Forget about Pilgrims. Forget about Indians. Forget about turkeys. Forget about all of those clichés that make up Thanksgiving. That is not why it’s important to me.
Thanksgiving is a reason to celebrate family and friends.
Sometimes, that means families that live far apart have the chance to spend time together. It’s a time to celebrate a brother, a mother, a grandpa or a cousin. It’s the time of the year to take a moment from your busy school schedule to ask someone how they are doing or share a laugh or have a heart-felt conversation.
For some, spending time with friends is just as important as spending time with family.
Thanksgiving is also a time for old friends, good friends and long lost friends.
This year, I will be spending Thanksgiving with some of my closest friends who I do not get to see on a regular basis.
Naturally, I would love to spend Thanksgiving with both my friends in Indiana and my family who recently moved to Arkansas, but I can’t be in two places at once.
However, seeing good people whom I care about and love is the single most important reason for the holidays.
In a world where the holiday season is becoming more and more commercial, I like to think of Thanksgiving as a holiday built around conversations. It’s about being real with the ones I love. It’s about being thankful for the people in my life. It’s about realizing that I am not alone in this world.
I don’t need turkey. I don’t need stuffing. Just put me in a room with the people I love and my holiday will be complete.
Will Cunningham 
Mikaela Brown 
Sophia Hunter