As the Thanksgiving and holiday season is upon us, it is natural to think of all the things we are grateful for in our lives: friendships, family, a warm meal, or a place to rest our heads at night. So, in honor of Thanksgiving, these are the five things I am grateful for this year.
- Spending More Time with My Family
As the pandemic has sent college students across the world home, many are once again living with their parents, siblings, and other family members. Although college is the time to spend away from home, there is still something to be said about being around your loved ones in this difficult time. Dining hall hang-outs have now switched to family dinners, and events on campus are now family movie-nights. I will always be grateful to spend time with those who care for me most.
- Being Able to Continue My Education from Home
Ever since the academic landscape has shifted to the virtual environment, I think about how privileged I am to be able to access the technology to pursue my degree. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in April 2020, found that 20 percent of parents with homebound school children said it is “very likely or somewhat likely their children will not be able to complete their schoolwork because they do not have access to a computer at home.” This puts things into perspective for me as a college student. Being able to receive an education is a privilege in and of itself, and I am grateful to be in this position.
- Time to Reflect
Being at home and having nowhere to go means more reflection time. Sometimes we get so caught up with our day-to-day obligations that we do not take time to sit back and listen to what our inner voice might be telling us. I have been looking back at my time at Georgetown and think about all the memories I have made. I look forward to making the most of my time there once we, hopefully, return to campus in the future.
- Having More Time to Read
I did not realize how much time I have on my hands since I am not walking to my classes and all the social events take place through my computer. With that time, I have been compiling a list of books I would like to read at some point. In the latter years of high school, I was an avid reader and probably read about one to two books a month but, when I got to college, that quickly did a 180. But now that I do not have anywhere to be, I love to stick my nose into a good read. I love fiction, self-help, and productivity books. It is always a good time when I keep my mind stimulated with activities outside my academics.
- Being a Georgetown Storyteller
I officially became a Storyteller about a year ago, and I can confidently say that it has been one of the highlights of my time at Georgetown so far! I have met so many other Georgetown students who share the same passion for videography and storytelling as me. It has truly been an honor to be apart of such a prolific project at Georgetown, and I look forward to continuing my journey as a Storyteller.