The ancient Mayans developed a very sophisticated calendar named the “Long Count.” It dates back to August 13th, 3114 B.C. It is set to know when the world when it will meet its doomsday, December 12th, 2012. 

On December 12, 2012, people dreaded the end. Miraculously, however, the world didn’t end on that day, but rather it had just begun. 2020 is a perfect way to prove that. 

8 years later, 3 weeks into the beginning of 2020, Kobe Bryant passed away in a horrifying accident.

Kobe Bryant as well as his daughter Gigi Bryant, only 13 at the time, are amongst 9 others who were killed in a helicopter crash. The pilot had been flying through thick clouds that day and couldn’t get enough altitude and crashed into a side of a mountain in Calabasas California.

The year had just started, and we had lost one of Basketball’s most prized players of all time. Not only did we lose Kobe Bryant but we also lost 8 other innocent lives that day.

One month later a rap star on the rise of success and fame had his life cut way too early.

Pop smoke was only 20 years old when he was shot and killed during a robbery in Hollywood Hills California. He had posted pictures of new clothes he had purchased on social media. However, not only did he post pictures of the clothes, he had posted pictures of his mailing information as well as his address.  

It was that night when he hosted a huge party, 4 men entered the house through the back door, robbed, and shot Pop Smoke, ending his life. Those 4 men have been caught, two of them 15 and 16 years old, have been charged with the murder of Pop Smoke.

March was just around the corner, and the world had been hit with another terrifying event, a bloodthirsty disease named, COVID-19, was ripping through the world. President Trump had declared a nationwide emergency, Unlocking billions of dollars to federal funding to help fight the spread of the disease.

Now it is December 3rd, 2020, and there are 64 million cases worldwide as well as 1.5 million deaths worldwide.

Next, July 8th, tragedy struck, Former Glee star Naya Rivera had gone out for a late-night boat ride in a lake in Ventura County California, with her 5-year-old son.

Her son fell overboard and into the water. Naya, with the quick motherly thought, jumped in and gathered enough energy to push her son back on board, sadly, she didn’t make it. Naya Rivera’s body was found by police officials and her death was ruled an accident. Naya Rivera’s son witnessed his mom die in front of him while she saved his life.  She did not die in vain. 

Sophia Howard, a junior this year, commented on Naya Rivera’s death and sacrifice.

“Naya Rivera was a very talented and beautiful woman. When I heard of her death I was shocked and my stomach dropped …but when I heard how she died, saving her son, I was in complete awe. Having to make the decision between your own life or another’s has to be the hardest decision one can make. Naya knew what she was destined to do, she saved her son letting her son see another day. It’s true what they say, a mother’s love runs forever, and this is a perfect example of this,” said Howard.

A little more than halfway through the year and death has struck countlessly and tragically. Many people had been wondering: ‘who’s next?’ ‘What else is 2020 going to throw at us?’

Then 2020 threw another tragedy at us:

Actor, Chadwick Boseman, died on August 28th, 2020. He had been battling a fight with a very aggressive type of colon cancer.

He played roles such as Jackie Robison the first black baseball player, “Black Panther” the first-ever black super-hero movie, James Brown jazz legend, and countless others.

Fortunately, he didn’t die in vain either.  He inspired millions of poor minorities around the world. He gave them hope to fight, and if he made it, they can too.

He did all of this while fighting for his own life, he inspired millions of people even though he knew that he would die within a short amount of time.

Many believe 2020 has been one of the worst years they have ever experienced, they hope 2021 makes up for 2020.

I, on the other hand, believe this is just the beginning to the end. Many others are afraid of what else is to come. This leads me to my final thoughts: Was the ancient Mayan calendar actually right?  Was December the end of the world and they meant it in a different way? Is that another myth and this is the wrath of something else? The interpretation is up to you. Stay safe out there.