It's finally my favorite time of year, where all of the holidays start snowballing at once and long breaks from school are just around the corner. Where we have to compromise either making more time for the gym or gaining 10 extra pounds due to excessive amounts of mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey, bread, pumpkin pies, and carbs on top of carbs.

Being in college I'm finally understanding what the real meaning of Thanksgiving Break is, homework and getting your life together before the last couple weeks of the semester hit you like an avalanche. I can already hear finals calling my name at the Thanksgiving table. Regardless, I want to stress how important this time is for a lot of us college kids.

Not only do we finally get to eat real meals again thanks to our parents cooking for us now that we're back home, but we get to spend some much needed time with family and friends we haven't seen all semester. It's so easy to get caught up in our college lives, forgetting the things we need to be thankful for and the things that should really matter. Family is always a good reminder of that. During the holidays it's so important for us to remember the things that we're all so very fortunate for, not to ever want more than anything we have right now at this moment.

During this time it's so important to give back to the less fortunate. When you're at the grocery store over the next week donate even just a $1 at the register when they ask you if you want to help feed families over the holidays, when you see a homeless person give them a spare blanket you don't use anymore (winter is finally approaching and it's going to start getting really cold out, especially at night), buy your parents a coffee on Thanksgiving day, the amount of work they're about to put in the kitchen that day is going to be on fleek. Giving back always makes me feel so good. Everyday I am reminded of how truly grateful I am. To be surrounded by so many amazing people that support us through every aspect of my life, theres no better time to express the gratitude we have for them than during the holidays.

So as we catch up on homework, stuff our faces, and Netflix binge watch our favorite tv shows; don't forget to take advantage of seeing your family and friends, and expressing gratitude for all of the things in life you're thankful for. And to those who have to work on Thanksgiving day, not getting to spend time with your families, thank you for all that you do.