Thanksgiving is widely celebrated across the United States, and is an important cultural mainstay of the country. For Lake Ridge students, the week surrounding Thanksgiving will be a time spent away from school: to recharge batteries before final exams, and to take stock of the year, as well as life, so far. Thanksgiving is a well-observed holiday, but one that has different meanings to each person. 

As the name implies, Thanksgiving is a time when many consider what they are thankful for. In a world that has been disrupted over the past 2 years by a global pandemic, any return to normalcy is welcomed by many. Senior, Yoshwa Kyei, is thankful for being able to attend school in person this year.

“I am grateful for the ability to be with my peers for my senior year. Though I thrived during the virtual year, I knew senior year would not be the same if I was stuck at home,” explained Kyei. 

As students spend a large portion of their time in the classroom, teachers often build relationships with their students, and can even play an important role in their lives. This is due not only to the teacher-learner relationship, but also because of the large amount of time that teachers spend with their students. Senior, Jacob Bengry, is thankful for the investment of teachers at Lake Ridge into the lives of their students.

“I think we should be grateful for all the sacrifices our teachers have made to bring us to this point in our lives, to help us overcome obstacles and help us prepare for what is ahead in our lives. My favorite teacher is Coach Peralta, I wasn’t always the best in English but he helped me overcome the obstacle,” said Bengry. 

 School is a large commitment for students, but also for staff and administrators as well. These workers maintain the organization of the school, and administrators and counselors also deal with the concerns of the thousands of students who attend Lake Ridge. Senior, Mario Avila, is grateful for the commitment of Lake Ridge towards its students.

 “We should be grateful for having a well maintained campus and one that cares about its students and their safety,” said Avila.

While Thanksgiving represents a break to most students, it also presents a chance to reconnect with family and friends. The big Thanksgiving dinner is an event that is practiced in homes throughout the country on the Thursday of the holiday. For senior, Carrington Sneed, the chance to reconnect, and to enjoy good food, is the most enjoyable part of Thanksgiving.

“I’m really thankful for friends and family and to be around them. Dressing or stuffing is my favorite meal, I also like ham as well as macaroni, there are a lot of good meals for Thanksgiving,” said Sneed. 

Each person has their own favorite aspects of Thanksgiving, but the themes of gratitude, rest, and reflection are constant in an important holiday for many.