Bill Gates shared 7 reasons to feel optimistic about humanity in 2017

Bill Gates is ever the optimist.

Despite ongoing political and social unrest, both in the US and around the world, the former Microsoft CEO recently took some time on Twitter to highlight moments of "amazing hope and progress" in 2017.

He later called on others to submit their own inspirational stories, but here are the ones he felt deserved a second look.

A man became the first person in his family to graduate from college.

A Bollywood film tackled one of the country's most pervasive issues.

Two countries eradicated measles.

The World Food Prize winner gave African children a way to support themselves.

The New York Times presented a health argument for doing good.

Schools started encouraging kids to get into 'extreme reading.'

(Gates, an avid reader, couldn't resist throwing his own hat into the ring.)

He concluded the roundup by asking others to reflect: Why should we have hope for 2018?