Organized and scheduled breaks are crucial for rejuvenation and basic sanity upkeep! After a very intense couple of months that involved directing a show, taking four classes, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, I can honestly say this Thanksgiving break is much needed and will be greatly appreciated, especially since it has started to snow.This year I will be having my first L.A. Thanksgiving.  Actually, this will be my first trip to the west coast ever, so I am amped for the trip and a holiday full of “firsts.” I am a southern  girl, so I am no stranger to a warm Thanksgiving, but there is something refreshing about celebrating something familiar in an unfamiliar place. I hope to catch up with some of my best friends, eat lots of food, and prepare myself for the finals that await me upon my return to Chicago! The only stressful part about this break is that as soon as we return there are only two weeks left of school, which means finals are due. This week I have been trying to complete as much work as possible before I leave for break, so hopefully I can enjoy the break without all my assignments hovering over my head.

This break also really allows me to reflect on all the things I am grateful for and acknowledge all the accomplishments I have made academically, spiritually, and emotionally. Breaks are great because they are time for us to rest, but also they are times for us to reflect on where we are and where we want to be. They are a time for us to make goals bigger than we ever dreamed possible and enjoy the act of imagining the true potential of our greatness.