At the end of every year, we at Nexus like to take a minute to look back at the best—and worst—parts of the 12 months that just went down. Now, look, we all know 2020 was a tough one, but there was still lots of good to be found, as the following lists from our staff and volunteer writers prove. And, I mean, wow: we’re all so sick of the virus that it barely even made itself known here.
Jayden Grieve, contributing writer
1) Sweet co-workers that make the job a good time.
2) The Happiness Lab, a wonderful podcast on the science of what actually makes people happier
3) ADHD assessment; so glad to know what the heck is going on.
4) BLM protests, seeing people pushing for positive change.
5) Bike lanes, it’s very nice to feel really safe on the road.
One thing I don’t want to see in 2021:
Rihanna delaying; come on, girl: time to put out that new album, we’ve waited a looooong time.
Nicolas Ihmels, contributing writer
1) I got an A+ on my first essay of the year.
2) I got one of my first comments on one of my Nexus articles, which was awesome.
3) All of my Amazon packages came on time.
4) I mastered like 30 video games that I’ve been trying to beat for forever.
5) I started my own blog.
One thing I don’t want to see in 2021:
Because of this pandemic, I’ve been unable to enjoy media such as movies in a real theatre. As a film fan, this has hit me really hard. I hope that the movie-theatre experience makes a heroic comeback once we are all vaccinated and that we’ll stop streaming everything at home.
Celina Lessard, contributing writer
1) Working on my Halloween costume and drinking Starbucks pumpkin spice hot chocolate all October long.
2) Receiving my certificate for completing year 1 of the ICS program here at Camosun. Behind this piece of paper are countless hours of suffering. Now I’m FREE! YAY!
3) Seeing the production of Dear Evan Hansen in Vancouver with my two best friends.
4) Re-painting my room and purging all the things I don’t need anymore from my living space.
5) Learning how to play “To Build a Home” by The Cinematic Orchestra on the piano. (Still a work in progress, but I’m having a great time with it!)
One thing I don’t want to see in 2021:
Racism! We’re in the 21st century. Why is racism still a thing? Why do we need to protest to prove that people of colour are human? Absolute nonsense. I don’t want to see it in 2021.
Adam Marsh, student editor
1) Seeing how students and volunteers still want to write and be involved with Nexus even though things are vastly different this year. When the COVID-19 crisis started, I feared the worst, but people have really stepped up.
2) Discovering YouTube’s vast music selection. Pretty sure almost every song in the world is on there.
3) Doing home haircuts in quarantine. It’s great. Hair is surprisingly slippery.
4) Discovering audio books.
5) Being diligent with exercise. I run about 30 clicks a week; working from home, it makes all the difference in the world. (Then I’ll have junk food. ‘Cause, you know, life balance.)
One thing I don’t want to see in 2021:
An apparent inability for people to hear, and listen to, a POV opposite their own.
Greg Pratt, managing editor
1) Nexus thriving despite all the obstacles thrown at us this year. Our writers really came through and made us stronger than ever while we’re not printing physical issues.
2) Watching my third kid take his first steps. That never gets old.
3) Finally pulling the triple stemarang on my BMX bike. I ate concrete for eight months trying to learn that trick. That one second where I hit the pedal and rode away made it all worth it.
4) Rediscovering the joys of graphic novels and comics (currently reading: The Department of Truth, Gideon Falls, and Family Tree).
5) Nexus website readership numbers doubling over the past year. Welcome!
One thing I don’t want to see in 2021:
The Nexus Christmas party cancelled again.
Tiegan Suddaby, contributing writer
1) Being unapologetically cheesy.
2) Responding to my freaking emails.
3) Watching rom-coms from the ’80s to mid-’90s.
4) Expanding my vinyl record collection.
5) Making paintings bigger than me.
One thing I don’t want to see in 2021:
Overwhelming and crippling insecurities!
Emily Welch, contributing writer
1) I spent a lot more time with my family; I got to know them all again in new and different ways!
2) I got a story published in a literary magazine, which was really nice.
3) I went through some depression, which turned out to be a blessing; I learned a few things about myself.
4) I found out my fellow staff members at Nexus were real friends (which I already suspected).
5) Nexus sent me to a student journalist conference in Vancouver, and because of terrible weather, my colleague and I had to fly home, as the ferries were cancelled. Big adventure!
One thing I don’t want to see in 2021:
COVID-19. Or maybe the US election? Although that made me laugh every day, so I have to say COVID. It sure will make for good stories, though.