2020 has been a year full of surprises. No one expected life to flow the way it has; the pandemic, lockdowns and racial tension have all made this year go down in history as the most appalling. 

Things have changed for everyone, but life as always, has somehow moved on. And regardless of how bad things have been so far, stability or normalcy still lurks in a distance.

However, given a chance, what would you do if you were to reset 2020?

Olive Uwamariya, a gender activist, says even though the pandemic has significantly impacted the lives of many, she doesn’t think it would be any different if we were to restart 2020.

She, however, says if she were to change anything about this year, it would be the pandemic. 

"Personally, I would want a year that is Covid-19 free basically, and I think that is what everyone wishes for. Because this year has gone by so fast, we feel like we have lost a lot about it. We had so many hopes and dreams for 2020. I remember at the beginning of the year, there was a lot of hope to see 2020 as a year that ushers in a new decade, a new thinking, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been the case. So, I think the only thing I would change obviously would be not having Covid-19,” Uwamariya says.

For Claudine Mwangachuchu, a make-up artist, even though a lot has happened this year, she wouldn’t have it otherwise.

She says that this year has come with a lot of challenges but that it has also come with good things.

"I would change nothing though it’s been a hard and different year for me. I didn’t expect it to be like this but along the way I got blessed, I saw God’s hand in my life and I am grateful for that,” she says.

Peter Kalisa, a sales agent, notes that 2020 caught him completely off-guard. He says that if he had a chance, he would at least prepare himself emotionally.

"Knowing what I know and having seen what has happened all over the world, I think I would have wanted to prepare myself emotionally, this year has been a wreck for me and I believe many others would say the same,” he says.

He also says that he wishes that people weren’t as overly excited as they were for this year.

"This will sound strange but you might think people’s excitement over this year kind of jinxed it for everyone. I hope we learnt a lesson, let’s be careful next time,” Kalisa adds.

Fred Manzi believes 2020 was meant to be a good start for a new decade.

"However what has happened so far has left the world in shock. If I wanted anything to be different for this year, I would end up changing everything.”

He also adds that if he knew what was going to happen this year, he would appreciate people more, be present in the lives of his loved ones and appreciate life more.

Carine Igiraneza says she would rather have life the way it has been this year.

"I wouldn’t change a thing, life this year has hurt me in ways I never thought possible. I have felt pain, to be honest, my life this year has been more like a whirlwind. I have lost so much, I have lost people I love, I have lost so many opportunities in life, but I wouldn’t ask for any more than what this year has brought me,” Igiraneza says.

She adds that among the many things she has benefited from this year’s havoc is her closeness with God.

"My relationship with God has grown on a whole new different level. I have grown as a person and in character, this pandemic and life in general has given me a whole new perspective on life. I wouldn’t trade this for anything else,” she adds.