Before we can look ahead and wonder what’s in store for 2023, we must remember some of the influential moments of 2022. This year was full of powerful moments that altered the course of the world forever. 

 Heading into 2022, the James Webb Telescope entered orbit, giving us unprecedented images of deep space. It opened the door for future space discoveries in 2022.

The international community was rocked in February with Russia’s sudden invasion of Ukraine. A war between the nations broke out, and the world came to Ukraine’s aid by placing sanctions on Russia that impacted foreign trade. The future of this conflict is still uncertain heading into 2023.

 The war continued to consume headlines in March as the fighting worsened and Russia refused to back down. Bombings throughout Ukraine continued and people tried their best to maintain diplomatic talks with Russia in order to end the fighting.

 In April, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed, signifying the first Black woman to serve on the highest court.

 May saw tragedy with the attack on a school in Uvalde, Texas leaving 19 students and two teachers dead. It called into question the government’s plan to set restrictions on the purchasing of firearms. 

 June marked a dark turning point in women’s rights with the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This almost 50 year old piece of legislation has protected the rights of women to safe abortions and its removal jeopardizes the safety of millions across the country.

 Europe began to heat up in July with the UK and several EU countries facing a large heatwave, signaling the imminent consequences of global warming. 

 In August, Monkeypox, a disease transmitted from animals to humans began to spread creating an outbreak in Asia and North America. Numbers began to increase, and countries such as Cuba began to record their first cases. 

 In the UK, September marked the death of longtime monarch Queen Elizabeth II. As the longest reigning monarch in the country’s history, her death left a large hole in the identity of the nation. 

 Looking towards our technology, October saw billionaire Elon Musk take control of Twitter, the social media platform known for its ability to connect the world. Many Twitter workers feared for the future of their careers.

 At the beginning of November, the city of Tokyo made large strides in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, with same sex couples being recognized as married on legal documents. 

 To round out the year, American Britney Griner was released from a Russian prison after being caught with cannabis based products in her luggage. The Biden-Harris administration worked to bring the WNBA star home and after 10 months, she returned to the US. 

 With 2022 continuing conversations about American diplomacy, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and other movements, it is exciting to see what 2023 will hold.