By: Drew Mandeville 

     2023 was quite the year: New champions were crowned throughout professional sports, Taylor Swift cemented her empire over teenagers of the 2010s, Lionel Messi became the most decorated soccer player ever, and Barbenheimer (Barbie and Oppenheimer) ruled the summer. As everyone prepares for Christmas time and a new year, they reflect on the highs and lows of the year and make their 2024 New Year’s resolutions.  

     Movies are cornerstones in pop culture and 2023 gave us some more cultural favorites. The summer kicked off with yet another installment of the Transformers universe. The movies everyone was waiting for during the summer were released as Oppenheimer and Barbie, and they were on the big screen for what felt like forever. In the Barbenheimer heyday, people were entertained by Ryan Gosling’s Ken and Margot Robbie’s Barbie as the toys came to life. They were heavily contrasted by the darker and more mature theme of Oppenheimer and its biographical storyline. Taylor Swift’s fans spent the fall going through past memories as they watched Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. 

     The music industry added more to the year as Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour travelled all over the world and allowed teen fans of the 2010s to see her live in concert. Other musical highlights include Harry Styles winning a Grammy for album of the year. Additionally, the music industry saw the release of Drake’s For All the Dogs, as well as Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts earlier in the year. With stars in the music industry taking center stage, athletes in all sports also put up great campaigns. 

      2023 was a year of champions as Premier League super team, Manchester City, won the treble, including winning the Champions League, the FA (Football Association) Cup, and winning the top spot in the Premier League. Other highlights in the world of soccer included eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2023 Time Athlete of the Year, Lionel Messi, per football reference, becoming the most decorated soccer player of all time. 2023 saw another great athlete, LeBron James, become the all-time scorer in the NBA when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February. Baseball recently saw Japanese superstar, Shohei Ohtani, defer $680 million of his $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers to allow the team to bring in more players to give them more of a chance. In NFL news, 2023 featured the Philadelphia Eagles falling in the Super Bowl to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. 2023 was a great year for sports, and the seasons to come will surely be just as exciting. 

     With the year coming to an end, Christmas gifts are unwrapped, and parties are planned for New Year’s Eve, as everyone looks forward to the feeling of “rebirth” that comes with a new year. Students and staff at Eisenhower are hoping for great things ahead in 2024 as they reflect on 2023. English teacher, Ms. Ludwig, commented on the event that affected her in the last year saying, “I think spending two weeks in Spain over the summer was my most impactful event of 2023.” A tradition of New Years includes making a new year resolution and setting goals for a successful next year.  Ms. Ludwig told The Squire her resolution, sharing, “My New Year’s resolution is to say “yes” whenever possible—to be open to new opportunities and experiences.”  

     As we move into a new year, reflect on the past year to make some positive steps towards a great 2024. The Squire would like to thank Ms. Ludwig for taking the time to be interviewed, and they would also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.