What can be said that adequately sums up an entire year? In 12 months, friends change, habits adapt, and we still may feel just as uncertain as the year before. I don't think it's fair to consider a year to be good or bad, except for 2020 (which was definitively bad).

Instead, I'm just going to call 2022 what it was: a year. A year with amazing moments, stressful moments, mundane ones, and everything in between.

Things I Learned:

- More is not always more.

- I don't know is an acceptable answer.

- Not all challenges can be anticipated or handled with grace. Sometimes life may throw the unexpected, unexplainable, and hard times. You can't rush away the pain or find answers where they don't exist. Just keep going.

Books:

While I read a whopping 50 books in 2021, 2022 fell quite a bit short of that goal with a grand total of 30 books. It signifies a shift in my time and priorities since isolation, a shift that I am grateful for, but I also miss the balance and peace of reading in my daily life. Some of my favorite books of the year include Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, Ghosts by Dolly Alderton, and Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.

Films:

My film consumption in 2022 also fell a bit shorter of my goals for the year. As a film minor, sometimes I compare the amount of "classic" or must-watch films that I have yet to experience. Shh. Don't tell anyone that I've never seen The Godfather or even Citizen Kane. My favorite movie of the year was Everything Everywhere All At Once, but I also enjoyed some older films for the first time like American Psycho and Notting Hill (my new favorite rom com). I am excited for more film classes in 2023 to challenge my watching habits and remind me why I love film.

Experiences:

From engaging college courses, pushing my comfort zone to new heights (literally), and saying yes as often as possible, 2022 brought unimaginable experiences.

Highlights include:

- Skydiving with my brother in Seattle, something I never imagined doing.

- Going to a Jeopardy taping in LA and continuing to be inspired by the entertainment world.

- Going to dinner with my Italian professor and a classmate, proving the strength of extending relationships across the minimal expectations.

- The opportunity to work at and attend Vidcon. See blog @ Views from VidCon.

- Social Media @CalifiaFarms. Such an incredible team and opportunity.

- Turning 21 and celebrating with friends and family.

- USC beating UCLA at the Rose Bowl and ranking in the top 5 for football! Such a fun season.

-Spending lots of time with family over summer at home. Very grateful a remote experience allowed for some quality moments with the best people.

Overall, I am grateful for another year of growth, memories, lots of mistakes, and lots of pride. Here's to all that 2023 may bring.

x fight on