January 2020, the start of a new decade, instead unknowingly introduced us to a year of uneasiness. The then-mysterious virus in Asia that triggered the pandemic we are faced with today was beginning to make news, although at the time, the staggering effect it would have on the world was unknown to the public. 

February officially indicated that 2020 was not going to be the amazing year we were hoping for. Instead, the pandemic known as COVID-19 began to race around the world, creating the start of a disaster of a year.

By March, more and more continents — ranging from Europe, to Africa, to the Americas — were reporting their first few waves of COVID-19 cases. It was March that officially saw the end of an in-person school year for every school in Illinois, per the governor’s orders. Despite many lockdowns, more than 500,000 cases of the virus had been reported around the world by the end of the month.

As April came around, those who were hoping for an early end to the pandemic were faced with the ugly truth. Heavier restrictions were enforced and the seriousness of the situation began to sink in, as the world went into lockdown.

In May, Australia and New Zealand took quick action on the pandemic, stopping the spread of cases there before it could get worse. The United States, unfortunately, was not that lucky. In addition to the surge of virus cases, the city of Minneapolis witnessed the heinous killing of George Floyd, one of many events that sparked growth in calls for racial equality.

The end of school is usually something to celebrate. Graduation parties normally happen on a large scale. Ultimately, however, June was filled with quarantine protocols, hand sanitizer, and masks. June also saw protests against masks, lockdowns, and even a potential vaccine, the best scientific solutions against the pandemic.

In July, The height of summer was filled with boredom, unease and questions regarding whether or not the chaos of 2020 would ever come to an end. No one knew if they’d be locked in their homes for the rest of the week or the rest of the year. 

August, similar to most of 2020, was unfamiliar and unpredictable. As summer came to an end, anticipation of the new school year began to set in throughout the month. But this was a new angst, prompted by the unconventional circumstances of the pandemic: Would we go back to school in a hybrid or in-person format? What would remote learning look like? 

September brought along lots of screen time for most of the country. Between Zoom classes, online homework and virtual clubs, the pandemic forced most of us to live a very digital lifestyle this month.

In October, America witnessed one of the most controversial presidential debates ever, leaving many to anxiously question the fate of our country.  

November’s election gave us a new president-elect, Joe Biden. The chaos of mail-in ballots and lengthy vote counts finally settled as the seemingly never-ending battle for the position ceased.  

After what felt like decades, 2020 is finally drawing to an end. Feelings of relief,  excitement and solace fill the world, and now there’s only one question —What will 2021 bring?