It”s almost time for students to celebrate the things they are thankful for by indulging in turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, stuffing and all other foods that are sure to induce an enormous food coma.
But Thanksgiving is about more than just food. It”s the one time of year when everyone is reminded of the great things in their lives and can share their appreciation of these things with good company.
Thanksgiving has always been a great holiday, but for the average college student, it is invaluable. It”s an opportunity to refuel after wasting away on a diet of mostly ramen and cheap coffee. Believe me, nobody looks forward to Thanksgiving more than a freshman who has been living off cafeteria food for the past three months.
Thanksgiving is also a chance to be reunited with family and, some would say more importantly, pets. Personally, I miss my dog more than anything else. You can talk to family over the phone, but if you”ve ever tried to talk to a dog over the phone, you”ll understand the conversation is pretty one-sided.
Austin Maas
For many, next week will be a much-needed break.
Yet it”s important to remember a lot of students come from far away to study at the University of Idaho and many of those students won”t be able to travel home this Thanksgiving.
For many first-year students, this will be the first Thanksgiving they spend away from home.
For these students, hearing about others” holiday plans probably isn”t fun, but there are a few things caring friends can do about this.
“Friendsgiving,” a kind of pseudo-Thanksgiving, is a rising trend among college students. The holiday is celebrated a collection of friends who are unable to see their families, and instead celebrate together as a makeshift family. Though a large portion of the campus population will be gone for the break, there will still be plenty people in need of a little familial support.
Another solution for friends who plan to go home to their family is to include people who will miss out on their own family Thanksgiving. In the spirit of being thankful, a simple invitation could mean a lot to someone. Any student who would otherwise be stuck on campus would love to receive an invitation to go home with a friend for Thanksgiving. Who knows – that friend could be a phenomenal chef who can contribute skills needed to take a regular Thanksgiving dinner over the top.
It may be hard for some students to say goodbye to their families again to come back to UI after Thanksgiving break, but it”s important to be thankful for the privilege of pursuing a higher education. This Thanksgiving is a chance for students enjoy the company they have, reflect on the greater things in life and, of course, stuff their faces full of potatoes and gravy.
Austin Maas can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @austindmaas