Thanksgiving is upon us, and before we rush into the business and consumerism that comes with the Christmas Season, It's important to take a time to reflect on all the blessings we have. Here's what I'm thankful for this year...

First off, I'm thankful for my family. They are so supportive and loving, and I don't think I'd be able to pursue a career in film or be who I am without their support. I'm thankful for my mother, who is always there to support me in any way that I need. She is incredibly selfless and has taught me so much over the years. I'm thankful for my dad, for how he is interested in my interests, how he supports my family and me, and how he spends time with us and invests in us. I'm grateful for my loving, and often sarcastic little brother Noah, and how he can always make me laugh. I'm thankful for my adorable little sister and how much energy and excitement she has about everything. I'm grateful for my amazing grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles. My family is such a blessing in my life, and I'm so grateful that God gave me the people that he did.

I'm thankful for my College. I know that I made the right choice. Huntington is the perfect university for me, and I am thankful for teachers who are dedicated to academic excellence and their students, for all of the amazing experiences that the school has provided, and for all of the fun that I'm having.

I'm thankful for my friends, both new and old. I've been blessed to have amazing friends throughout my life, in several different states, who have supported me and helped me to grow during different times in my life. I'm also grateful for my new friends at college who are helping me to adapt, have fun, and grow. To anyone who has invested in me or been a friend to me, thank you. You've made a difference in my life, and I wouldn't be where I am without you.

Finally, I'm thankful to be alive. There are so many beautiful things that I take for granted, and if I weren't alive, I wouldn't get to experience any of them. A friend of mine recently took her own life, and it has put a lot of things into perspective. I am thankful for every single breath that I breathe and for every second of every day that I experience. I'm grateful for living out 18 years on this planet so far, for the county and states that I have lived in, for all the beauty I've been able to experience, for everything I've learned and have yet to learn, and for being who I am.

For these, and so many more reasons, I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.