November 11th, 2026
Writer: Jessie Kron
Editor: Sophia Wohl
It’s so easy for us as college students to go about our everyday lives without thinking twice about the things we should be thankful for. Our routines are simple; we wake up in the morning, get ready for school, hang out with our friends, and go to sleep knowing tomorrow will bring another beautiful day. These things are so normal to us that we don’t even think to acknowledge or appreciate them. Sometimes we forget that the ability we have to live our lives is not others everyday reality. Many of the freedoms and opportunities we have today are made possible by the individuals who have sacrificed more than any of us will ever know. Those people are the veterans who served our country.
When we hear the word veteran, we think of someone in uniform, someone who served our country or someone who dedicated a portion of their life to the military. But what we don’t think about is that these veterans have outside lives, making a decision to put their lives at risk to serve for us. These civilians are also someone’s parent, sibling, friend, or child. These same people have dreams, goals and lives of their own. Their decision to put themselves out there and fight for our country deserves a level of appreciation that goes far beyond a single day on the calendar. It may be difficult for us to fully understand the challenges they face or the things they have given up, but we can assume that their sacrifices have made an impact far greater than we will ever truly realize.
I think one of the most meaningful things we can do as individuals is learn to appreciate the people that we may overlook. It is so easy for us to get caught up in our own lives, and get stressed or complain about school or friends. Those moments are when we forget how fortunate we are to have the ability to make our own choices and pursue the lives we want. We should turn our attention to the bigger picture. Veterans have dedicated their time, energy and courage to serving our country.
The appreciation of veterans should not be limited to a holiday or a social media post. It should be something we carry with us throughout the year. Although we can’t repay every sacrifice they have made for us, we can show our gratitude in even the smallest gestures. A simple thank you may seem like a small gesture in comparison to everything they have done for us, but these appreciations should never be underestimated. We don’t always need grand gestures or perfectly written words to show someone how much they matter. Even just taking the time to recognize another person’s contributions can mean more than we realize. So the next time we go about our normal routines, I hope we all take a moment to recognize how fortunate we are and recognize the people who helped make these opportunities possible. Freedom is something we experience every day, but gratitude is something we have to choose.
