Thanksgiving. It’s the holiday that is filled with food, loved ones, and fun. Maybe you sit around the dinner table with your family, or just hangout on the couch with friends. Maybe you make an enormous home-made meal, or perhaps you order some delicious takeout.

No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, the most important part of the holiday is in the name. The question we always ask ourselves on this day: “What are you thankful for?” It’s the question that asks us to share the love we have for those in our lives and be grateful for the opportunities we have.
However, there are so many things that we love besides our friends and families that we might not always show our gratitude and appreciation for.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks asking members from the Notre Dame community what they are thankful for, aside from friends and family. Everyone had such unique and special answers. I could truly see their genuine passion as they explained the importance of the things they love.

Josie Lafontant ‘23: “I am thankful for the park near my house. I have really easy access to nature and I know that not everyone has that. I love being outdoors and I’m really thankful that I have somewhere close where I can do that.”

Cate Necessary ‘24: “I’m thankful for the ability to go to Notre Dame and have an education. I feel lucky a lot of people probably wouldn’t have this opportunity since it’s an expensive school.”

Nathan Nikkhoo ‘22: “I’m thankful for my dog because she’s always there for me and she’s just fun to hang out with. I like taking her on walks and hikes.”

Ruby Birch ‘23: “I’m thankful for all the books that I have and that I have access to so many that I can read whenever I want.”

Sophia Magner ‘23: “I’m thankful for the fact that I’m healthy and that any problem I’ve ever had is really not a problem when I put it into perspective.”

Katie Vause ‘22: “I’m thankful for being in the amazing Notre Dame theater production of She Kills Monsters. I love all of the cast and crew members and I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to act.”

Mrs. Landinguin: “I am thankful for my religious faith. Without it, I would definitely be lost trying to navigate a challenging world.”

Carson Diaz ‘23: “I am thankful for teachers because they give me the opportunity to learn things I didn’t know before. I like my teachers at Notre Dame because they are really nice and I know they will always be there to help me out.”

Oscar Soto ‘23: “I am thankful for food. I love so many different foods and I am so happy that I get to eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I feel very lucky for that.”

Owen Roback ‘23: “I am thankful for all my pets because a good pet can turn a bad mood into a good one, and that’s what my pets do for me.”

Sophia De Mayo ‘25: “I’m thankful for my two cats because they keep me company and they make me feel less lonely.”

Matthew Uytioco: “I’m thankful for football because I love all my teammates and football is something that makes me happy.”

Ms. Brown: “I’m thankful for my students because they challenge me and help me think differently about the content that I teach. They show up ready to learn with a positive attitude almost every day.”

Ms. McKenzie: “Six years ago, I decided to leave Upstate New York and come to LA. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I’m really thankful for that.”