Photo courtesy of cottonbro, Pexels.
It feels as if 2021 is ending just as soon as it began. We all made the joke “things will be so much better in 2021” and we were right. But one can’t help but feel that 2021 was not as memorable as we had hoped.
That is not to say that nothing important happened this year. Joe Biden was sworn into office as the 46th President, the abhorrent Capitol riots took place, Covid vaccines were rolled out and made more widely available, the Delta variant emerged, and so much more.
Most of this year has felt normal as we have become used to navigating through a pandemic. We can eat inside again, see movies at a movie theater and go shopping in-person at our favorite stores (the ones that are still open).
The impact of COVID will be felt for years to come. The recovery period for our country will likely last as long. But it is safe to say that the darker times from the height of the pandemic are behind us.
That is not to say that there will not be issues we will have to face in 2022. Nothing is certain when it comes to a pandemic. Think of the Omicron variant; I predict this variant will be a major point of discussion for 2022. According to the New York Times, at least sixteen states have reported cases of the Omicron variant.
Many of those cases appear to have been from people who traveled to South Africa, the source of the first reported case in the United States. Some of the cases also arose from vaccinated individuals as well, meaning booster shots will likely become a politically charged topic next year. For now, health officials say that the Delta variant remains the greater threat, but that could always change.
There are also many other troubling uncertainties being discussed in our country. A great example of this is the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade. There is the possibility of a second lockdown and even discussions about how the divide in our country is beyond repair so we should split the country up into separate nations of states. The “what ifs” of 2022 are terrifying to think about.
That’s why it’s imperative that we look on the bright side coming into 2022 and think about what will happen rather than what could happen.
For the Ramapo community, most classes are being held in-person and on campus. Our campus will finally feel a lot livelier come the spring semester. Our bonds as a community will only strengthen. We all still have our friends, our health and our spirit going into the new year, that much is certain.
The Ramapo News will continue to cover stories important to Ramapo students and faculty. With the paper’s fiftieth anniversary taking place this academic year, we’ll continue to celebrate Ramapo’s history and the stories of years passed. Sports, clubs and fraternities will still be here in 2022 as well. So will the dorms and all of the faculty and staff, from professors to the dining hall staff.
Instead of focusing on what may happen next year, focus on what will happen. There haven’t been changes to spring semester plans yet, so a vibrant and bustling campus is what we’ll expect to see. It’s better to start the new year off strong with a positive outlook as opposed to going into it already expecting the worst.
mwikfors@ramapo.edu
