Leslie Arietta
The weather is changing and the leaves are falling. Students are cleaning out their dorms and packing up their suitcases. The semester is almost over and Thanksgiving break is on its way. Most students are fortunate enough to be going home for the holidays, but unfortunately I am not one of them.
I am a California girl going to a university in Texas. Being a college student, it is not easy financially, during the holidays. I am on a college budget and have to work to pay for my tuition and other necessities. Other students are fortunate enough to live in state and only have to drive a couple of hours to spend the holidays at home. My story is different I need a plane ticket to get home for the holidays and this year I cannot afford to go home for Thanksgiving, but do not make assumptions that all out of state students will not make it home. I know quite a few students who are fortunate enough to go home for the holidays who live outside of Texas.
Just because I cannot be home for Thanksgiving does not mean I am not appreciative for this holiday. I am more than fortunate to have friends and loved ones around me to spend the holidays with. If you are one of the few college students not going home for the holidays do not worry you are not alone and you can still make the best of your holidays with your friends. My friends and my boyfriend are my family away from home. I am fortunate that my boyfriend is from Texas so I get to spend the night before Thanksgiving with his family. Yes I said the night before Thanksgiving because we are college students with part time jobs that are open on Thanksgiving. Instead of a nice Thanksgiving dinner I will be having a nice Thanksgiving lunch.
Some people say Thanksgiving is about the food, the football, family or shopping. For me this year Thanksgiving will be about how much I appreciate the little things I have in life. Although I cannot spend the holidays with my family I can still spend it with my loved ones and friends. Being a college student is tough around the holidays, but it is what you make of it at the end of the day. So whether you are with your family, your friends or loved ones during the holidays never forget the little things in life that makes Thanksgiving special to you.