I find it nearly impossible to scroll through any form of social media without seeing a nostalgic post about the end of the decade. Clips of sappy Disney montages fill my Instagram feed, reminding me that, as a senior, saying goodbye to the 2010s means saying goodbye to my childhood.
When I look back on this decade, I marvel at not only how much I have changed, but also how trends have changed.
I remember trading SillyBandz, the currency of elementary schoolers, during lunch as I ate my Gushers. In 2011, a new obsession with robotic toys surfaced and toys like Zhu Zhu Pets, Fijit Friends and Hex Nanos were suddenly on every kid’s wishlist. As several new robotic toys entered the market, it seemed as if strange, technological creatures replaced human interaction. I believe these toys were the beginning of my technology obsession.
One of the things I will miss most about the early 2010s was that my hardest problem was solving the 3D ball-in-a-maze puzzle, Perplexus.
Now my problems include college applications, standardized tests and passing my IB exams. Still, after seven years, I can never seem to finish the maze.
I remember watching GloZell’s chubby bunny and cinnamon challenge and trying them out for myself, despite the messy result.
Looking back, I wonder what made me think sticking eight marshmallows in my mouth was ever a good idea.
Unfortunately, I will never be able to forget the trends 2013 brought such as the Harlem Shake, “Dumb Ways to Die” and the obnoxious, repetitive song, “Let Me Take a #Selfie,” which seemed to be a defining moment for our social media absorbed generation.
After the release of “Frozen” in 2013, I could not go a day without hearing a classmate hum “Let it Go.”
Though I remember little from 2014, other than it being my first year of teenage angst, I do remember going to a One Direction concert only for the band to tragically break up in 2015. Despite the band’s short-lived presence from their formation in 2010, I still consider One Direction to be one of the best creations in 2010.
But, I believe the greatest creation from the entire decade was Vine. Since Vine’s death in 2017, I have yet to find a replacement for the joy I found watching six-second videos. Though short and often stupid, six seconds had an immense influence on the public.
Years later, I find myself quoting some of my favorite vines. Without context, saying “Welcome to Chili’s” to my mom often makes for a strange and confusing interaction.
Though the constant flow of nostalgic posts in my Instagram feed can be annoying at times, I have enjoyed looking back on the memories I shared with the rest of my generation.
As scared as I am to enter a new stage in my life, I am excited to see what some refer to as this century’s “roaring twenties” will bring.
2020-02-10