Tulane, What Are You Thankful For?

Guest blogger: Sarah Swig 
           
            As the semester is coming to an end, it’s easy for Thanksgiving to pass by without giving much thought to the holiday. Finals are approaching, students are making plans to see their friends and families over winter break, and it’s a generally busy time of year. However, it’s important to take a moment to think about what we’re truly thankful for. Below is a selection of what Tulane students are thankful for this Thanksgiving. The responses are heartwarming, touching, and funny. I’ll start with what I’m thankful for.

            Tonight, my best friend Kelsey hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at her house, or a “Friendsgiving”. Everybody made one dish – we had salad, brussel sprouts, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry, and of course, turkey. We even somehow managed to find room for pecan and apple pie for dessert. As I sat at the table surrounded by 20 of my good friends, I truly felt so happy to have found "my people" here at Tulane. Going to college can be scary – you are leaving everything that you know and have come to love, including your family and friends. I remember wondering if I would ever be able to find new friends that were as amazing as the ones I had in high school, and it made me sad to think that I was leaving those people behind. My high school friends are still so important to me, but I have also made incredible new friends at school. I am so fortunate to have found a network of people that I love in New Orleans, and to have found people who I know will remain my best friends for the rest of my life. As my graduation date looms, I am scared, just as I was in high school. But after coming to school in a city far from home and meeting so many amazing people, I have the confidence that I will be able to successfully begin my next chapter when the time comes. But until then, I am cherishing every moment with the greatest of friends here at Tulane. I feel very lucky to have met such wonderful people. So this year, I am especially thankful for my incredible friends, who make me happy each and every day of my life.

My roommates, upon receiving Valentine's Day chocolates
from our roommate who was abroad. 

Kelsey (and host of Friendsgiving): I’m thankful I have friends who like free food. And Joseph Gordon Levitt. 

Kelsey, the Hostess with the Mostess

Joseph Gordon Levitt

Jack, having a good time at The Fly

Jack: This year I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for all the people here at Tulane and in New Orleans who made my transition into college enjoyable. I am thankful for a schedule of classes I am genuinely interested in and I am thankful for all the great people I am surrounded by. I am thankful for the support my parents have shown me while I move away from home but I am also thankful for Bruff. For someone who cannot cook a well-rounded meal for themselves, Bruff has filled the important role of preparing me tasty nourishment every morning and evening. I am thankful for everything that allows me to be in the place I am at this point in my college life.

Peyton's Nook

Peyton: I am thankful for my cozy little nook to come home to every day. After a long day of working or studying, I get to come home to see my 5 best friends and cuddle up and relax in my own space. I am thankful for my very own home where I am completely comfortable and worry free.

Mark, expressing himself

Mark: I'm thankful to live in a city with the best food in the country, beautiful palm trees, and an open and welcoming environment to express oneself.

Tory: This year I’m thankful for my life. I’ve always found that concept cliché, but losing two people in my life in a short period of time has made life’s fragility a grave reality I can’t pass by. I recognize every day that I never know when will be the last time I do something or talk to someone. For that, I am humbled by the nature of life, which is much greater than myself and I tell the people I love that I love them. Most importantly, I am thankful for the experiences I have, the moment I have them and the people I care about, when I’m with them. 

Tory (right), with her sisters and lifelong friend, Amelie Lemoullac (front center), who passed away this summer from a biking accident.

Angie's Parents

Angie: This Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for my parents, Jim and Kathy. As I am finishing the first half of my senior year at Tulane, I am realizing how lucky I am to have had such a unique, incredible, well-rounded college experience. I attribute my success and enjoyment at Tulane to the support from my wonderful parents, and I am so grateful that they have believed in me and in the power of education. As I often say, if I can be half the person that my mother or my father is, then I am doing something right! Thank you, Mom and Dad, for all that you have done for me. I love you!

