Throughout the year, it is easy to get caught up in our hectic schedules and to forget the parts of life that mean the most to us. However, Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to reflect on all the great people in our lives and all that they do for us.
To Mom – Thank you for all that you do for me. We always joke that you’re the family brain and that is hardly an exaggeration. You have taught me and continue to teach me so much about how to be kind to others. I am most thankful for your love and respect for other people and how it has made me become who I am today — someone who tries to stand by others in any circumstance.
To Dad – Your intelligence and commitment to all that you do never fail to inspire me. You have high standards for how you conduct yourself at work and that has influenced me to try my hardest to emulate your behavior both in the classroom and in my own work settings. You act reserved in public situations, but behave like a goofball when we’re at home. I could not be more thankful for the laughter and support that you give me.
To Grandpa – Your work ethic is unlike anyone else that I know. Thank you for showing me that “hard work and a little bit of luck” can get you far in life. I’m so thankful for the time that we spend together when you tell me stories about your life. I am also thankful for the days that I got to spend in your office when I was younger.
To Grandma – I am thankful for every “girls day out” that we have had with one another. Our Panera lunch dates and Paramus Park shopping excursions are some of my favorite memories. So many people that I know either did not know their grandmothers or were not as close to their own as we are, and I value our relationship greatly.
To Erin – I’m so thankful for our friendship, Glenn. You are my best friend and I value the time that we spend together more than I can put into words. We’re able to do practically anything together — whether we’re watching Netflix with goldfish or walking in the dark across campus at the end of the year — and I’ve never had such a relaxed friendship that can also be serious when necessary. Our late-night talks are what I miss the most when I’m home in New Jersey and you’re in Massachusetts, and I’m so glad that my partner-in-crime is going to be coming to London — LONDON, BABY! — next semester with me.
To Pamela – I always laughed when people said that they met their closest friends freshman year on their dorm hall floor, but that’s exactly what happened with us, Pamela. I am so thankful that we were two doors down from each other and that we somehow met by knowing the same people. Our freshman year talks late at night when we were both showering are what made us close and formed the basis of our friendship. You are always capable of making conversation and that is one of my favorite qualities about you. Most of all, I am so thankful that nearly three years later, we are still close friends.
To Carly – You’ve been my best friend since freshman year of high school and I still can’t believe that I ever thought you were a quiet or reserved person. I am so thankful for all the times that you have stood by my side and listened to my rants about what is going on in my life. You have always ranted with me when I needed validation, which is a quality that is sometimes hard to find in a friend. I’m thankful that despite going to different colleges in different states — and now being in different countries for a semester as you continue to pursue your dreams in China —, we still keep contact and update each other on our lives. If I’m honest, I am also thankful that you made me become obsessed with One Direction — even though you lost interest in them shortly thereafter.
To Sydney – We had three classes together freshman year, but I’m so thankful that I went against my usual tendencies and sat down beside you on a whim at lunch one day. Since then, you’ve acted as a constant in my life and we’ve gone through a lot together. You were always there to talk when I needed advice and we both know that I needed advice a lot. I’m thankful for how alike we are because even though it results in quite a few fights and arguments, it reminds me that the most real friendships are the ones where you sometimes want to rip the other person’s head off because they are willing to be real with you. Thank you for educating me on the world in a way that I would not be able to do myself and thank you for calling me out when I still have a lot to learn.
To Amy – I am thankful that I asked for your email the last day of ISEE even though I thought that we would never speak since we did not even speak during the program that summer. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have you in my life. We don’t always talk since we both have busy schedules, but when we do, it’s always full of laughter. I am thankful for all of the YouTube videos that you send me and that you got me into a lot of television shows (my one success, though, is that I managed to get you into “Supernatural”!) I am most thankful that we see each other almost every time that I come home for school breaks; you’re a great friend!
To The Mirror Staff – You’re all so quirky and I don’t know what I would do without you all to go crazy with every Tuesday night when everything inevitably goes wrong. To the past staff members — thank you for allowing me to get to the point where I am today; you gave me an opportunity that does not come around without someone believing in you. To the current staff, thank you for continuously teaching me that hard work, perseverance and teamwork can get you so far — especially when you’re trapped in the office until 6 a.m. on Election Night. I am so thankful to work with a group of devoted individuals.
All of you have had a profound effect on my life in ways that you know and other ways that you may not be aware of. Thank you for all that you have done for me.
