On Being Thankful

As the holiday season arrives, it’s the perfect time to pause and find reasons to be thankful. If you’re a student early in your high school career, hopefully you have settled into the groove of your classes and have begun exploring one or two activities that are genuinely meaningful to you. You may or may not be thinking about colleges yet, but the most important thing you can do at this point is to challenge yourself academically and invest your time outside the classroom in ways you enjoy.

Juniors, you are most likely experiencing the most pressure of your high school career. You are preparing for standardized tests, trying to keep your grades up, and most likely hearing a wide range of advice from well-meaning friends, family members, and interested bystanders. You may feel pressured to start joining every club offered at your school to pad your resume, or conversely, you may opt to lock yourself in your room binging Netflix. Questions about life after graduation are likely coming at you rapidly, and if college is in your plans, the options may seem overwhelming.

Seniors, the end is in sight! More than likely, you have finished with standardized testing, you have completed some or all of your college applications, and you will be graduating in just a few short months.

Students, wherever you are in your high school career, I urge you to think about what makes you the most proud and practice gratitude. Whether for a teacher who has inspired you, a coach who has pushed you, or for a parent who has supported you no matter what, there is undoubtedly someone in your life deserving of your appreciation. So, take a moment this week to say an extra thank you—I think you’ll find it’s worth the effort.