Thanksgiving always has, and always will be, a cliche holiday. For as long as a person can remember, their school has put on a special Thanksgiving program with a special "Thanksgiving dinner" that tastes absolutely nothing like a real Thanksgiving dinner. You always meet up with the family for the big meal, where the food and the conversation remains comfortably consistent as it has been every other year. You talk about how great your life is and how much you love everyone, then take a long nap after a very filling meal. Thanksgiving is a very relaxed holiday that is practically the same every year. It was not until I got to college that I truly discovered how much Thanksgiving means to me, although it may not be in the stereotypical way that most people think of when they think of Thanksgiving. So here are 13 things that I am thankful for during this Thanksgiving break that I think most college students can relate to:
1. Having the ability to sleep as much as you want.
College is exhausting, and with the busy schedules we all have, we never get as much sleep as we want. So do not blame me if I sleep 14 hours per day, my body needs it.
2. Sleeping in your bed at home.
No matter how many pillows I have, or how pretty my blankets are, a dorm bed is not nearly as comfortable as your own bed back home. As soon as you lay on your big, comfy, familiar bed back home, it is like laying in your very own cloud. Plus your bed back home probably does not have pizza crumbs in it like your dorm bed currently does, as your mother would never let you eat pizza in bed back home and forces you to wash your sheets at home. 
3. Being away from dorm bathrooms.
Without parents to tell us to clean our bathroom, and because there are so many people in dorms, dorm bathrooms are a monstrosity unlike anything else you can ever imagine. You may or may not cry tears of joy when you step into your own bathroom and see that it does not look like something straight out of a horror movie.
4. Reuniting with your pets.
Let's be honest, your pets are your babies and going to school without them is awful. The familiar touch of your dog, cat, guinea pig, etc. is enough to remind you that there is still good in this world, even if you failed your calc test right before break started.
5. Getting to be with your family and friends again.
Being able to see familiar faces in your native town is such a comfort and a breath of fresh air. It is nice to talk about something other than how disgusting the food in the school cafeteria is, and to reminisce on old memories of when life was simpler. 
6. Not having class.
This is every college student's dream come true. Want to watch Netflix all day? You can do that! Want to just hang out with friends? You have time for it! Want to finally finish that book you started forever ago? Now you can! Being back home is like taking a vacation from real life, and it is awesome.
7. Less school work.
Okay, you will inevitably have school work over break, which sucks. But it's going to be a lot less school work than what you typically have, and in theory, you have several days to finish it (although we all know that we are going to do it all the night before). Plus, when your parents see how busy you are with your schoolwork, they're going to think you're a great student and you'll get major Parent Brownie Points for "adulting".
8. You can almost be a kid again.
When you are back at your parents' house, you do not have the same type of responsibilities as you do when you're living on your own. You can even pretend you're a kid again! Just be prepared to follow their rules again, as you live under their roof once again.
9. You don't have to go to work at your campus job.
Whether or not you enjoy your campus job, it is certainly nice to have a day off every once in a while. Imagine the giant nap you could take during that time!
10. Black Friday shopping.
Shopping during sales? Count me in. College kids are all about saving money. Parents taking you shopping? Then maybe they can buy you some "Christmas presents" that you'll "accidentally" take back to campus and use right now.
11. Free, delicious food.
Living back home means that you can finally eat some decent, homemade food, all for free! Think about all of that delicious food at your Thanksgiving dinner... If you ate that much food on campus it would probably cost you $20 at least. No where can you eat food that delicious, other than at home. Enjoy it while you can.
12. You'll get leftover food.
Of course there will be delicious leftovers. And the best thing about these amazing leftovers? Now that you live on your own, you'll get your own leftovers! You can mooch off of your family's leftovers during break, and when you go back to school, more delicious leftovers! There is no losing situation in this instance.
13. Christmas break is right around the corner.
Sure, when you go back to school you will have finals, but Christmas break is almost here! Let Thanksgiving break be your little bit of hope, and to remind you of what miraculous things are waiting for you after finals.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy your break while you can, I know I will.
