Celebrating the New Year with Pixel Journal

For our first 2020-21 issue, hear about the Pixel Journal’s editorial team’s reflections on the past year and what we’re looking forward to in 2021.

Paige Yeung ’21, Editor-in-Chief

I’m sure all of you are aware of the events and circumstances that made 2020 memorable. For me, 2020 was a reminder of what mattered, especially as I was entering my final year of high school.

One realization that I made at the beginning of 2020—which was easy to state but more difficult to apply to my daily life—was that trying to be as productive as I could didn’t matter. Most of my concerns about academics and college applications were insignificant, and worrying about them would not improve the outcome. Instead, for me, the outcome was actually worse; I found myself swamped with work, without setting aside time to relax and reflect to become a more thoughtful and intentional person. Taking some time off for your health and for reflection purposes is important even if it doesn’t immediately seem to be, especially given the current events that can help put your situation in perspective.

Sometimes I say my biggest accomplishment of last semester was forcing 7-8 hours of sleep into my schedule on a daily basis—I say that partly in jest, but only partly. Since prioritizing my health in the past semester more than I have previously in high school, I’ve found myself much more refreshed, and I’m better able to think clearly and see things in perspective. And in terms of responsibilities, especially for this coming semester, I’ve turned to doing a few things and doing them well. My goal is not to get more done and to yield more results; rather, I hope to do things “well” in the sense that I know why I’m doing the things that I do, have a purpose in mind, and am motivated to do more to continue furthering that purpose.

As I enter my final semester of high school, I’m incredibly grateful to have had the high school experience that I did. I see much in store for the rest of my senior year at home—building the Pixel Journal into a better publication, spending more time with family before I leave for college, and working on fun projects that I haven’t gotten to.

Rachel Hu ’22, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

There is something extremely surreal about entering another year of our lives that prompts us to reflect on the previous. Yet, we as humans tend to immediately judge how the year has gone by tangible or measurable things. It is natural for one to think how disappointing the year was by fixating over the test scores that you weren’t quite happy with or the events you had to miss out on because of COVID. In addition, one also is inclined to reflect on all the amazing things they achieved this year too, like that project you finally accomplished or that award you won. Although there is no right way to reflect on the year, we ultimately should challenge ourselves to not only look at the resume list of what we have or have not accomplished yet as we enter the new year, but also how we have grown as humans.

Think about where we were a year ago today. I remember this time last year; I was very insecure and also too overwhelmed by homework and golf tournaments to make meaningful connections with anyone. Sometimes I even see an entirely different person when looking at the videos and pictures of me in 2019. Thus, as I reflect on my 2020 year, I have now realized that the most important thing is appreciating the way I have grown. I have become kinder to myself and much more confident. I have (sort of) figured out how to manage school while still being able to actually experience my high school years. I have fostered close friendships that I would have never expected this time last year. I have become obsessed with many more TV shows and movies. I have found my music taste. In addition, I realize too that I still have so much room to grow, like continuing to figure out how to find validation within myself or how to not treat myself to a 5-hour break after doing one assignment. Yet, the room I still have to grow does not discourage me anymore as it used to. Rather, these things excite me because I know the potential I have to grow in the 2021 year and to become an even better version of myself.

Overall, there is no right way to reflect on your year. However, we are, first and foremost, humans. We have all grown this past year and we can be excited that there is still so much to figure out within ourselves other than just what we have or have not achieved this past year. At the end of the day, making it to the end of 2020 and growing into the person you are today is already an achievement in itself.

Pooja Kalyan ’21, Stories Editor

What a year 2020 has been! We already know that this year will be one to remember, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and ending with a new President of the United States, not to mention the many other significant events in between—BLM movements, the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games...the list can go on and on.

While 2020 may not have been the year we expected, there are positive aspects of the year past that I wanted to reflect on. During quarantine from March through May, I was able to spend time at my home in Arkansas with my dogs and both my parents (usually I am away from home most of the year for my figure skating training). The days felt long, but amidst the uncertainty, I found relaxation in pursuing passions usually in the back burner and exploring new ones— I tried baking traditional desserts common in countries outside the US, attempted to learn skateboarding, started roller skating as a substitute for ice skating, picked up bullet journaling as a planning tool, and got closer to my instructors through office hours. Post-quarantine, I was fortunate to start skating again (although skating with a mask was certainly different!) and even compete in live events (though with a limited audience, if at all). Summers were filled with ice skating and college applications, and now, as a busy senior finishing up the last of my applications and looking ahead to college-life next fall, I’m feeling hopeful for what’s to come, not just for me, but for all of us.

