On Thursday, November 20, members of the Kean community gathered at the Miron Student Center for the free Student Government Brunch. Amidst the festive autumn decorations of the atrium and the rich aroma of the dishes nearby, several students shared their personal views on Thanksgiving.
What does Thanksgiving mean to you?
For David Peralta, a Freshman and Exercise Science major from Union City, NJ, Thanksgiving is characterized by its emphasis on family and friends. “It’s particularly different from any other hangouts because we come together and eat a big feast.”
Hley Sylvestre, a Sophomore and Business Administration major from Roselle, NJ, called the holiday “a time where everybody gets together as a family.
“It's the one time of the year [where], if your family is from different states, that's the one time of the year you get to actually see them and celebrate with them,” she shared.
Julian Basalatan, a Senior and Global Business major from Freehold, NJ, agreed. “Thanksgiving [is] to me, family [and] friends, getting together and having just the time spent with one another and enjoying each other's presence.”
Cynthia Pierre, a Junior and Early Childhood Education major from Elizabeth, NJ emphasized connecting gratitude to faith. “I feel like it's a time where family come together to really just be grateful to be around each other and just be blessed with all the things God has provided for us,” she said.
Kelsey Thelemaque, a Sophomore and Psychology major from Elizabeth, NJ, also associates Thanksgiving with family. “Just being around with people that support you and love you,” she explained, gives Thanksgiving its special meaning.
Nick Hathaway, a Junior and Communications (Journalism) major from Phillipsburg, NJ, explained how Thanksgiving is different for each person. “For me, personally, I think it's just being thankful that you live another day,” he said.
Do you have any plans for Thanksgiving this year?
David plans on honoring his yearly commitment to visit his aunt’s house for the break. “[It’s] just like any other Thanksgiving, to be honest. Nothing too big.”
Kelsey’s family is visiting her aunt’s at well. “All of my uncles, aunts, and cousins are just getting together and having a big feast.”
Hley’s tradition is to get all her extended family together: “I have a lot of aunties and uncles and a lot of other cousins and stuff,” she explained. “So we get together, we rent out an Airbnb or [use] my own home. Everybody just comes together and they just eat.”
Cynthia wants to shake things up: “I want to spend Thanksgiving at my sister's house this year, kind of do something different.”
“I'm going to be spending [Thanksgiving] with family on my mother's side,” Julian shared, “and then later on in the day, I'll be spending it with my father's side.”
Nick is still figuring out what to do for Thanksgiving, but is open to the possibilities.
Who, or what, are you thankful for?
David is thankful for the experiences he’s had so far. “I don't regret anything that I've done—not yet at least. I’m thankful for that.”
Hley’s gratitude lies in her relationship with her little sister. “She's been with me my whole life, pretty much, and I don't know what I would do without her,” she admitted. “[I’m thankful that] there's somebody at home waiting for [me] and somebody who's taking [me as] their example, so I'm very thankful for her because she doesn't even know that she's shaping me into being the better version of myself.”
Cynthia had a similar answer: “I’d say, my family, my friends, because they help shaped me to be who I am, and they're always there for me, so I couldn't ask for anything better than that.”
For Kelsey, her gratitude stems from the meaning her religion grants her. “I'm thankful for the glory and the praise that Jesus gives for my life,” she said, “I'm also grateful for my health.”
Julian is thankful for those he met on his academic journey. “I think they definitely have helped me become the person who I am today and will help me in the future to become the person who I want to be,” he said.
Nick expressed his gratitude for the services Kean provides. “I’m thankful for Kean’s staff for giving us free food,” he said. “A lot of students here don't have the financial means of getting food. So doing free food events, I think that's what I'm thankful for.”
Do you have a message for Kean students this Thanksgiving?
David: Do whatever you think is best for yourself and it might sound a little egotistical, but sometimes you’ve got to put yourself first, because you're the one that's going to carry yourself through life, no matter what.
Hley: Even though your family might not be here, try to celebrate with your friends because they also matter. And just enjoy the time and have a good time.
Cynthia: Keep [your] head up... I know this could be a difficult time for some, depending on how their home life is—everything will get better.
Kelsey: Just enjoy your time. Be a big back, get seconds, get thirds, and just have fun time this Thanksgiving.
Julian: Appreciate everyone you have around you. Say ‘I love you’ to everyone that you want to say [it] to. And have fun.
Nick: Support your local charities. A lot of people don't get to celebrate Thanksgiving like us.
As the time of turkeys and family reunions rolls by once more, Kean students provide their own meaning for the holiday. The holiday provided a well-deserved break before the flurry of finals and end-of-year plans begin.
