Inspiring Hope: What to Look Forward to in 2021

While 2020 has undoubtedly been difficult, there are many things to look forward to in the coming year. For example, the release of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is already being distributed to healthcare personnel, immunocompromised citizens, and long-term care facility residents. It is expected that the vaccine will start to be given to all citizens in the coming months. If everyone continues to follow COVID-19 regulations, there is a possibility that we can have a seminormal summer. 

Another thing to look forward to are the Summer Olympics, which are taking place in Tokyo and are currently scheduled to begin on July 23rd, 2021. The Summer Olympics span a total of 339 events, representing 33 different sports, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

There will also be a special reunion of the cast of Friends airing this March. While it was originally planned for last May, COVID-19 unfortunately postponed the release. The six actors will reminisce on their original soundstage as real-life actors rather than their fictional characters: Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, and Ross.

For everybody interested in space, the James Webb Telescope will take off on October 31st. This telescope will be the successor of the Hubble Space Telescope, which revealed clouds of dust and gas where stars are born. If all goes well, the James Webb Telescope will be able to train its powerful infrared telescope farther into space than any other telescope has been able to see. It will be able to cut through the cosmic fog to reveal other galaxies, stars, and nebulas beyond. Additionally, on February 18th, the Mars landing is planned to occur. The rover that lands will explore the 30-mile-wide Jezero Crater, and hopefully find fossils and ancient microbes. 

There are also many blockbuster movies planned to release this year, as many filmmakers opted to refrain from releasing movies at the height of COVID-19. In December, Dune, Stephen Speilberg’s West Side Story, and The Matrix 4 are all scheduled to be released. Other highly anticipated movies include the ninth installment of Fast and Furious, the twenty-fifth Bond movie, No Time to Die, Marvel’s Black Widow, the film adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, and Elvis.

While 2020 was a challenging year, I personally think that I grew a lot as a person, and I think that many other people would say the same. Hopefully, 2021 will be a better year than 2020, and we will be able to relax and enjoy the many positive things that are to come.