If you had told me that this is what sophomore year would look like a year ago, I would have never believed you. However, despite the craziness and unpredictability of these past months, I wouldn’t trade them for the world. Stepping away from campus has led me into what really matters. Here is a short list of the infinite blessings I am thankful for this year:
- Being sent home has brought me much closer to my family. Quarantining obviously isn’t anyone’s top pick for activities to do together, but it forced us to find things to do and spend copious amounts of time together. As a homebody, I can easily miss my family when at school, so college at home with them is a unique but fun experience. When I look back at my time in my hometown, I am extremely grateful for the memories we created making lemonade out of lemons.
- While being apart from my university friends for months is difficult, it also shows how much we care about each other and put in the effort to stay as close as we were at school. From sending letters to hours of video calls to book swaps, it is amazing to see how our little community stays connected across the world. I feel incredibly fortunate to have a great group of people always around and supporting me from Georgetown.
- I have been able to dive into my favorite hobbies at home, while at school I may not have had the time or opportunity to. My siblings and I will spend hours in the kitchen baking anything and everything. My queue of books-to-read has significantly shortened! These hobbies are really important to me outside of school, and have helped my schedule stay grounded and well-rounded, rather than completely invested in solely school.
- The time away from Georgetown has given me the opportunity to reflect on what matters to me and what my long-term goals are. In Washington, everything moves so fast, but slowing down and realizing what I want to prioritize will definitely equip me to excel once we are back on campus.
- Although the closure of businesses and schools has been difficult for everyone, it opened to doors to outside adventures. I have been on more hikes during quarantine than the rest of my life combined, exploring everywhere from the Delaware Water Gap to upstate New York. Being more connected to the environment has been really eye-opening for me, and is something I have grown to be so thankful for. While I will miss the accessibility to nature once we are back in the city, I have definitely learned to make the time to get outside and close my laptop.
Everybody’s year has been anything but what is expected, but the things I am thankful for will always be there. It doesn’t matter where I am, but my relationships and priorities are the most important things to hold onto. You can never expect for life to change in the blink of an eye, but you can decide how you respond to it. This thanksgiving, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for the things I have learned, the experiences I have, and the people I love, and I hope you are too!