The Columbia College Student Experience: What are you thankful for?

I'm thankful this year for finishing my Bachelor's degree next month--I'm 26 and I've been in school for 7 years now, so it's about time!! In the same vein, I'm also thankful for my internship in the Ecenter at Columbia, a train commute long enough to provide time to do homework (and my Upass!), and coffee--especially coffee.

I am thankful for the fact that Columbia is so diverse. It has opened my eyes to so many new people and activities! I am also thankful for my family and that I am fortunate enough to live close enough to home that I can go home any weekend I want.

I am thankful to have a family, AND a school that supports what I want to be when I grow up!

I am very thankful for many things this time of year. I am mostly thankful for my wonderful family who have not only financially (thanks mom & dad) but everyway possible supported me in all i do! I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.
I am also thankful for being able to attend columbia (polishing off my 1st semester @columbia)
Happy Thanksgiving!

i'm thankful for the sacrifices my parents and grandparents made for me to get a college degree, making me only the third in my family to do so. there is nothing i could say that would ever let my parents know exactly what it means to me

I'm thankful to be living in Chicago during such a time of change in our country. I'm thankful that I was able to be apart of that change. I'm thankful that I can share this time with my Grandfather, who never thought he would live to see this day.

I'm thankful my sister is coming to visit me from SC for thanksgiving because I couldn't afford the plane ticket back home. I'm thankful that my family is happy and healthy.

I'm thankful for my wonderful neighbors with whom I will be experiencing my first vegetarian thanksgiving.

I'm thankful that our next president, Barack Obama, has the best chance out of anyone to save our sinking economy, healthcare system, education...and the list goes on. Because of him, I am able to be somewhat thankful that next semester is my last. Graduating in the worst economy in years has never delivered such optimism...

I am thankful for my college education, that is single handidly making me broke, unhappy, and fulfilling at the very same time.
I'm thankful for my handy CTA card that saves me $16 bucks every week, & of course for the CTA.
I am thankful for my boyfriend, who is currently my personal chauffeur. (:
I am thankful for the Carribou Coffee on Wabash that endulges me every Wednesday afternoon.
I am most thankful for my crazy Greek family, who have taught me that feasts are not only for the Thanksgiving holiday.
And just thankful for Thanksgiving in general, for releasing me from school, for being the one holiday I don't count calories,
& for allowing me to spend some good ol' quality time w/ the fam.
Boy I love the holidays.

Im thankful for the skies being blue, the ocean not overflowing, and this life that has been granted to me by the grace of GOD!!! Yes! this year has been a great and inspiring year! From not knowing if college would be in my goals to being in college reaching my goals! My life is made out of THANKS! And also the blessing of seeing the First Black pesident!! In the City were it all started! I have to be the most thankful person in Columbia!!! And I could be dwn, but this life is too thankful for me!!!!!

I'm thankful that I can walk, so I can run upstairs to my room when days go bad.
I'm thankful that I can see so I can view my reflection and know is me.
I'm thankful that I can feel emotionally and physically.
I'm thankful that I can smell what stinks so I can compare it to what smells divine.
I'm thankful that I can taste because there's nothing more delicious than mom's cooking on Thanksgiving.
I'm thankful that I have a family, that I can pass the plate to.

Each year when Thanksgiving comes around it's great to talk about your thankful for.

I am thankful for being able to go through college and not have to worry about paying a dime because my family was kind enough to know that I needed a college education and might not be able to pay for it. They have taught me to do this for my children and grandchildren.

I am thankful for being able to live in the residence hall that gives me plush lifestyle that I may not be able to afford ever again in my life.

I am thankful that I found a college nearby where I grew up so I can easily get home for the holidays and to add to that, I am thankful that decades ago workers needs’ led to the construction of a commuter train that allowed people to get from South Bend, IN to Chicago, IL. This train, the South Shore, allows me to be home for the holidays easily. This I am thankful for.

I am thankful for being able to participate in student organizing on Columbia College's campus through SGA or SOC. And I'm thankful for all those who have helped promote or organize my media reform group.

