As Thanksgiving comes to a close and everyone is finishing their leftovers, I felt that now is a good time to reflect on the positive aspects of my life that I tend to take for granted. Regardless of any low points I feel I've been through this past year, I still have a lot going for me. Here's a quick look at some of the mundane qualities of life I'm thankful for.

1. Decent spending money.

I've mentioned this before in a previous article, but I'm so glad I went to community college in my first year out of high school. Not only did they cover my tuition for my freshman year, but I was also given multiple grants for "academic purposes." Even if I missed out on the freshman dorm life of university, it feels nice to have a healthy amount of money to sate my weekly trips to Raising Cane's.

2. A chance to attend UMN.

That being said, all that grant money wouldn't mean much without a campus full of stores to waste it on. I've been enjoying my time at college and the cultures between California and Minnesota have a surprising amount of small differences that I've noticed. This environment has given me a newfound sense of direction, and I intend to work hard to move forward.

3. Respectable grades.

One of the biggest reasons that I'm enjoying my time on campus so much is that I'm not in the constant state of suffering that comes with certain classes. Since I essentially started my university journey a year late, I had the foresight to take it easy my first semester. As a result, my classes have this nice balance of being challenging without going so far as to be overbearing. I'm sure the difficulty will ramp up in future semesters, but for the past few months I've been walking into campus with a clear mind.

4. A bustling community.

I'll admit, I had this in California as well, but back then, I had to drive around to experience it all. Now that I'm within walking distance of a college campus, it feels as if I'm never running out of things to do. I still don't know if university life is the right fit for me but as of now, I'm grateful to have such a refreshing change of pace.

5. A supportive family.

I know this is pretty much an obligatory addition to these types of lists, but it's more or less human nature to be thankful for them. My earlier trip to the Philippines this year had opened my eyes to how supportive my family is, even if I don't get to see them all that often. In fact, I probably wouldn't have even moved here if I felt that my mom would hate the decision. The fact that she supports me just drives me further towards becoming a better person.

It's nice to take the time to look back and show gratitude towards the things that help me improve who I am. I probably shouldn't limit this type of reflection to an annual occurrence, but I look forward to finding even more qualities of life to be thankful for.