And the world of Formula 1 is no different - some drivers have consistently excelled while others have had a campaign to forget.
A record 21-race season gives us plenty to reflect on as the year draws to a close, so we want you to tell us your top three heroes and villains from the past nine months.
Hamilton in Monaco? Rosberg in Singapore? Verstappen, um, everywhere? You decide...
We've asked BBC F1 experts to give us their three best and three, well, most disappointing drivers of 2016. We will reveal their views, alongside the collective results of what you all thought, later.
Who were the best during 2016?
Who were the biggest underachievers during 2016?

The disease, historically associated with sea explorers, has been found in seven diabetes patients at Westmead Hospital in western Sydney.
Scurvy is now a rare condition caused by having too little vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in your diet.
Professor Jenny Gunton discovered the latest cases after treating a patient whose leg wound would not heal.
She said scurvy could be more widespread than previously thought.
"There's no particular link to diabetes ... except that if you have a poor quality diet you're more likely to get diabetes," said Prof Gunton, who heads the Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology research at The Westmead Institutes.
"But of course, a lot of people with diabetes eat perfectly reasonable diets."
Health authorities in Australia do not generally test for scurvy or keep statistics on patients suffering from it.
However, Prof Gunton said the disease was easy to prevent.
"Eat some fruit, eat some vegetables - and don't overcook the vegetables," she told the BBC.
"If you really can't manage that, take one vitamin C a day. But healthy diet is the better fix."
Is scurvy making a comeback?

The arrangement will see Glasgow-based Clyde Space build two small satellites called CubeSats to observe the changing biology of the surface ocean.
Scientists believe it has implications for the marine food chain, fisheries and climate scientists, among others.
Clyde Space said the collaboration could be a "game changer".
The project is being led by John M Morrison, Prof of Physics and Physical Oceanography at the University of North Carolina.
It also involves scientists from other organisations such as Nasa and the Hawk Institute for Space Sciences.
Clyde Space chief executive Craig Clark said: "We're extremely excited to be involved in this mission.
"Previous missions have used large satellites which come with a big price attached whereas the CubeSats are flexible, low-cost and economically viable."
Clyde Space specialises in producing small satellite, nanosatellite and CubeSat systems.
It built the UKube-1 which was launched into space from Kazakhstan in July last year.

The 26-year-old Senegal international was airlifted to hospital after a crash on the M4 motorway in London on Sunday.
The injury also means he will miss the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
"He isn't having the best of times, but we're all very supportive," said Pardew. "We love Pape and can't wait to have him back."
Souare is expected to be released from hospital on Saturday.
When asked how much of the season Souare would miss, Pardew said: "Four, five months. Maybe six, he should be up and running again.
"I don't think we have any concerns about Pape returning. It was a broken thigh, that should repair as normal."
Palace are yet to learn the extent of the damage to some of Souare's muscles, but Pardew said the player was "very lucky".
He added: "It was a terrible accident. We owe a huge debt to the London Air Ambulance and the surgeons who helped him."
Souare, who joined side Palace from French club Lille in January 2015, has made 46 Premier League appearances for the Eagles.
Palace host Stoke on Sunday (14:15 BST)
It's safe to say 2016 been a truly memorable year for a whole host of reasons - some very good, some utterly awful.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Doctors in Australia have reported a resurgence in patients suffering from scurvy.
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The company which designed and built Scotland's first satellite has teamed up with US-based scientists to develop new technology to study ocean biology.
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Crystal Palace defender Pape Souare will be out for up to six months after breaking his thighbone in a car crash, says manager Alan Pardew.