Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and delicious food. For students, it means different things. Some spend their time with families, some with their friends, and some even change their plans every year. Thanksgiving is all about the food, and students have many  favorite dishes. The classics like mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, and pumpkin pie are always a hit. But some students love unique dishes like “mac n cheese,” “tamales,” or even “spaghetti.” For others, the real treat  is dessert! Apple pie, marshmallow salad, and pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream are their favorite choices. This shows diversity among students. Some like traditional Thanksgiving meals, while others bring their own family recipes from all over the world. Thanksgiving traditions are as unique as the food on the table. Some  students keep it simple by gathering to eat, while others take part in special family traditions. Activities range from watching parades, decorating pumpkins, and even organizing a friendly family kickball game. Students also share what they’re thankful for, pulling the turkey wishbone, or setting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Impressively, some students use this day to remember Indigenous history, with one leaving a plate of food in remembrance of native people. Students are grateful for a lot of things, like their families, friends, pets, and even good grades. Some say thanks for supportive parents, good health, food, and the chance to play sports and do other fun things. Getting a passport, recovering from injuries, or just not giving up are all things that remind us that Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating food, but also about thinking about how we’ve grown, how strong we are, and the people who make our lives meaningful. Thanksgiving can mean different things to each student, but the main ideas of being together, being thankful, and having special traditions are the same for everyone.

Students shared their thanksgiving experiences like this:

“I am thankful that I have a wonderful life with people I love”

“Play football after dinner to cancel out the calories”

“I love love love love corn and sweet potatoes with melted mini marshmellows and lightly burnt walnuts. Also potato rolls, honestly literally EVERYTHING except pie crust and stuffing and dry white turkey…”

Together, their experiences show that Thanksgiving is about more than just food—it’s about the people, traditions, and

moments that make it special.