Q04

Describe an event in the world that has impacted you this year. How? Why?

A world event that has impacted me this year would be the most recent shooting in Las Vegas my heart breaks and I really can’t find the right words to explain how I feel when I hear about horrendous acts of terror both domestically and abroad. We need to get rid of guns that shoot multiple rounds like the ones used in this attack. There is no reason that anyone should have that many powerful guns in their possession. It makes me sick and I hope as a country we can come together and echo the mantra that love is louder.

It feels like this year has been full of world events with awful, cascading consequences. I've been angry and worried a lot of the time: for myself, for my loved ones, and for those who I know are more vulnerable than me. It's a rough time to be an American, and looking ahead is not reassuring.

The election of our President - technically the year before, but sworn in this year - had made me sit up and pay more attention to politics. It's been a completely disheartening experience, and also I feel completely unempowered. It's hard to believe in the general goodness of fellow citizens after the purposeful divisiveness of this past year.

The rising global temperatures are showing that climate-change deniers are clearly wrong. Now that I understand more about how climate works it worries me that we can't do anything to stop this now.

The death of my mom. Dad died in 2009, so now they are both gone. Totally removed any semblage of being a child, of having a parent. Earth-shattering.