As the American holiday of Thanksgiving arrives, some of our UoN students reflect on what they are thankful for this year:
“I am most thankful for the supportive family network I have at home. Whenever something goes wrong, I know without a shadow of a doubt that they will be there for me. They are my fundamental root, my rock, my stability; the thing that keep me together when everything around me feels like it’s falling apart. They are also the first people I want to tell when something amazing happens, something that has me bursting at the seams with excitement. Not because of the gravity of the news itself, but precisely because I know that they will always be interested to hear about it, no matter how small.
“I am thankful mostly for the trivial conversations we have”
In fact, I am thankful mostly for the trivial conversations we have; the phone calls home about nothing in particular. I am thankful for the times I have called my mum on the walk home from uni, just to tell her precisely that: that I am bored, and walking home from uni, and she doesn’t mind in the slightest. Of course, I am thankful for all the things they do for me- that goes without saying. But most importantly, I am thankful that they are here in the first place, not necessarily ‘doing’ anything, but just sitting at the side-lines for me, forever offering a silent support that I know I can count on.”
Isla Weir
“I often forget how thankful I actually am for the University of Nottingham, especially when it’s cold and wet and I can feel exams approaching – but this year, especially since it’s my last, I really wanted to reflect on what this university actually means to me.
When I arrived at university, I was so nervous and unsure of how I would live here because I was far away from London. And while my first year did have its challenges, it was ultimately one of the best things I’ve done: meeting the people I have and having the experiences I did, I really owe it all to the University of Nottingham. My degree has also been an eye-opener for me; there’s so much more to a subject that first meets the eye, and English is no exception. Throughout my time here I’ve studied things that I would never even dream of touching before!
“It’s really due to being at the University of Nottingham that I have the confidence to do whatever I want to”
I think it’s really due to being at the University of Nottingham that I have the confidence to do whatever I want to and really, that’s what I’m most thankful for. Thank you to the University of Nottingham for giving me the most challenging, fun and exciting years of my life – here’s to so many more!”
Annie McGill
“I am grateful for true friendship. By this I mean those who you cannot speak with for weeks, or even months, and yet your bond never weakens. Life gets so hectic at times, and sometimes you can feel like you’re sinking in expectations and commitments. Having people around you who understand that life is complicated, busy and sometimes incredibly stressful and so don’t get offended if you forget to reply. They don’t make drama or get distant, because you know each other well enough to understand that it has nothing to do with your friendship at all. You may live hundreds of miles away from each other, and only text once a month, yet as soon as you are in each other’s company, it is the most comfortable and natural thing in the World.
“Finding someone who loves you, for you”
I have friends whom I have known since infant school, and we have seen each other through the hardships of life thus far; first day of school, first broken heart, first grieving experience. They help to shape who you are as a person, how you interact with people and express your personality. Without them, I certainly wouldn’t be who I am today. So, in short, I am thankful for the friendships that are strong enough to withstand whatever life throws at them, be it physical distance, emotional fall-outs or changing personalities. Finding someone who loves you, for you, and is always there is certainly something to be grateful for.”
Emily Hall
Isla Weir, Annie McGill, and Emily Hall
Featured image courtesy of Christian Newton via Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
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