Nov 26, 2014 6 min read

I love traditions! When our children were small, my husband, Rich, often said I declared an activity a tradition if our family did it once and people were happy. He’s not far off. I was raised in a family where traditions were common and are now golden memories. Nothing brings me more joy than watching a loved one’s face light up when I serve a favorite meal or a special present is unwrapped. One of my traditions is my Thanksgiving column. I give the column to our young people. This year some peer educators at our annual Common Ground Teen Center Thanksgiving Feast shared what they are thankful for and why. Please enjoy their words.

As for me, I am deeply grateful for the gift of time with young people. They enrich my days; I am blessed to serve them.

Angus Pinkerton: I am thankful for friends, family and life. I don’t know what I’d do without them!

Cassidy Hiles: Every year, I am asked at my family table what I am thankful for. Every year around the table, I hear the same answers from everyone, “I am thankful for the food on my table, a roof over my head, and a family and friends to love.” This year, though, my family will have something different. I will be thankful for my uncle who serves in the military and his friends. This year, I learned about our military and about how so many people risked their lives for me to live. For this, I am truly thankful.

Chris Fuller: I am thankful for my JROTC program. I have so many new friends and have been able to do a lot of volunteer work and after-school activities that keep me busy. I have a lot of fun in the program and formed an unbreakable bond with so many fellow cadets. Hillers take the high ground!

Ellaria: I am most jubilantly thankful for my beloved friends, and I love them all. I am thankful for my many college acceptance letters and for most excellent food! Happy Thanksgiving, and blessed be all.

Emily Millard: I am thankful for life.

Eternity Stimmell: I am thankful for my family supporting me through my life choices, even if they weren’t always the best. I am thankful for friends like Marlena Marcou and others for holding certain secrets for long periods of time. I am also thankful for teachers for teaching me all the basics of life. I am especially thankful for Mary Jo for being someone I can count on if I need someone to talk to!

Hope Work: I am thankful for my family, my friends, Mary Jo and my life on Earth.

Jack Legler: I am thankful for the people that make me smile most – Kacy, Bob and the professor.

Jamie Barton: I am thankful for cats, my puppy, parents, friends, siblings and Mary Jo because they all make me happy.

JR Berdine: I am thankful for my family, my friends and for Mary Jo.

Koron Harris: I am thankful for everything – all the bad and the good – everything in the world. Everything has a reason. I am thankful for this reason. I am thankful for everything that makes me who I am and makes everyone who they are.

Marlene Marcou: I’m thankful for existing. Sometimes we all question why we’re here and, yeah, that’s totally normal. We still should be grateful for being here. With existence comes loving, learning, laughing and everything else important. Let us take our existence one day at a time. Let us seize the day.

Spencer Bryner: I am thankful for the friends I’ve made who stayed with me. They’re always willing to help me when I need it.

Anonymous: I am thankful for my close friends – especially my boyfriend – because they’re always there for me, and sometimes I take that for granted.

I want to acknowledge the events our dedicated young people are planning for December: Monday is World AIDS Awareness Day. Our peer educators will host our 21st AIDS Awareness Day from 4 to 5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 100. E. Wheeling Street, Washington. The public is invited.

Our Teen Center’s second annual Arts Day will be Monday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the center (53 N. College Street in Washington). Again, anyone may attend to view our teens’ artwork and hear their spoken word presentations.

Our Peer Educator theme this year is Smash the Stereotypes. We will host a Conversation about Race at our next meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. All young people are invited. Peer Educator meetings are held at the Common Ground Teen Center.