by Julia Preston
Every year, someone inevitably asks, “So, what are you thankful for?” It’s one of those questions that can go either way. You can give the easy answer: friends, family, health (which there is absolutely nothing wrong with). But this year, I ask you to let the question sink in a little deeper. What are you really thankful for? Tell us in the comments below.
When I take a step back, I realize I’m surrounded by opportunities to learn and grow, and I have the means and ability to set goals for a career and future that once felt out of reach. I’m deeply thankful for the ability and privilege to focus on school rather than the basic necessities of trying to survive. I’m thankful for professors who genuinely care, not just about my grades, but about my well-being and my future.
That kind of support makes a world of difference.
Honestly, my list could go on forever, but I’ll stop here and leave you with this: gratitude doesn’t have to be grand or poetic. Sometimes it’s simply recognizing the little things around you. And maybe that as simple as the consistency of routine.
Here are a few things my professors and peers are grateful for….
Megan Heber: Every year, I’m grateful for Alton Brown’s “Good Eats” turkey recipe. Somehow, it makes the main course come out perfect, no matter what chaos is happening in the kitchen.
Rita Kirk: I’m going to be a grandmother any time around the holiday. What a treasure to welcome the future!
Sandra Duhé: I’m thankful for opportunities to teach, learn, and love with so many wonderful people in my life ❤️
Steve Lee: The expected answer is that I’m thankful for my children and grandchildren. For sure, I feel that way. They are at the center of me.
But honestly, I’m grateful for all the fun, weird, strange, bizarre, interesting, exclusive, and cool things I’ve gotten to do in my short lifetime. Students have heard some of my rock-and-roll adventures. But there are many, many more.
Each day I wake up thinking of all the funky things life has dealt me, and I smile.
Rosanne Hart: I am most grateful for The Porch Ladies, my tribe of 4 incredible women in my neighborhood who are a constant source of laughter, support in good times and bad, and who love wine, bubbles, and chocolate. We bonded over “Thirsty Thursday,” which some of my students will remember if they were in my Principles of Public Relations class. One is an esteemed professor in CCPA!!
Isabella Grover: I am thankful for SMU’s beautiful campus, family and friends, and that Thanksgiving break got extended this year! Thanks, President Hartzell!
Alex Severs-Turner: I am grateful for my family’s unwavering support in whatever I set out to accomplish. Being far away from home makes me particularly grateful for the people who make Dallas feel like home to me. Last but not least, I’m thankful for my puppy Theodore because he brightens my day every day.
Ashley Pitts: This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my friends and family and for my senior year at SMU.
Caroline Burke: I’m thankful for the people in my life who make every day better. I’ve had so many new experiences this year, like studying abroad last semester and meeting so many amazing people, and I’m grateful for all the change and growth that came with it, even the unexpected parts, because it pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t realize I needed. From big moments to the small ones, everything this year has brought has made it feel really special.”
CCPA: Sorry, just couldn't resist the old turkey on the head trick. Made you laugh!
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