Reflecting on 2020: The Importance of Progress

We are a few weeks into a new year, and it’s a great time to reflect on the year that once was. 2020 may be in our rearview mirror, but it’s not so far out of sight. Remember, the object in the mirror is closer than it appears. 

Lessons learned from a year that tested your abilities can be the pillars that strengthen your bridge to success in 2021. Reflect on the past twelve months, but don’t look for too long, or all of the potential opportunities for change and growth in 2021 will be gone. Remember that you’re moving forward, not backward.

Looking ahead 

As we look ahead to the rest of 2021, we should anticipate a journey that includes stop signs, traffic lights, and congestion on the streets. 2020 was the year when a big truck pulled in front of you on a one-lane road, and it went only five mph. Did your dreams come true, or did everything come to a slow crawl?

Even if you’re not moving very quickly, you’re still making progress.

The success and failures you face help build who you become. It's also possible to benefit from bad experiences. They are, undoubtedly in fact, the most poignant and important ones. You'll remember them longer, but they make you stronger.

A new perspective

Last year I overheard someone say about 2020, "this year was a failure." Well, that can't be right because I experienced all 365 days of that entire year. There were 24 hours in a day like clockwork. So why was it a failure? Life is an expedition of self-discovery for most people, figuring out who we are, what we are best at, and how we can make a difference in this world. That should never be considered failure. As I look back at some of my small but modest achievements, I think about lessons learned from last year that will shape my future travels along my journey to happiness in 2021.

While everything slowed down, my enthusiasm for learning sped up. We are only now starting to take our first steps forward to normalcy, searching for guidance on the way, with a worldwide pandemic that has brought many people's dreams screeching to a halt. I want all students to continue to have the hunger for achievement in all aspects of life. Success is not rating yourself against someone else, it's about true happiness from within your spirit and soul. 

The year 2020 has been about the haziest and most challenging year for all of us, but the light never dimmed to complete darkness.

Welcome in 2021 with a hunger for more achievement and personal growth while still positively impacting the people you meet along the way. 

This year, I want you to come to class with more appreciation for yourself, your faults, and your perfections. I don't know what tomorrow, next week, or next month will bring, but I'm excited and ready for it nonetheless because I came through 2020, and my candle flame never went entirely out. Make every day count. Enjoy the Bloom Institute of Technology (formerly known as Lambda School) journey this year. Start strong, finish stronger, and let no obstacle dim your light.