By Lila Shortell

If you are anything like me, “2026 is 2016” is all over your TikTok and Instagram. With the dog filter on Snapchat, Pokémon Go and “Hello” by Adele, it is no wonder people are nostalgic for this year. 2016 culture is remembered as more carefree and fun, with simpler social media, viral memes and trends that did not feel as forced or commercial. Today, people are trying to bring it back, and this comeback reflects a desire to escape today’s more serious, overly curated culture and return to something that felt more authentic. This reflection of the year led me to think about Greensboro College and the community in 2016. 

The year was made up of political shocks, sports heartbreak and natural disasters, starting with Donald Trump winning the presidency and setting off intense national debate. North Carolina mourned the Carolina Panthers’ loss at the Super Bowl, Hurricane Matthew caused widespread damage and wildfires burned through the mountains. The state also saw a political shift when Roy Cooper was elected governor.  

To get even more local, Greensboro College moved further into a digital space. The Collegian created its own website to gain an internet presence, the Pride Shop also created an online store to keep up with a digital demand for shopping and in a very 2016 fashion, Greensboro College allowed Marquenette Fuller, class of ‘16, to design a Snapchat filter for the college. (Which, after looking for 45 minutes, is no longer on the app 😦 .) 

In 2016, Greensboro College athletics showed a lot of range, with football and baseball struggling through challenging seasons, while men’s basketball put together a strong 16–11 run, and women’s basketball advanced to the conference semifinals. Several programs made deep postseason pushes, including softball, volleyball, women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse and men’s soccer, all of whom finished with winning or near-winning records and postseason appearances, all falling just short in conference tournaments. The year also marked growth and expansion, highlighted by the launch of the school’s first men’s wrestling season. Overall, 2016 was a year defined by perseverance, competitive postseason runs, and the continued building of Greensboro College athletics. 

2016 now feels less like just a year and more like a cultural reference point. For Greensboro College, that moment marked a shift toward digital creativity, athletics and student-driven expression, laying the groundwork for how the campus engages today. When asking freshman Tatum Braford about the influence of 2016 on this year, she said, “My favorite thing about 2016 was the dab and water bottle flips. It was just fun. 2016 was all about that for me, and I want this year to be fun instead of stressing 24/7. And let us bring back the dab.” As GC continues moving forward, the influence of 2016 shows how embracing change and authenticity can shape a community’s identity while still leaving room to grow.