I know this is a bit late, but here are some current events I wrote for the month of January! Remember we may not have the same opinion on things but that’s okay! It just gives us the opportunity to discuss!

Revealed: After Inaugural Performance, Poet Amanda Gorman Tops The Amazon Bestseller List

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/21/959160843/after-inaugural-performance-poet-amanda-gorman-tops-the-amazon-bestseller-list

Amanda Gorman’s poem was awe-inspiring and drew your attention. Her life is a fascinating one, being raised by a single mother, Amanda suffers from an auditory processing disorder and is very sensitive to sounds. It seems that the things she most struggles with life brought out truly the best in her. At the age of 22, she inspired us all with her poem “The Hill We Climb,” which was inspired by the Capital’s attack on January 6, 2021.

I was moved by her poem and the fact she finished it days before Bidens Inauguration. Her confidence in front of millions of people is something I strive for every day. I want to ask her what went through her mind when she was asked to speak at the inauguration. Was she nervous? Excited? “The Hill We Climb” was an absolute wonder, and I think everyone should go back and listen to it.

Revealed: Covid variant found in UK may be more deadly than others, says Boris Johnson

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/uk/uk-variant-scientists-johnson-intl/index.html

This new covid variant found in Europe is a strain on us all. How can we stand to survive another wave? The news is so depressing and is causing a weight on all of us. “We’ve been informed that in addition to spreading more quickly… there is some evidence that the new variant…may be more associated with a higher degree of mortality,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a press conference. Unfortunately, that isn’t a great encouragement to an already tired and worn out country.

Yes, we should learn everything there is to know about this new strain, but we should also share encouragement and lead one another along with prayers and joy (and maybe a plateful of virtual cookies).

Revealed: Great Escapes

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standard/great-escapes

It surprises me how escape rooms grew to be such an exciting popular family and friends activity. The concept behind it is unique and makes you slightly scared to be in a locked room that you can’t get out. Takao Kato started the idea of escape rooms in Japan around 2007. The creators wanted to put the players in a real-life situation. The escape room idea is to have you and the group of people work together and answer all the clues to get out. Thankfully the room is designed to immediately open if anything goes wrong or if you run out of time. 

I think escape rooms are such a fun idea! Working together to solve things sounds like a unique way to bring unity or cause many arguments. I would be very nervous that a door would malfunction and I’d be permanently stuck, but I think before I push it out of my mind, I’ll try one out!

Let’s chat in the comments, what do you think about these current events?