I am thankful for being on the path to pursuing the career of my choice. And while I do not know what job or occupation I will be filling, it doesn’t matter. The uncertainty allows me to freely mold my mind and take control of my future without feeling boxed in and restricted.

I am thankful that I am politically and socially aware of what goes on in America. That awareness has allowed me to write articles for OpEdNews.com that I believe people enjoy reading.

I am thankful for being in Chicago at critical point in U.S. history---thankful I was able to participate in a Grant Park rally where Barack Obama gave his victory speech.

There's a flipside, however. I am thankful I didn't drink the kool-aid and vote for Obama. I held true to my values and principles and voted for Nader and I am thankful for being able to follow the Nader campaign through to Election Day.

I am thankful for being confident and optimistic. And I am sure that I wouldn't want to have it any other way. I do entertain a certain level of cynicism but I always come back to believing that the "greater good" will some day be achieved.

I am thankful that I was born here and not there. I came out of my mother on American soil and not somewhere else and for that, I must admit that I am given luxuries that most people are never given. But what makes my appreciation different from others is that I do not feel I am entitled to these luxuries and I do not feel I am entitled to these luxuries at the expense of others.

I am thankful that I do not believe being white gives me more privileges than brown people.

I am thankful that I do not believe we should have a health care system that isn’t single-payer.

I am thankful that I do not believe we should simply donate to the needy on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We should be doing everything we can to change policy so the needy can move up rungs on the “class ladder” instead of falling further down.

I am thankful that I do not believe we should use our power to hurt, torture, and militarily strike the hearts and minds of other nations.

I am thankful that I do not believe we are exempt from international laws and treaties that we help broker.

And lastly, I am thankful that I do not believe that our president is exempt from impeachment. He's not exempt because he will pardon a turkey this Thanksgiving. He's not exempt because impeachment is a waste of time or because it may cause some politicians to lose. People who ruin our system of government should not be allowed to continue to run this country.

As we give thanks on Thanksgiving, I ask that you join me in being thankful that we still have a shot at saving this country and planet. Be thankful that people like you and me live in America. And be thankful that social movements where people spread awareness to all people have a way of bringing about radical change.

In addition to my family, it’s that hope that keeps me safe and warm this Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for: (in no particular order)

*The $1 food section of Walgreens that provides me with nourishment 24 hours a day.
*The CTA buses and trains that get me everywhere I need to go...eventually.
*My dog, Eli, for being my roommate and bringing so much light to my life.
*Making it out of Cleveland, Ohio to Chicago where I learned about myself, other people, and the general world around me.
*My job at the neighborhood animal shelter where I get paid to save lives.
*The beautiful and strange community of Columbia College that never objects when I "go there," and provides a real-world education that I will draw from for the rest of my life.
*The family that continues to support me in all of my decisions, even when they don't always understand them.
*The friends that I can depend on for a good conversation, spare change, or ride home.

Overall, I am blessed to be the richest poor person you will ever know. I am thankful for any being or thing that makes this happen every day.

I'm thankful for being able to be getting an education, in a city like Chicago, not to mention being able to receive it in the middle of the south loop with opportunities and experiences around every corner. I am thankful for the new CCC building on Michigan Avenue, that we are lucky enough to have so much modern technology and up to date work spaces. Im thankful for all of the beautiful people that surround me on campus, everyone is so unique and perfect in their own way and we are lucky to surround ourselves with these students, faculty and staff every day. I am thankful for my family and friends back home, but i also love and cherish the family away from home that i find in everyone i meet and see and speak to each day. This wonderful life, and community of people that i am living it with is more than i could ask for.
And I am thankful.

I am thankful for my family. If it wasn't for my mother, I wouldn't be the woman I am becoming. She has taught me how to be compassionate, generous, and caring. My dad is the reason I was able to come to Columbia and always helps me whenever money is tight and I need groceries. He also helped me fix up my apartment and put in a lot of his free time to get it looking nice. I'm so grateful for my education: I know I'm so fortunate because I was able to go to an amazing high school, and I'm thankful that my dad was able to send me to Columbia, the college of my dreams. I'm thankful for everything I've learned at school so far: it has really opened up my mind and I've become more creative than I ever thought I could be. I'm thankful for my apartment because living on my own in the city has taught me to be independent. Also, I'm thankful that I get the chance to live in Chicago because I love this city, and it has given me the opportunity to see things I never thought I would be able to see, such as seeing the first African American president get elected first-hand. Most of all, I'm thankful for the opportunities I've been given and all the doors it will open for me in my bright future.

