The end of term is fast approaching, and like schools across Scotland, Parliament is about to break off for its summer recess.

Sitting down to write my final column of the term, it’s difficult to believe everything that has happened over the last year.

In fact, I don’t think I can recall a parliamentary term as eventful as this in my almost twenty years as an MSP.

The SNP recently marked ten years in office, but the pace of day to day government has not slowed down. This year we've introduced new measures to support business and job creation, the transformational investments in Scotland's transport network are now beginning to take shape, and we finished the year unveiling radical and bold reforms to how our schools are run.

Of course, recent months have been blighted by many tragic events – the dreadful terror attacks in London and Manchester, and the horrific Grenfell Tower fire.

It is difficult to make sense of such loss of life. But in the midst of all these terrible events, we also heard stories of incredible courage and selflessness and of communities pulling together.

Politically, it feels like the last year has just been one shock after another.

It’s safe to say that not many people expected Donald Trump to win the US election – and his Presidency continues to dominate the international agenda.

But it is an event closer to home that has had a much greater effect on my work as both a Glasgow MSP and First Minister over the last year – the Brexit vote.

We’ve just marked one year since that shock result – a referendum in which, don’t forget, Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.

In recognition of the outcome in Scotland, we’ve spent much of the last year trying to find a way to preserve as much of Scotland’s relationship with the EU as possible when the UK leaves.

But our efforts have so far been completely ignored by the UK Government.

While we have a clear plan to respond to Brexit, one year on, the Tories are still almost totally unable to answer basic questions about what they want our future relationship with Europe to look like.

And unbelievably, they last week pressed ahead with the planned opening of the negotiations with Brussels – despite having no plan, no mandate and no consensus about what they want to achieve.

The only thing we know for sure is that this Tory government has shown itself to be very poor at negotiating – just look at their cack-handed attempts to get the DUP to agree to prop them up in Government.

So we can have little faith in their ability – or even willingness – to get the best Brexit deal that supports Scotland’s distinct economic interests.

It’s essential that Scotland and the other devolved administrations are given a seat at the Brexit negotiating table.

It’s not just me saying that – Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones is of the same view, as are business leaders and even the new Tory Scotland Office Minister Ian Duncan.

All of us want to get the best deal from Brexit – it’s in everybody’s interests.

The softer the Brexit, the lesser the economic damage caused – so the SNP will continue to make the case for Scotland and the UK remaining in the Single Market.

This would end so much uncertainty for Scotland’s businesses and our people.

Not only do tens of thousands of Scottish jobs depend on the Single Market, but our close economic ties to Europe have tangible benefits that all of us enjoy.

Some of you might be fortunate enough to be going on holiday to EU countries in the next few weeks.

As EU citizens you can travel to all the EU countries - such as Spain, Portugal, France and many more – without having to pay for a Visa, without even having to get your passport stamped – all with the minimum of fuss.

You can get free medical treatment if you need it – and thanks to a deal which came into force recently, you can use your mobile phone across the EU without having to pay roaming charges.

Benefits such as these are quite possibly lost to us if Theresa May succeeds in her objective of pulling us out of the single market.

This month's election result should be the final nail in the coffin for the Tory hard Brexit.

Theresa May called a snap election, asking people to give her a massive parliamentary majority ahead of the vital Brexit negotiations beginning with Brussels – but instead voters took away her majority.

This result cannot just be ignored – whether the Tories like it or not, it means they must change their whole approach to Brexit.

They must now try and reach consensus with others.

They must look again at the Scottish Government’s proposals, which were designed to reach just that sort of consensus.

It was Harold Wilson who famously said that a week is a long time in politics.

Looking back at how much things have changed over the last year, it’s hard to disagree.

There is a lot for politicians of all persuasions to reflect on - and all of us must consider how to maximise the benefit of Scotland's considerable underlying economic strengths in the years ahead.

Whatever your plans are for the summer, I hope you have a good one.