In my previous article, I discussed the many signs that show a college student's weakness towards the end of the fall semester. Just when it starts to feel like we are slipping into a hell of no sleep, no fun, and no joy, we are saved by winter break. For many, this includes a religious celebration with family that is an annual occurrence. Childhood memories dance in our heads as we sit in the airport awaiting our flight. Facebook posts from friends who are also on the journey home fill our timelines. As happy as we are that it is over, it is important to be thankful for the successes and failures of fall semester.
One thing that I believe is extremely important to be thankful for after fall semester is the things we've learned. Sure, you may have hated one of your classes (or all of them, although I would hope this isn't the case) and are ecstatic that it's finally over, but we learned a lot in this span of time. Don't look at it as if we are just "smarter", but look at it as if we are wiser, braver, and prouder.
The second thing that we should be extremely thankful for is the help along the way. Although a semester can go by quick, it wasn't just luck that got us through it. Be grateful for your friends who support you with just a simple smile a day, your professors whose only goal is to make you a more intellectual person than you were the day before, and your family who is balancing their life while wishing you were in it 24/7.
The final thing that I believe we should all be thankful for is our willingness to persevere into the next semester. We will dread when the time comes to return back to campus, but it is so important to realize how strong you are as an individual when you choose to extend your knowledge by coming back to learn more.
The message I really wanted to spread in this short piece was that we should all be extremely proud of ourselves, but thankful for what each semester does for us. Cheers to being brave, strong, and intellectual!