First off I want to say thanks for providing this post because it helped me sit back and really think about everything that has happened this past year..

I think some people overlook Thanksgiving's real meaning and don't realize all that we really should be grateful for. A simple thank you can make a huge difference; "Thanks for taking the time to make that great meal" or "Thanks for visiting, it was nice catching up".

What I've been thankful for however is the support from my family and being able to actually go to a school like Columbia and sticking with it financially. I've been commuting a hour every week back and forth from the suburbs this past semester so its been a rough few months (especially those days when the trains are delayed and you're stuck standing outside in the cold...not fun).

Even though it can be stressful, my parents work hard every week so I can have the ability to get the classes I need each semester or get to the train in time. I appreciate the money and effort they've put in for me especially since I'm going to be graduating next May.

I'm also thankful for Columbia because my classes have helped me gain an Internship being an Advertising Art major. The experience I've been gaining from this job has been so rewarding and really helpful for when I start to look for jobs. I'm grateful to be a part of a school that has so many options for students networking wise; without Columbia I wouldn't be where I am today (and cue the aw's).

So with that, I'm looking forward to spending time with my family this week (and certainly not having to commute as much on the train..definite plus). I hope you enjoy being with YOUR family and friends and remember to reflect on what you're thankful for.

Cheers! :)

A few years ago, a rather insensitive ex made eggs, two for him and two for me. He broke two of the yolks and gave those broken two to me and kept the good ones for himself. Jerk. But looking back, although I don't recall being short of words in that moment, I neglected to say thanks for making me eggs at all, regardless of his selfishness. So, in short, I am thankful that my ex made me eggs.

I am thankful for my teacher this semester, Bill Hayashi. He has taught me so much, but most importantly, that life was meant to be happy and to just be in the present.
I'm also thankful for our country. We pulled together and voted for the candidate because we do have hope. I'm thankful we did that because never in my 22 years have I ever felt proud to be an American, until now. We have a lot of problems to work out, but I'm thankful that we have someone in office that is willing to take care of them responsibly and listen to others to help him. It's amazing what a collective group of people can do.
I'm just thankful to be alive and be around the people I love and care for and have that in return.

I am thankful for the wonderful friends and family who support me everyday.I am thankful to be here, to be at Columbia doing what I love.I am thankful that I got to see another day,God woke me up this morning. I am thankful for all the people in my past who have helped me learn and grow today and in the future.I am thankful for the guy that has my heart.Who has been there for me when I thought that everything was too much.My bestfriend and my boyfriend. He truely is a blessing.I am thankful for Life..Loving it,Living it,and Learning from it!

I'm Thankful for many things, the biggest one I'd have to say is that I'm thankful for my mom and dad for letting me come to Columbia. This school isn't cheap and my dad works his butt off for me to go here and i cant thank him enough. I am also thankful for each and every single friend I have. I'm truly blessed to know all of you. You guys are amazing!!! the last thing I'm thankful for is that i was born in this great city of Chicago, not the suburbs, the actual city of Chicago.

I am thankful for my wonderful boyfriend Ben, who puts up with my stressed out self, who cleans up the apartment, goes to the grocery store, and makes me dinner, especially when I am swamped with homework and stressed out to the max--AND he does it with a smile and a hug! He is the most wonderful man in the world, no exaggeration. AND, I am thankful that the bus to school is RIGHT outside the front door and it drops me off in the same place!!

I'm thankful for just being here at Columbia and getting all the great opportunity that I see laid before me. I’m also thankful for the friends that I’ve made in and outside the classroom. I’m thankful for a place like this. I can’t believe it actually exists in my dreams I saw this place at Columbia I feel at home.

im thankful for open minds, kindness, and treating people the way you want to be treated.

