OK, I will try :
Dear John!
I just received your letter. It's so nice to hear from you after long time. You asked me about the best and worst things that happened to me this year. It's hard to tell whether I had a good or bad year.
Firstly, I would like to describe good things. This year I was able to balance my studies and leisure time well, so I got to go out a lot. Another good thing - I got myself new mobile phone and few gadgets for very good price.
The downside of this year is that my studies weren’t so good and despite all my efforts to change situation I have to correct some subjects marks.
Just as always, it is hard to keep everything good. But I can say that this year thas quite good for me.
Sincere sympathy,
Gleb