Remember 2024

My 2024

I’m writing a 2024 recap, and fair warning, it’s not going to be smooth or easy to follow. My thoughts are all over the place, I never do this, so bear with me.

2024 was supposed to be my year. I chanted it confidently at the crossover service in church, just like everyone else. Not just in my church, everywhere. People in other churches, people not even in churches, everyone seemed to embrace the same comforting ideology. And why not? In a messed-up world, we cling to whatever makes us happy, even if it’s just for a moment.

By 12:30 AM, I was in the living room, eating grapes with a confidence I didn’t even know I had. Looking back, I think my first mistake of 2024 was the grapes. I don’t know what it was, I just did it wrong. I wanted something I guess. Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there someday.

But the new year felt special to me. For the first time, I could proudly tell my friends or anyone who cared to listen that I’d graduate in 2025. “Next year, I’ll graduate,” I could say with confidence, and it felt good, real good.

Of course, I made resolutions like everyone else: take more pictures, work out, pass my exams, be closer to God. And, hey, I did pass my exams. So, at least there’s that. Along the way, I met some really amazing people. And yes, I even liked someone like really liked them. That’s not far-fetched either; it’s human. Though if you asked my brother, he’d probably give me some nonsense about zodiac signs, like it all boiled down to the stars.

Looking back, it was nothing near perfect, but it was my year. Maybe that’s enough. Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.

2024 taught me a lot. It was a year of academic struggles, trying to balance school and my imperfect family while doing everything possible not to dwell on the dysfunction at home. My parents had their issues, my brother had his, and me? Well, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with me. What kind of problems could someone like me possibly have?

Academics were challenging enough, but throw in a difficult supervisor, and all you can do is hope and cling to this fragile belief that things will work out in the end. They have to…. Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit.

January kicked off with community health posting, though I can’t say I learned much from it. Sorry, not sorry. February brought a bright spot: my dad’s birthday and definitely the highlight of the month.

March was a blur, but I vaguely remember going to a party where I met someone really cool. Then came April, and everything seemed to happen at once. I met a guy, tackled my first semester exams, and for the first time, dealt with the nightmare that is bedbugs. Oh, and I had my first kiss.

May was all about pediatrics posting, where I crossed paths with one of the most amazing person I’ve ever met. June? That’s easy….I turned 19! It was a bittersweet day, but memorable all the same. Had a bit of fun with my family. My friends joined me in celebrating. Some people care a lot, I think its called love.

By July, it was back to school chaos, including dealing with a nasty supervisor and the dreaded 2nd semester. August wasn’t much better, still school struggles. September was packed with exams and more postings.

October felt really heavy. I cried a lot and got endlessly frustrated by my supervisor, but at least it was my mum’s and big brother’s birthday month, which brought some kind of warmth.

November was when I completely lost a vibe with someone I cared about, which stung a little. And then came December, a mix of moments I can barely explain, the holidays came and If anything, I learned not to expect much from Christmas.

And that was my year. Messy, bittersweet, but mine all the same.

2024 was a rollercoaster, full of highs, lows, and everything in between. I was happy, sad, and even a little depressed. Strangely enough, I kind of miss it. Maybe 2025 will finally be my year. Spoiler alert: I ate the grapes again…probably jinxed it. But honestly, who cares?

It was a year of growth, challenges, and self-discovery. It wasn’t perfect, but looking back, I realize how much I’ve learned about myself and the world around me. I love it.

I learned to be more patient, not everything in life comes when you want it, and most times, it’s better that way. The struggles I faced, whether academically or emotionally, taught me resilience and the importance of showing up even when it felt impossible. I also discovered the value of setting boundaries, not just with others but with myself. Knowing when to rest, when to push harder, and when to let go.

This year, I cherished the small moments: deep conversations with friends, quiet evenings spent reflecting, and the joy of laughing over the silliest things. These moments reminded me that happiness often hides in the mundane. Sometimes the smallest things take the most room in your heart.

One of the hardest lessons I learned was that not everyone is meant to stay in your life, and that’s okay. It’s not about holding onto people or situations that no longer serve you but appreciating the memories they left behind.

Above all, 2024 taught me to trust the process. I’m still a work in progress, but I’ve come to appreciate the journey rather than focusing solely on the destination. I’m grateful for the challenges, the growth, and the love I experienced this year. Here’s to carrying these lessons into 2025 and continuing to evolve.

And as Winnie the pool once said; how lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.