Adios 2020!

Well... well… 2020 you have been a crazy year my friend. First the nasty tornado in my home state in Tennessee then Covid. It’s been a wild ride. Thinking 2020 would be my year, but it honestly threw my anxiety up to the roof. I was scared, worried about what would happen next. Scared for my family, my friends, and the world. I didn’t know what to expect in the future.

Honestly, in the last paragraph, I just wanted to cuss out 2020, but I can’t. I did want to thank you for a couple of things 2020. During quarantine you let my creative juices expand (creative juices sounds kind of ew now that I wrote it). You gave me more time to spend on myself. To rewatch Harry potter, to read books, to write more stories. You let me spend more time with my parents. You let me plan for 2021. I can’t explain how excited I am to create all these photography ideas I have, to write more scripts, to be more positive about myself. I thank you for this 2020, but please don’t come back ever again.

Dear 2021, I believe you will be an amazing year for everyone. I’m ready to tackle all the obstacles you have for me. If I tackled 2020, I believe I can tackle anything that comes in my way. 2021 I’m going to make you some promises, but please make me one big promise. The first promise is I’m going to be more positive about myself. I’m not going to be scared to look in the mirror anymore because I’m “too ugly.” I’m not going to deny being in family photos anymore because I think I'm the ugly one. I promise you I’m going to love myself because I’m a unique, beautiful human being. I promise you I’m going to crush (not literally) this last year and half of college. Something my wonderful parents never had the chance to do. I promise you I will help other Hispanic students and parents who need the help to accomplish their dreams in any way I can. Not to be scared to speak up for my rights and others. To keep practicing my skills. To not be scared if I fail and keep trying. Something embarrassing I will admit to you 2021 is that I am 20 and I still don’t know how to ride a bicycle so maybe I should learn this year haha. I also don’t know how to swim, but once the pandemic is over I’ll go and learn.

Now 2021, I know you're anxious to know what I’m going to ask you to promise me. I would like you to give everyone a fresh start. Help others to start the year positive and keep it that way. Help young girls and boys not to believe they have to look a specific way to be “cool.” To help everyone to be more loving and caring about each other. For everyone to have a mindset they can accomplish their dreams. 2021 let's do this together and bring hope to others.

I want everyone to know we can do this together. We can accomplish our dreams and goals. It’s okay to talk to others about our problems. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to take a break. It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to like pineapple on your pizza. It’s okay to be YOU! Don’t let others dictate your life because you are not like them. The problem isn’t you, it's them. Let’s begin this fresh new year together with good vibes only!

With love,

Isabel Camacho