We all have people in our lives who we are thankful for but at times we don’t know how to show it. For the past few years Pitman has been doing something called the “Give Thanks” contest. How it works is you nominate a friend on campus that you are grateful for,share why,and submit! The contest is made to show appreciation for those around us and let those special people know we care. 

It is important to take a step back to appreciate those who make our day-to-day life better. It is easy to underestimate how far a thank you can go in making a person’s day better. Just think about a time when you were having a rough day then someone came and said something nice to or about you. With Pitman’s Give Thanks came the perfect opportunity to do so. Many of Pitman’s students submitted responses telling who and why they are grateful for those around them.

One student in particular Maryn Hall, submitted a good friend of hers so I decided to ask her for what reasons she chose this friend.

Who did you nominate as the person you are thankful for?

“Karlie Relvas.”

Why did you choose her as the person you wanted to show appreciation for?

“ She is a close friend, someone I can trust. She’s funny and mature and we are alike in many ways.”

How long have you and Karlie been friends?

“ I think since kindergarten.”

What is a special memory you have of the two of you  together?

“We went to the lake over summer. We had so much fun,we went on kayaks,and found a secret opening. It was so peaceful to just be there with her.”

I also interviewed Celeste Ontiveros about what friend she nominated and why. “You nominated Emma Jackson, why was she the person who stood out to you?

“She is someone I can be thankful for because she is so caring for everyone that we know. I know she is always there for me if I need her.” 

How long have you known each other?                      

“ We have known eachother since elementary school.”

What is a memory that sticks with you of a time you were together?

“A memory that sticks with me forever is walking downtown together to get some ice cream.”

Lastly, what are your favorite things about her?

“My favorite thing about her is her curly hair and her sense of style.”

There were three winners for this year’s contest the first one that received her award was Maggie Kirkes who said she felt honored and ecstatic to have “such a wonderful friend who would say these things.” 

The second winner was Harjot Kaur, being described as someone who is kind to everyone. The friend that nominated her also says she feels like she is healed every time the two are together. 

Our final winner of the contest is Manveer Dulay whose friend says she is a bright, caring, and intelligent person who welcomes others with a smile. 

If you missed the opportunity to nominate a friend but you have someone in mind don’t worry, here’s a list of simple ways you can show appreciation!

• Make a card with pictures of you together.
• Do something they enjoy together.
• Compliment them on a personality trait.
• Tell them you’re thankful for the little things they do to help you.
• Make a small gift.