I'm thankful for the cold. So when I walk out of the editing room after being in there for 5 hours I can feel something. Although it should snow if it's going to be this cold. That way I can throw snowballs at my instructors who would probably throw them right back at me. That wouldn't happen at any other school.

I'm thankful for audiences, so when I'm watching someone's creation on screen they can feel what I feel and we can come together to elaborate on that piece in wonderful collaboration.

I'm thankful for family. They still don't know exactly what I'm doing with my life and no matter how many times I try to explain it to them they still scratch their head. But they still support me every step of the way.

I'm thankful for eight hour bus rides back home. That way I have an excuse to sleep. My friends at school know me as an undead zombie craving extra film, but when I get home I can be normal. And the mashed potatoes will taste the best they have in my whole life. When I head back to school after break, my luggage will oddly smell like turkey and yams. Leftovers are best served on bus rides. So the person who is sitting next me better bring gravy.

I'm thankful for being welcome.

I'm thankful...

-For having the guts to move four states away from home, completely alone and brand new to the whole city experience.

-For The Dance Center, who welcomed me with open arms.

-For family. If I didn't have my family waiting for me back at home I would NOT have survived my first semester here.

-For change.

-For the ability to choose what I want to learn and what I do with that knowledge in the future.

-For my new found self-awareness. Being in the city and showed me the type of person I really am and I'm happy with who I am.

-For student loans. Without them I would be going to community college and working a job I hated.

-For living in the city and getting oppurtunities to see Jason Mraz live and free :-)

-For the writers strike finally over (YAY HEROES).

-For picking a single day to single-handly stuff our faces and not be judged by it.

I'm thankful for the enormous amount of people in Chicago. It may seem violent and uncomfortable at times, but whenever I need help there is always at least one person nearby to give me directions or help me get my suitcase up a flight of stairs.
When I need help making a student film, there is always a plethora of willing people who will sacrifice warmth and eating well to make my idea come to life.
The busy people that are constantly rushing around town keep me moving along, the smokers give me an occasional cigarette when I really need one, the Greenpeace representatives help me practice my sarcasm, and the Columbia students and staff help me make my dream a reality.

I'm thankful I get to go home to make Christmas candy with my grandpa! He's 80 now and we've been doing it since I was little. I'm also thankful that its Nov. 23rd and there still isn't any snow on the ground in Chicago! In all seriousness though, its been m dream to live in the city, to go to art school here, and I've been blessed with every opportunity; I worked my butt off to get here but I did it. What great gifts knowledge and creativity are and so I am very thankful to be studying for a job I know I will love when I graduate. God has truly blessed me.

You know what I am thankful for? I am thankful just to be in college. At the age of 31, I feel blessed to be able to not have to work and change my career. I have never been to college before because I never knew the importance of an education and my folks could never pay for it. My husbands family has graciously agreed to pay over 20,000 dollars a year for my education to better my career in hopes it will benefit my family life. After having a menial 40K career for the last ten years, I have come to realize you can not progress without an education. I am also thankful for my parents, family and friends who all support and love me. But most of all I am thankful to the people at Columbia College (Paul Charivelle), all the teachers in the Marketing Communications and AEMM (Angelou Luciano) who have made it possible for me to graduate in two and a half years. So Thank You Columbia College!!!!

Thankful for a chance to catch my breath.

Where to begin?
Seriously.
Somewhere in between sleeping (those few precious hours), waking up, making the commute, attending class, working, keeping the connections with family and friends, and fitting everything else in, I try to remind myself how "damn lucky" (yep, that's a Dave Matthews shout out) I am.

Somewhere in between it all, you hopefully come to the realization that trusting your gut AND listening to that thing upstairs helps you make decisions and move through life. Doing that moved me to Chicago a little over a year ago. Yeah, it's been a struggle. But. It's also been enlightening. Cheese factor aside, describing what I'm thankful for...what I'm grateful for grows increasingly difficult. Because not only do I have family and friends supporting me from afar, I have them to return to when I head "home" for the holidays. AND in between missing them and being with them and figuring out my place in this world, Columbia and Chicago have provided new friendships and "family" for me to appreciate, to learn from, and to love. And with that, I give great thanks.