Last week, I emailed the campus community and asked people to write in about what they were thankful for this Thanksgiving. It was one of the best responses we’ve gotten for Green Light! Which means … I’m sharing it all.

Read on to see what your peers are most appreciative for this Thanksgiving, and THANK YOU for your wonderful responses. We hope the rest of your week is restful, joyous … and, of course, delicious.

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is spending time with family that I don’t get to see often. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my family, great friends, the ability to get an education, a great church community, and Christmas getting closer  because  all of these things make me so happy!” ~Taylor Boutall, early childhood education student

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is putting a tree up for Christmas. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my kids and finacée because they are all I have.” ~ Tiffaney Dowell, early childhood education student

 

 

 

 

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is eating all the good food and desserts. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my husband because he is a good man.” ~Allison Erbach, human services student

 

 

 

 

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is eating and then falling into a Thanksgiving coma. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my boyfriend’s stepmom because she’s making sure to make extra soft foods for me due to getting my wisdom teeth removed!” ~ Jordan Brown, visual communications student

 

 

 

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is cooking for the entire family. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for living in the United States because I can complain about the recent election, choose to vote or not vote, support or not support the current or upcoming administration, both state and national—say things are not OK—and the next day, I continue to be free! I am also thankful for all of those who came before me and risked their lives for my rights to vote, as well as my right to voice my opinion, practice my religion, marry whomever I choose, and live life how I see fit.” ~Ruth Davis, human services assistant professor

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is breaking out the good plates! This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the animals in my life because they keep me calm after tests get me stressed!” ~Pamela Walton, American Honors ambassador

“This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my family because this year my family was blessed with a new member! My youngest child was born this year, and she will be celebrating her first Thanksgiving.” ~Brittany Allen, early childhood education student

 

 

 

 

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is relaxing and looking forward to time with family (eating, playing games, laughing, and just soaking it all in). This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for the continued health and safety of all my family and friends because in a year’s time, a lot happens, and each day should be a day of thanks. Throughout life, we all experience times of happiness and heartache, but taking the time to focus on what’s closest and important to us is what makes it all worth it. Life is short, so take some time and recognize the little things. (Oh yeah, and Thanksgiving night is when I trigger the lighting of my holiday lights.)” ~Andrew Welch, Marketing and Communications executive director

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is having a BIG family meal and putting up the Christmas tree and decorations. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my family and life in general because oftentimes, we tend to take both for granted, and as I get older, I’ve learned to focus on two very important things, and they are to cherish EVERY moment and to NOT sweat the small stuff!” ~Kim Barnett-Johnson, interim vice chancellor for Academic Affairs

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is looking through all of the crazy Black Friday ads with family. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my family because they support, encourage, and love me no matter what, and they are always there for me.” ~Nicole Winans, Ivy Tech Northeast student

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is spending time with family. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my health and well-being because not everyone has either.” ~ Jen Knapp, paramedic science faculty

 

 

 

 

 

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is being at the same table as my mom, my children, and my wife’s entire family (and, of course, green bean casserole and football!) This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my supportive family because I would not have made the leap to my new teaching position here if they had not convinced me I could do it!” ~Steve Lively, English assistant professor

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is making a large meal and then gathering around that meal with family and friends. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my family because … How does one explain the fact that the kids and my husband and my dad and my four-legged companions have saved my sanity and my life many, many times? From climbing trees, to hunting for unicorns, to jumping rope, to discovering the personalities of the two new four-leggeds that just appeared, this is the time I’ve taken for just me to be me, to not be the adult.” ~ Lucy La Hurreau, health information technology assistant professor

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is preparing the meal for my family and having them all together to eat it. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for an oven large enough to roast the 37 1/2-pound turkey my son raised because I want to encourage his desire to raise healthy food for his family, and because it will be a new cooking challenge for me.” ~Pam Guthrie, executive director of Instructional Sites in Wabash

 

 

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is cooking for our family and being with friends. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for being an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech because I get to pursue my passion for teaching others and helping students realize their dreams of success by providing real world, practical information not found in a book. Acting as a fountain of business knowledge and spreading it like a virus is as rewarding as it gets.” ~Michael Begala, business administration adjunct professor

 

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is gathering as a family at my parents’ house and spending the day with everyone. We also grab a newspaper and go through all of the Black Friday ads. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for being able to get the whole family together because this will be my son’s first Thanksgiving. He will be 2 months old!” ~ Taya Fordanish, dual credit college advisor

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is spending time with my whole family. That would include my oldest brother and his wife who live in Chicago, my other brother who lives in Baltimore, my oldest sister and her husband who live in Seattle, and the rest of my siblings who live here in Fort Wayne. We get together at my sister’s big house. Everyone brings a dish. We eat dinner at 4 p.m. and have our favorite four F’s: food, family, fun, and football. When everyone is feeling fine, the adults and any kid 18 and over and working can join in on our Christmas grab bag. The minimum price for a gift is $25, and it should be delivered on Christmas Eve. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for having good health. I am thankful that my 19-year-old daughter is in her second year at IPFW with good grades and good health, and finally I am thankful that my whole family will be together under one roof, everyone in good health and blessed.” ~LaVerne Bowden, office administration student

“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is sharing fun memories of loved ones who are no longer with us for the grandkids to know their departed relatives. This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for family and friends because of health problems from this last year. It makes us realize what is of true importance in life, and it’s not only family, but it’s what we do with our lives and how we treat others and embrace them into our world. We hope and pray for their success and that they succeed, so their families can benefit from the love and kindness and dedication of others.” ~Mary Carbaugh, therapeutic massage assistant professor