Giving Thanks to What Really Matters

By Julianna Mirabile

     Every year, families and friends gather on the third Thursday of November to stuff their faces. It’s a time where your crazy great Aunt Sally comes up from Oklahoma just to bring her popular cranberry sauce. Or when your long lost cousin shows up to take the cornbread and leave. Whatever the situation, the environment is kept pleasant and the stomachs are kept full. This carefree day is one where Americans give their thanks to the things around them that they take for granted in their everyday life. When Glenelg High School Senior, Zack Odachowski, was asked to digress from the generics, such as friends, family, and food, he said he is thankful for, “The memories I have when I travel. I am grateful that I get the opportunity to depart from the states and see amazing places with my family, such as St Thomas and Jamaica.” Being capable of leaving your hometown and visiting astonishing new places is something that should be appreciated by many.

     Another Glenelg High School student, Wande Owens, is a Junior who is on the football team. He says he is thankful for, “Having the skills needed to play football by being healthy and having a coach that pushes us to stay determined.” Owens recently recovered from a leg injury that kept him unable to play for four games. He is thankful that he had a quick recovery and was able to come back committed to becoming an even stronger player.

     Lastly, Glenelg Senior, Brittany Anderson, stated that she is grateful for her jobs, “Going to work everyday and earning my own income has helped me gain a stronger work ethic.” Anderson currently works at the Town Grill and is a nanny to two elementary school children. She is thankful for being able to acquire two enjoyable jobs that she looks forward to going to, as well as making money that she can save up for her future plans.

     Overall, Glenelg High School students are grateful for the fortunate lives they live. When digging deeper into what they are really thankful for, it showed that many privileges could easily be taken for granted. When Thanksgiving Day comes around this year, make sure to look at the bigger picture before digging into Grandma’s stuffing.