The fact that we even reached the year 2013, let alone are nearing its end, proves that Dec. 21, 2012 did not bring the end of our world as we know it, though in some ways, this year could have fooled me.

In 2013 alone, we experienced a bombing at the Boston Marathon, the recovery of three kidnapped women who were being held hostage in (almost) plain sight, the third longest government shutdown in the history of the United States and the NSA spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, despite the fact that we’re allies. Although these events were all deeply troubling, each one can teach us an invaluable lesson.

While the Boston bombings were senseless killings, there is still a lesson to be taken away from it. This tragedy reminds us how important it is to live life to the fullest every day.  Even though only three people died (which is three too many), 264 were injured, according to The New York Times, and the lives of countless individuals were altered forever.

All three of the dead were relatively young and still had so many new experiences ahead of them. In their honor, and in the honor of all young and tragic deaths, live each day to the fullest, because you never know when your life can change completely. Don’t forget to slow down every so often and enjoy life.

Less than a month later, when our nation was still reeling from the tragedies in Boston, Amanda Berry escaped from the home of Ariel Castro, and sought help to free Gina De Jesus and Michelle Knight. These three women bravely endured many years of captivity, right in the middle of our fair city of Cleveland.  Nobody deserves such torture, and it seems close to impossible to move on from such a traumatic event.  However, they couldn’t afford to lose hope–not while being held hostages, and not after they were freed–because hope was all they had.

Especially because most of us haven’t experienced anything nearly as traumatic, we should never lose hope either.  Never lose hope that things will get easier, even with no end in sight, whether it be a life-threatening illness, or something like learning how to do the cultural comparison on the Spanish AP exam.

The government shutdown is something that makes me far less than proud to be an American.  As adults whom we have elected because they (supposedly) represent us and are (supposedly) willing to compromise, they ought to respond in a more constructive way than completely shutting down and causing a furlough.

Once you are an adult, or at least over the age of seven, you need to realize that things don’t always go your way. When such a thing happens, it’s important that you be able to move on with life and not throw a fit or shut down the government.

The United States has made international headlines recently for all the wrong reasons, such as the government shutdown and for the NSA spying on our ally, Germany, and its chancellor, Angela Merkel.  Yes, our government sometimes does rather inane things for reasons unbeknownst to us. Yes, I sometimes lose faith in my country, and have to remind myself not to.  However, this situation can still teach us a few lessons that are best to learn young.

First of all, neither people nor situations are always what they seem, for better or for worse.  It’s very difficult to truly get to know a person, and you never know when someone might betray you or the people you care about, so proceed with caution.  Many criminals, such as Ariel Castro and Dzhokar Tsarnaev, one of the perpetrators behind the Boston bombings, outwardly appeared as typical, friendly people – but, clearly, they weren’t.

On the flip side, people who seem standoffish, undesirable, or otherwise have a tough exterior may actually be very kind people once you get to know them.  For example, just because someone happens to party from time to time, doesn’t mean they’re not smart.  And even someone who runs with “the wrong crowd” might turn out to be a genuinely wonderful person.

When looking back at the whirlwind of a year that was 2013, it makes me wonder about the fate of the human race, or, at least, of America.  Many people, especially government figures, have done plenty of wrong or just plain stupid things this year, but by learning from tragic events and other people’s mistakes, we can ensure that 2014 doesn’t top it.

(Image Source: Aaron Tang via Wikimedia Commons)