Grace Pappadellis ’29

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on February 12, 2026

I am going to take a trite term and do my best to infuse it with some sort of comfortable nostalgia, but also with the notion that we must stay well-informed, vigilant, and understanding of society at all times. History repeats itself. It is repeating itself. 

Sure, the New England Patriots were in the Super Bowl, and whether that was an exciting idea or a completely devastating fact for someone, it is reminiscent of 2016, when the Pats were on top, and New England families, like my own, were ecstatic and proud. Snow has been falling, similar to our childhood holidays, we are embracing fashion from the early 2010s, and young voices are prominent in the way 2016 had a sudden hankering for new types of internet culture and development of aesthetics. On the other hand, society is once again experiencing an increased amount of political polarization, and regardless of your level of privilege or conscious decision to engage or disengage, politics are affecting everyone. Changes that we were facing in 2016 felt monumental, and although a decade has passed and the country has undergone different structural changes, it seems we are in a very similar place—possibly living through the consequences of our previous political choices. 

With that being said, although nostalgia is a wonderful feeling, and understanding the political and social state of society does not mean we have to collectively ignore the avenues for joy, we should acknowledge every event, every issue, and every accomplishment. We need to let go of the concept that joy, or political neutrality, rather, and being knowledgeable, empathetic, and proactive around topics we may be removed from, should not be mutually exclusive. To add my own essence of where I stand politically—remaining neutral won’t get us anywhere, and you can be a happy, well-rounded person while staying informed, advocating for those who cannot, and remembering that cutting yourself off from the real news, the real truth, will forever hinder your authentic understanding of the society you, yourself, live in. 

2016 marked an enormous political divide. Social media was making a huge impact on society, creating new exposure to opinions, news, and all sorts of nuanced ideas. People were emboldened by such a polarized society, their interest in politics increasing, and although real human involvement is important to support a democracy, the politics circulating harbored heavy partisanship, hate, and a lack of consideration for different people living in this country. Today, in 2026, TikTok has become a main news source for people, in lieu of credible news stations, newspapers, and web articles. When having conversations about current events today, you’re more likely to hear a person, especially a young person, say, “Did you hear about x, y, and z? I saw a TikTok about it,” than referencing a news station. Thirty-second social media clips are accessible, easy to understand, and allow people to neglect their accountability to read and learn about what is really happening in the world. The inability to absorb credible news is leading to ignorance of the parallels between 2016 and 2026. 

President Donald Trump built his 2016 campaign on building a wall to keep immigrants out of the country. Today, the Trump administration funds and defends Immigration and Customs Enforcement that actively terrorizes citizens of our country. Repetition is not a comfort when the repetition is detrimental to the livelihood of people living in the country, living in constant fear that they are subject to ICE’s brutal modes of operation. Ignoring these parallels and deeming the state of the country as “not our problem” sets us back not only to 2016, but to eras when voices of marginalized groups were considered invalid and meaningless. 

As 2026 rolls on, we must stay keen on learning, so we can have an abundance of knowledge on the state of the country, knowledge that can never be taken away. Consuming credible news and listening to multiple sources makes us more credible people! Since history is repeating itself in many forms, we can appreciate our need to reminisce, but we can also appreciate our obligation to change. We need to plan our future so it can be different from our reality, and we can maneuver through every hardship and indefinite struggle with more intelligence, fortitude, and veracity. More than 2016. Even more than this moment in time.