The holiday season is my favorite time of year and this is my first one as a college student. I have really taken into consideration what I'm truly thankful for this year, and they are definitely much more developed than previous years.

1. Being able to attend UD

I am so lucky to be able to say that I attend the University of Delaware, and I have been having such a great first semester here. I have met so many great people and I have had the opportunity to become a part of something greater than myself. From volunteering with my residence hall for the Ronald McDonald House to attending craft nights for Project Sunshine benefiting kids in the hospital, to becoming an Engagement Coordinator for the largest student organization on campus, UDance, I have had a seriously influential first semester. College has forced me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to try new things and step into new roles that are unfamiliar to me.

2. Having supportive parents

My parents have always been there for me and now they’re just a text or phone call away whenever I need them. A lot of people that I know aren’t as lucky as I am, so I’m really grateful that my parents are so supportive and proud of me. It’s really helpful knowing that my parents are in my corner while I’m here at college because college is hard and they are such a great resource for me.

3. Social Media

Okay, hear me out on this one. I grew up in a town in Pennsylvania that had a decent amount of people in it, but I did meet some really close friends through school, field hockey, and work. Being away from them while at college is really difficult, but social media has truly helped me stay in touch with them. I am really lucky to be living in a technologically based time period because it has truly allowed me to keep such a strong bond with my friends from home while I’m away at college.

4. Anything and everything holiday related

It’s getting to be the time of year where its cold outside and I get to bundle up in my sweaters and turtlenecks and throw on some fuzzy socks while cuddling up with a fuzzy blanket and some hot chocolate. This is my favorite time of year because everything becomes so festive and happy. All the lights and decorations and the weather come together in this wonderful little swirl of festivity. The holiday movies, from the classics to the cartoons, will never ever get old and I cannot wait to start rewatching them.

5. Work

I work with a great group of people and I always have fun with my job, so I can’t wait to go back. I started in March and I’ve grown so close to so many of my coworkers. I've met so many people and I am so lucky to enjoy working so much. I didn’t expect to have so much fun at a first job, and I am so grateful for the way that it turned out.

So overall, I am thankful for everything and everyone in my life. I feel as though college has changed my perspective on life, and for that I am truly thankful.