“Thankfulness is one of the best virtues a person can have,” Fay Anderson, business teacher said,

Before the winter season approaches, we always take a moment to give thanks to those who have been the foundation of our strength, the reason we wake up in the morning, and the reason we do what we do. Thanksgiving is another opportunity in the year to take a deep breath, reflect on all the good times, and give thanks to those who are around us.

Giving thanks to those who are closest to us can make us appreciate more in life; it’s why we make friends to live a more joyful life. “The staff, they have a good environment and Mr Lightle, I know it’s his first year but he makes Bullitt East feel enjoyable and he brings a lot of joy to the school,” Cooper Warnecke, a senior said.

Another way we can be more thankful is if we take time out of our day to compliment a stranger or a person you don’t talk to as much, texting an old friend and hanging out with them, or giving someone random or special flowers to make them feel joyful. “My family: my mom, my dad, my brother, my wife, my kids, and all that extended family, love ’em. I love my students as well,” Jesse Porter, a biology teacher said.

“I’m most thankful for playing on the football team, how we’ve had our ups and downs, but mostly ups,” Cooper Durse, a sophomore said.

A sports team or a club that you are involved in, and taking time to appreciate the season of life you’re in, and getting to hang out with those around you.

Or you could be thankful for a strong faith, “Something I’m most thankful for this year is allowing God to let me be in his life and be thankful that I get to wake up and embrace him in his joys, Romans 1:16,” Travis Crawhorn, a senior said.

In a survey, BE kids pointed out what they were most thankful for; these are the responses:

Family: 46

Health: 10

Job: 9

Students: 7

Staff at Bullitt East: 6

Jesus: 6

Relationship: 6

Waking up: 1

Why is giving thanks so important? Why is it special?

Giving out a small compliment to a random stranger can make those people feel happy. Some people may be going through a rough time and don’t know how to proceed with life; giving thanks for who they bring them is what can make people feel more appreciated. “I think it’s important to be thankful because life is more enjoyable when you keep a positive mindset,” Brandi Sheehan, an agebra teacher said.

“For the season of life I’m in right now, I’m just very thankful for my wife, finding happiness, finding joy, sometimes you don’t always have what everyone else has but then you have to also realize how much more you have than others and you have to try your best not to compare yourself to the world but to just be appreciative and be happy day by day and do your best in this world,” Steven Phillips, an algebra teacher said.

Here is what most teachers are most thankful for:

“I’m most thankful to have the best job in the world, to be able to teach the youth of my community every day, to come into work and to be happy and fulfilled, and to get to interact with the young people of my community every day,” Alan South, a social studies teacher said.

“I am most thankful for family as well as all the kids I’m grateful to get to know; they have made coming back to work totally worth it, even though I’m missing all my baby cuddles,” Kayla Least, a science teacher said.

“It’s always important to remember the good things because we’re always going to have tough times, so taking the time to be grateful reminds us of all the good things in our lives,” Kristen Stobaugh, an algebra teacher said.

“I think it’s important to be thankful because it keeps us not only humble but it keeps us grateful for the things we have and it allows us to not be needy whenever we sit back and realize all the things we do have,” Sadie Isaacs, a senior said.

Being thankful isn’t something just for people to get something in return for being nice, but from the depths of their heart, and a love and compassion for other people, and most of all being joyful for what you do have and not comparing it to what others may have.

“I am thankful most for my experiences and journey in life. I’ve learned a lot of things, I’ve grown, and it has made me appreciate life, appreciate what I have, and the blessings that I have that I didn’t appreciate twenty years ago,” Larry Williams, a CEC teacher said.