Roselyn Romero

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

As a high school senior, the Thanksgiving season is a wonderful reminder of how grateful I am for my family, whose presence I often take for granted and will miss when I am away for college.

To immerse myself in the holiday spirit, I thought it would be a perfect time to share what I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving season!

1. My education
   Without free education being accessible to me as a K-12 student, I would not be able to write this blog post. My education has given me a multitude of opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to obtain anywhere else. My educators are like my support system outside of my house, and they continually inspire me to push beyond the limitations I set for myself.

   

2. My dog, Peeka
   Peeka has been in my life for as long as I could remember. She is currently 13 years old, which is crazy considering the fact that she’s as long as my forearm and shorter than 1 ft!
   Anyway, Peeka has been there for me for every high and low thus far in my life. Whenever I’m upset, she is fully aware of my emotions and comforts me by staying by my side. Whenever I’m happy, she insists on celebrating with me by requesting a generous tummy rub.
   Although it sounds super cheesy, I would not be able to visualize my life without Peeka. She’s adorable, tiny, and lovable.

   

3. My boyfriend, Charles
   During my junior year of high school, my then-boyfriend cheated on me. It was an absurd situation, but my heart was broken nonetheless.
   While I was healing from the breakup, Charles stepped into my life. When I first met him, I thought he was extremely goofy and a little crazy, but as I got to know him more, I found myself gradually falling for him.
   We’re almost like the same person – we enjoy the same taste in music, have the same mannerisms, have the same sense of humor, share memes almost constantly, and lived a similar past.
   Charles and I have been together for nearly 10 months, and he still gives me butterflies every time I see him. I’m never bored whenever I’m with him – he always finds a way to make me laugh, which I believe is a key component to our relationship. I love him unconditionally, and I’m so incredibly thankful for him.

   

4. My Key Club family
   My Key Club journey started when I was an incoming high school freshman. I thought Key Club was so strange – I asked questions constantly: Why is it called “Key Club?” Why are there so many divisions? LTG stands for what? Why are there so many monthly events?
   But as I got more and more involved, I realized that Key Club bestows a wonderful chance for high school students to find a purpose in their lives and to serve others. I overcame my fear of large crowds largely through the abundance of public speaking opportunities I have been given. I’ve sung Christmas carols at convalescent homes, made dog toys for dogs at my local animal shelter, collected over 150 donations for a local emergency shelter for domestic violence victims, picked up trash at beaches in my community, written letters to U.S. veterans and servicemen/women, and organized training conferences for over 200 Key Club members. Key Club is more than a club to me – it is a way for me to grow and live my life to the fullest.
5. My family
   This one’s obvious, but I can’t leave them out! My parents have sacrificed so much for my well-being and success – they do so much behind the scenes and I oftentimes fail to appreciate that. Throughout my life, my mom and dad have spent countless money and carved out so much time just to see me succeed. A lot of my achievements are for my parents, as well as the rest of my family – they give me infinite hope and surround me with love that inspires me to keep working diligently.
6. My blog
   This may sound really cheesy, but my blog truly does give me purpose. My blog has given me ample opportunity to express myself freely and to speak my mind without fear of judgment or criticism. Writing blog posts is not only a hobby of mine; it is also a refuge for me, a creative outlet that allows me to heal from whatever’s been afflicting me in my personal life.
   Believe it or not, my blog has saved me from numerous negative experiences. My mental health has improved significantly, my academic life feels more balanced, and my overall outlook on life is much broader because of the posts I write and the blogs I read every day. I am a hugely different person because of my blog, and I only hope to encourage more people my age to express themselves through a blog. It is worth every letter typed, and I am genuinely thankful for it.