The angels themselves

Liz: I am thankful for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show of 2k13. With the holiday season upon us, I could choose to say that I am thankful for wifi, Kanye West's Bound music video, or maybe even my family, but this year I am desperately thankful for the Victoria Secret Fashion show. My life has been sincerely lacking this year without the glitter, glam, and bedazzled ladies that strut down the runway to my favorite top 40s jingle. I mean really, who knew angels flew so low? Between having to live in a place that is not New Orleans next year, and faced with my frantic search for where I can find some of dat solid red beans n rice I crave every Monday (I miss you Bruff), I just really am thankful for what I have left, the Victorias Secret Fashion show. Thank you angels.

Emma's Sister and Ava, taking a kip

Emma: Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday because it reminds us to be thankful for all we have and the wonderful people in our lives. This year, I am especially thankful for my loyal and supportive family, but I don’t just mean mom, dad, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents; this year, I am also thankful for my dog. Ava, my wonderful German shepherd pup, passed away last week after 11 years of fierce friendship and loyalty to her family. Our pets often mean much more to us than we realize. From the moment they walk into our homes, they stop being just an animal and start being part of the family. I am thankful to have spent 11 years with one of the kindest souls in the animal kingdom. Ava, you will always be the fourth Culotta sister, and we love you very much.

Allison enjoying her pumpkin frozen
yogurt

Allison: This time of year brings out the best of everything. You have colder weather. You have the leaves changing color (if you live somewhere other than New Orleans). You have baggy sweaters, warm scarves, and that warm cozy feeling that comes only when sitting around the fire with your best friends. This is great and all, but nothing, and I mean NOTHING, makes me more thankful for the holiday season than the bringing back of pumpkin flavoring. Pumpkin spice lattes. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin chocolate chip bread. Pumpkin filled ravioli with a sage brown butter sauce......YUM! So this year (like all years), above (almost) everything else, I am thankful for pumpkin flavored foods.

Dylan: I am thankful for the kindness of all the people in my life, thrift shops, hamburgers, and the amazing beauty of nature.

Dylan, currently abroad in Peru, taking it all in.

Tom, who inspired this Thanksgiving post:

As Thanksgiving approaches, I realize I haven’t been truly thankful on Thanksgiving for something in a long time. Thanksgiving has taken on a different meaning, like playing football and eating some incredible food. However, this week has also caused to me to think back about when I first applied to Tulane. 

During the application process the phrase “Only in New Orleans, Only at Tulane” was emphasized greatly. Videos were shown that highlighted the amazing city, its incredible recovery from Hurricane Katrina, the beautiful campus, great classes and of course a few local bars that we would all soon know as home. However, what I have come to realize is that the people I have met over the past three years here at Tulane are the epitome of that statement. 

I met Anthony Duh the absolute best wingman of all time. I met Sidney and Copey Pulitzer, a father/son Professor duo who have never made a class boring and have cooked Bananas foster in class. I met Brenan Keller, my business partner and a triple major here at Tulane who still is able to put up with me for copious amounts of time as we work on our venture. I met several members of a football team that have supported a fellow player, friend, brother and teammate like no one could ever believe,

Tom with his fraternity
brothers

and have won with more fire than the Saints in doing so. I met Coby Kramer-Golinkoff who has fought day after day to fight cystic fibrosis with his foundation Emily’s Entourage and has changed my outlook on how to fight. I’ve met Colin Howell, who will be flying F18’s in the fall… are you kidding me? I’ve met some of the most gorgeous girls in the country. I’ve also met some of the Dads of the most gorgeous girls in the country… they are nice. I’ve met Drew Juillet, the freshman year roommate who is also one of the hardest kids to piss off ever. I've met Jake Rosenblum, the future of the agency world who has grown to become one of my best friends. I've met Khaki Martin, someone who has always challenged me and helped me grow.

I’ve also grown with 18 pledge brothers over the past three years who through all of my shenanigans have had my back. Finally, I’ve been able to share all of the memories with my parents who have put me in such an incredible situation and have had my back every single day of my life.

So Tulane, Thank you. Thank you for the resistance and the excitement. The incredible parties and the beautiful intelligent women that walk beside me everyday. Thanks to my brothers and my family because at the end of the day there is nothing I would want more than to have an incredible senior year with you all.

Only in New Orleans. Only at Tulane. 


Happy Thanksgiving y’all! I hope everyone can take a break from those applications to celebrate with those who they love, and of course, eat some delicious turkey and stuffing.