On October 7, I turned 18 and voted in my first presidential election.
On November 7, the presidential ticket I cast my vote for won.
On December 7, I started my senior year of basketball tryouts and found out I was accepted into my dream college.
Today, on December 14, I reflect on these last few months of lucky 7’s and I am so grateful. After such a long, overwhelming, difficult year, there are some good things happening. And I can hardly stop smiling.
But.
We’re still in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Black lives still matter and are still in jeopardy. LGBTQ rights are in danger, families are separated at the border, and the climate crisis is exactly that—a crisis. Some days I forget these things, but it is important to remind myself. I am privileged to not face these horrifying realities on a day-to-day basis. That privilege has shaped my quarantine, my year, and my entire life.
I don’t mean to sound pessimistic or bleak. On the contrary, I think my acknowledgment of the terrible things going on in the world proves that I am optimistic about Earth’s future. I have joy now and hope for later. I feel cheerful now and want everyone to feel cheerful later. I am grateful now and ready to fight for a stronger, better later.
A week ago I got into college (phew!). The work isn’t over yet, though. I know I can’t control everything or make the world’s troubles go away, but I can sure as hell try to ease some of its pain. These lucky 7’s are big steps forward on a road where I get to make the world a better place—not by reaching the end, but by doing every little thing right that I can along the way. I hope you’ll join me.
