We have crossed the threshold into 2026, and honestly, we deserve a round of applause. Not because we thrived but just because we survived the chaotic year of 2025. 2025 was not just a year, but instead a chaotic group project where nobody understood the instructions, everyone was stressed, but we all kept going, somehow getting chicken jockeys involved.

Yup, chicken jockeys. At some point, we all decided that the tiny zombie men riding on chickens in A Minecraft Movie was peak comedy. The explanation? Never provided. Why this scene out of all of them? Nobody knows. The context? Completely irrelevant! But somehow Chicken Jockey had almost everybody laughing throughout all of April. And if you didn’t laugh? You were told that you just don’t get it. Movie theatres would have to make rules to keep people contained and the Minecraft movie safe. As if it were some crazy art instead of a zombie on a chicken. But somehow we all were there laughing, liking, sharing, and saving. But most importantly, majorly questioning our sanity.

Then came Labubus. They were completely controversial. Everyone was questioning what they were. Cute? Scary? Both?! These tiny doll creatures stared into our souls and somehow we said, “Yes, these terrifying dolls will save me”. So we lined up, camped at stores, and completely rearranged our budgets just to get a chance of buying a completely overpriced doll. That was a justified purchase, because they “brought us joy.”

And then, of course, we cannot forget Dubai chocolate. A sweet treat that ripped apart wallets, united influencers, and completely tore apart our ability to ever be at peace with regular candy again. It was not just chocolate. It became a secret club. If you had it, you had to post about it. Share your experience. And if you didn’t, you would say it’s completely overrated, while googling places to get it at 3:00 in the morning.

But somehow in the middle of all of this chaos, we managed to have the famous 6-7. It was an iconic moment. A mystery? We all participated in it, but what did it mean, or where did it come from? A basketball player’s height? A song? Something with both? You either knew or participated while nodding politely, hoping nobody questioned. Historians will one day try to study this and come up completely empty handed.

And then, clearly because everything wasn’t crazy enough, we were introduced to KPop Demon Hunters. K-pop idols by day and warriors by night. A complete masterpiece. It had it all. Music, Anime, Spiritual warfare with choreography. Yes. It made no sense, but that’s how it worked. Somehow, within the two months of its release, it became the #1 most-watched movie on Netflix with over 500 million views, which just keep growing. Loved by all ages, this movie was crazy. 

But then again, nothing tested our patience like the Starbucks Bear cup. But honestly, was it even a cup? It was more like a psychological test disguised as drinkware. People would wake up at crazy hours and line up at stores while refreshing resale pages. These grown adults were arguing over plastic cups shaped like bears. Friendships were strained and all of the bank accounts were screaming for help. The bear cup helped put us in check and remind us that our peace and patience was almost never there in 2025.

But somehow, we made it. We got through Chicken Jockey, Labubus, Dubia Chocolate, 6-7, KPop Demon Hunters, and emotionally terrifying cups. We questioned our reality, spending habits, and honestly, our sanity—but we pushed through. Maybe 2025 wasn’t the best year for becoming our best selves, but instead about laughing when confused and finding joy in the crazy.

So now we are in 2026. A little tired. A tad confused. But we are still standing. And quite frankly? That deserves more than a round of applause.

 

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To contact the author: Caroline LaPuma '31

Photo by Chris Birrittella '28