If your Thanksgiving dinner is anything like mine, you spend most of it hoping one of your relatives will forget to bring up the "let's all go around the table and talk about what we're thankful for!" conversation. With so much to be thankful for, it can be really hard to think of something that hasn't been said already (we know you're thankful for your family and friends) and that will make you seem like you spend as much time thinking about how lucky you are as you should (one time, I said I was thankful for my mattress - that did not go over well). The goal is to think of something that will move the conversation along as quickly as possible, so you can get back to stuffing your face with the first home-cooked meal you've had in months. Here are some things that all University of Maryland students can be thankful for:
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1. Our Beautiful Campus
Have you ever stopped yourself on the way to class to take in just how beautiful our campus truly is? Especially now, as the leaves begin to fall, take some time to appreciate this gorgeous place we are so lucky to call home for four years.
2. The Mall
Not every college campus has a place where students can study, relax, and play all at the same time - and we are so lucky that ours does. The perfect place for a picnic, the only fountain to jump in, and the center of our campus, the mall is something every Terp should be grateful for.
3. McKeldin Library
If I could have a dollar for every hour I will have spent in McKeldin by the end of my four years at UMD, I would probably be able to pay off all of my student loans. Think about it: Where else would you want to study? What would we do without this place?
4. Testudo
There is no way that I would have passed any of my midterms without that little bit of luck I got from rubbing his nose on my way to class. Testudo, for you, I am eternally grateful.
5. The UMD Football Team
All right, hear me out on this one. If we have gotten anything out of watching our football team, it is this: managing your expectations is incredibly important. If nothing else, be grateful for game days and all of the cute pictures you posted on Insta decked out in red, black, yellow and white.
6. The UMD Men's Basketball Team
Hellooooo, Jake Layman! The UMD men's basketball team, ranked #3 in the nation, brings the Maryland community together and gives us something to cheer about. I am thankful for the basketball team because they bring out the Maryland pride in all of us.
7. The B1G Ten
While many students were not too fond of the idea of leaving the ACC for the Big Ten, the Terps are thriving in our second year in the conference. When we joined the Big Ten, we also joined the "academic arm" of the conference, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), which is "is a consortium of universities dedicated to sharing resources, encouraging collaborative research, and offering educational opportunities for faculty and students" (read more from UMD's website here). Without the Big Ten, we wouldn't have that opportunity, and it definitely would not be as easy to find our games on TV.
8. President Loh
In the wake of all of the controversy surrounding the president of the University of Missouri, we're so lucky to have someone like President Loh running our school.
9. Eppley Recreation Center
If it were not for Eppley, the freshman 15 would be more like freshman 50. I think this one speaks for itself.
10. The Stamp
Chick-fil-A. Need I say more?
11. Kevin Plank
If you don't know who Kevin Plank is, you should. He's a UMD alum who also happens to be the inventor of Under Armour - and therefore he's the mastermind behind all the cool stuff in the bookstore. He's also the reason why we have the coolest uniforms in the NCAA, no matter the sport. Thank you, Mr. Plank, for all that you do for the University of Maryland (and for the free UA shirts at the games. Feel free to keep 'em coming!).
12. Route 1 and everything on it
There's Bagel Place, Blaze, Five Guys, Pizza Kingdom, Insomnia Cookies, Nandos, Chipotle, Jason's Deli, Noodles & Co., Dominos, Papa Johns, Potbelly's, and a million other places to eat. There's CVS and Target for pretty much anything you need ever. And of course, there's Bentley's, Turf, and Cornerstone when you need a place to party. The best part? Its all so close together! We're so blessed to have this convenient little area just off campus.
13. We Go to the University of Maryland
If you can't think of anything else to be thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner, remember that you attend the greatest school in the whole world. Be grateful for the classes you take, the professors who teach you, the people who serve you lunch, the cops that keep you safe, the people in the health center who take care of you, the people who drive the buses, the people who clean the bathrooms in your dorm, your RA, the people who mow the grass and rake the leaves, and of course, the friends who stand by your side. Not everyone has the opportunity to go to college, and even fewer have the opportunity to attend an institution as great as the University of Maryland.
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