on the 12th. The viral sensation of Whip & Nae Nae by Silento was released during this month, sending the world into a downward spiral with every 12 year old girl ‘whippin it’. The very next day, rainbow flags flew nationwide as the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage and #LoveWins was trending.

July

was a month of controversy.  South Carolina removes the Confederate Flag after a highly emotional debate following June’s mass shootings in an African American Church in Charleston.  After decades of being in the dark, Harper Lee finally allowed us to read another one of her fine works. The much awaited book, Go Set a Watchman, has thrilled diligent readers everywhere, while stirring up its fair share of controversy, too.  

August

School started and summer came to an end, but Ariel turned 17 so it was an okay month I guess.  In Colorado, the Animas River turns orange.  New Jersey likes the look, but the color is actually the result of millions of gallons of contaminated water poured out of an abandoned mine. To hit us while we are down, former president Jimmy Carter announces that he has cancer, and it is spreading.

September

brought many highs and lows. With the loss of Yogi Berra and the arrival of Pope Francis both on the 22nd, America was full of mixed emotions. On the 27th, we witnessed a blood moon, but unfortunately, there were no super werewolves or freak apocalypses. The Pope stayed in the States until the 28th to help ease the pain, but then after dropping some wise words on the UN staff, he departed from the U.S. to Mars, in search for the allegedly found water.

October

was a month lacking newsworthy events.  On the 21st, the nation was lowkey keeping an eye out for Marty McFly in the DeLorean. He was never spotted and the Cubs didn’t win the World Series. One day of thirty-one is not a good percentage, Oct.  

November

ISIS has continued to create bloodshed throughout this year and the last. On the 13th, we all sat in awe as we watched the news and heard of the attacks in Paris. So many innocent citizens were killed or injured. The world supported them with #Pray4Paris and red, white, and blue filtered profile pictures. On a lighter note, Justin bieber shocks the nation by releasing a surprisingly good album.  Purpose was released on the 13th, and his song Love Yourself was a hit with every teenage girl. Fangirls and boys everywhere settled into their seats with their oversized, overpriced popcorn and drink for Mockingjay Part 2, dreading the ending of their much beloved Hunger Games series.  

December

On the 5th of December, Saint West, son of Kanye West & Kim Kardashian West, decided to bless us with his birth. Also, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released into theaters. Fans of all ages flooded the theater in order to get the best seats possible.  Instead of looking away from the screen, the super fans used the force to shove cardiac arrest worthy buttered popcorn into their mouths. (Spoiler Alert: Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father.) Like every year since the first, December ended with the holiday season and cheery times.  New Year’s resolutions in mind and DJ Khaled for tidbits of inspiration, the population was ready to take on 2016.  Things are looking up now, friends.