Since Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, we should start thinking about all the reasons why we are celebrating on that day. From your wonderful friends and family, to the school that we all love so much, the list keeps going on. For the most part, we should always be grateful for all these things as much as possible, but sometimes life takes over and, as college students, we get distracted.
For me and I am sure many others, I have never been quite as busy as I am this semester. But with everything going on, we have to remember to take a moment and reflect on all of the positives in our lives. We are all guilty of claiming we have had a terrible morning after something as simple as a traffic jam, or spilling your coffee over your class notes. It's true that it's sometimes hard to see past the bad things in your own life, however, occasionally things come up that really make you think.
What really brought all of this on was a talk I had with the sweetest, cutest and smartest little girl I have ever met. I work a few days a week at a local elementary school tutoring first through third graders. Normally, my day is pretty basic. Some math, some reading, the occasional craft, but yesterday was different. Yesterday I met a child who really made me think about what all I take for granted. I never really thought about the home lives of the children I work with, but now I can't seem to shake it from my mind. This little girl told me that she wasn't allowed to take the bus home because it didn't take her to where she lived. At first, I didn't think much of this, since growing up on the outskirts of town the bus didn't go to my house either. But then she said something else. She told me that the bus only went to real houses, but it didn't go to the shelter that she was at. At that point, I realized that this sweet little girl, wearing all pink with her blonde hair braided in pig tails, was homeless.
After talking with some of the teachers, I found out that multiple kids in the school are homeless. Many of them also abused or neglected. I can't imagine myself as a young child having the stress of not having a home or knowing where my next meal was coming from. It breaks my heart to see the majority of the kids I work with battling things so out of their control. I had just been complaining that morning about how unexcited I was to do my homework and clean my apartment when I got home. Being only 19 and having my own room, my own apartment, my own car and the chance to study at one of the nation's best schools is something that some of these children may never get to experience. I'm sure most of you reading this can say that you have many things that most of these kids don't.
With that being said, think about all of the places in your local area, big or small, that are there to help children who can't help themselves. Whether it be a homeless shelter, a food bank or even a toy drive for Christmas, I’m sure they would be thrilled to have more volunteers. Being thankful isn’t just thinking about how nice things are going for you, it's giving back to a cause that matters and making a difference. Even with a busy schedule, it's important to remember the role you play in your community and the importance of giving back to those less fortunate.
This is your daily reminder to be thankful, give back and make a difference.