I encourage all of you reading this to find some bit of positivity in 2020—did you discover a new passion, grow closer to your family, learn something new, help someone in need, witness an event that gave you (or gives you) hope?

I know that everyone’s experience with 2020 is different, some better or worse than others, but we can all learn from it. We didn’t have power over everything that happened this year, nor do we know what will happen next. What we can do is remain positive and hopeful for what’s to come, finding ways to learn from the past, grow in the present, and look ahead for the future.

Shivek Narang ’21, Stories Editor

2020 was, well…a heck of a year. From the global pandemic that shut down our entire world, cancelling all the plans we had made, to showing us how much humanity still has to progress with racial inequality and hate still pervading our society, to a year we lost so many icons from Kobe Bean Bryant to Chadwick Boseman (may they rest in peace), 2020 was a year many of us would like to forget.

For me, finishing up my junior year and going through the first semester of senior year, 2020 was all about reflection. During the first few months of quarantine and isolation, I spent time looking back at who I was, playing my guitar contemplating current events, being infuriated at the social injustice that was once again brought to the limelight. But through this adversity that affected all of us, we were given a chance to grow and to learn more about ourselves. It was a year in which I felt that I identified my passion—my calling—as I continued to pursue my research and work in adolescent mental health.

As we spring into the early weeks of 2021, we all hold on to the hope that the new year is nothing at all like 2020. It was a year of loss—but a year of learning. As I look forward to the second half of senior year, I hope to continue to grow from my reflections as I soon venture into college—the next step in my life. As a year of anticipated milestones, I am excited to continue my journey into 2021.

Maddy Manning Bi ’22, Culture Editor

If it's been anything, 2020 has been completely unexpected. This time last year, I was studying for finals while pouting that I would not see my friends until June. The most prominent thing I was worried about was whether or not I would do well on my chemistry final and sending in audition videos for summer programs. Now, I don't know when I will see friends and extended family again; there are no summer programs; I crumbled as my dad—a healthcare worker—left for his clinic every morning, never knowing if that would be it; and I watched as worldwide, billions of us adjusted to a new normal. But rather than lament over the challenges of the year (the ones we all know so well), I want to reflect on the special and wonderful moments: I became an editor for the nonprofit organization Dear Asian Youth, which now boasts over 50,000 followers on social media; I took over one club, founded another, was nominated to be a Teaching Assistant, and became an official part of this editorial board; I became an upperclassmen along with the rest of the friends I have grown up with throughout my high school career; I won a regional competition for musical theatre hosted by the National Association for Teachers of Singing, further solidifying my future career path; I met a wonderful boy who has kept me sane during the past few months; but most importantly, all of my friends and family have been safe and healthy, something I am infinitely thankful for. This year I felt so many emotions of grief and anger, loss and pain, but I also bonded with the ones I love, sharing so much time with them (whether virtual or in quarantine) and realized the importance of nurturing relationships and more so, focusing on what really matters. While I desperately hope the coming year will be a better one, I am left with the resolve that I have been so lucky to have OHS as a community, to have my dear friends, and to have my family.

LiYuan Byrne ’21, Clubs Editor

2020 was a year of massive change in my life and led to a lot of personal growth in ways that I could not have anticipated. I dealt with a lot of change over a short period of time, and of course, we had a pandemic to face. Overall, my experiences this year gave me a lot of perspective and solidified the confidence that I have in myself. I started to practice gratitude and take time to appreciate what the people closest to me have done to lend their love and support. I also made a few really good friends and learned to not be embarrassed to lean on others for support. 2021 will be a huge year for me – I’m finishing high school and moving to college – and I’m grateful for the skills that I developed in 2020 and I am so excited for what is to come.

Sophia Risin ’23, Community Engagement Editor

2020 has been anything but the year we expected, and during this pandemic and associated global crises, I have learned about much I value all of my friends and how thankful I am to be able to be part of this incredible community. Recently, I’ve been hopeful for the future and for the next semester. Sophomore year has been really busy, and I’m so very thankful for all of my friends who have been supporting me and helping me get through all of this.