Biola University First Year Student Journals

Thanksgiving Break

December 1, 2005 | 3 comments

I don’t quite know what it is that happened to me the day Thanksgiving break began, but for some reason I became restless. I woke up and went to the fitness center with my R.A at 8:45 a.m., which was not an easy feat. Then I came back to the dorm, took a shower and prepared for a twelve o’clock English class. With almost three hours to spare before my next class at 4:30, I quickly but carefully packed my car, which had me hiking up and down five flights of stairs at least seven times. It was quite the workout!

By the time I had finished packing, I could already smell the turkey with stuffing and the pumpkin pies along with all my favorite soul food dishes that are made at Thanksgiving time. I couldn’t wait! Fortunately, class ended thirty minutes early. I walked as fast as I could across campus without looking conspicuous. As I drove home, I felt as if I had just received an “A” on an exam and had all the time in the world till my next homework assignment was due. Of course this couldn’t be true. But hey, who cares about what is due next week when Thanksgiving is two days away?

When I made it home, it was around 6:45pm so I thought it would be a relaxing evening with the family, but somehow I found myself in the kitchen cooking with my mom. This is not a loathsome holiday task, however, because it is a traditional habit to taste everything as you cook in my family. The more you sample, the more you want it. We call this the “munchies”. Usually, a full stomach before the actual meal is the result, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything. After a few hours, all the food was either in progress or complete. Feeling lackadaisical and intoxicated with an assortment of Thanksgiving aromas, my family completed the evening with a ritual of games and movies.

The following day held its own activities, such as shopping, hair appointments, and joining family friends for a night out. Seeing my friends who are now seniors in high school is very interesting. Not too long ago, I was in their position making college choices, having senior activities and so on. It dawned on me how old everyone is becoming. I felt so old, even though I’m just 18!

And finally, Thanksgiving! The day I’d been waiting for! This year my family and relatives on both my parents’ sides gathered at my grandmother’s house. It was amazing! I’m blessed that both sides of my family get along very well. I was able to see relatives that had not been around for 10 or more years. As I glanced around the room at all the people and the appetizing food, I realized that it was the first time in about 15 years that my parents’ mothers and siblings were all here together. Due to where everyone lives, there’s usually someone missing, but not this time. This year was special. I saw relatives I hadn’t seen since I was ten. I thank God for this past Thanksgiving. I reflect on this year and the years past and can’t count all the blessings God has given me. I’m truly thankful.

Despite how much I enjoyed myself, Thanksgiving came and went too soon. I found myself celebrating my mother’s birthday the next day and realizing that my school break was coming to a quick end. My conscience kept reminding me of the homework that was due the next week. I firmly resisted the task of homework. Of all the things to do, that was a pill I just couldn’t swallow.  At times, I would sit down and try to subdue that pesky reminder by doing part of an assignment, like writing a paragraph for a 6-8 page paper due in a week. At least I could say I did something, right?

Well, needless to say, Saturday night came and went. Now here I am on Sunday, at the dorm, looking through my list of things to do. I stumbled across a paper and realized that this journal entry is due this week! Adrenaline rushed to my brain. Immediately a war of voices began in my head. First, the whiney voice asked, “Why do these things happen to me!” then the pesky voice I heard all week said, “I told you to do your homework so you wouldn’t be rushed! You usually don’t procrastinate, but this time you did. There’s no one to blame but yourself…..” I chirped in, “But it was Thanksgiving break! I didn’t feel like doing any homework. So I’ll just have to deal with it and get my assignments done, ok?” When this conversation ended, I plopped down in my chair and wrote this entry. I guess my lesson learned this past week has been to pace yourself even over holiday breaks. This makes life much less stressful and gives you one more thing to be thankful for.

Journal Entries

• The Ultimate Experience
• Adjusting to College Life
• Thanksgiving Break
• New Year, 2nd Semester Butterflies
• Will You Be My Valentine?
• Lessons Learned and Truths Taught
• Content

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