Thanksgiving on campus

 Ideas for students staying on campus for the holiday

As we approach the week of Thanksgiving, most students are preparing to go home to spend the holiday with friends and/or family; however, there is a minority of students who will remain on campus. For those staying, there are a number of things that you can do while spending Thanksgiving here. 

For starters, you could throw a Friendsgiving; invite your friends and other students you know that are staying on campus for a Thanksgiving meal. Go out to a store and buy some Thanksgiving delicacies and just have a get together with everyone for some good food.

You can also try having a cozy marathon movie night. Invite friends, other students who are staying on campus, or you watch by yourself. Make some popcorn–a classic snack for watching movies–or get a variety of different snacks. Some options of what to watch include holiday classics like Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving or some comedy movies.

You could also throw a game night to which you could invite your friends, nearby family, or other students who are staying on campus. You could get a variety of games to play, like Uno and Monopoly, or you could find online multi-player games.

It might also be nice to bake something: pies, cakes, bread, cookies, and brownies, if you have access to a kitchen. Baking can be very relaxing, and what's better than doing something soothing during a holiday time that is meant for winding down?.

If it’s not too cold, go on a walk. The weather is nice this time of year, and you should take advantage of it while it lasts. You could take friends to explore nearby parks, cafes, and museums; some are still open during the holidays.

Lastly, you could volunteer locally. There are plenty of places nearby that need help during one of the busiest holidays of the year like soup kitchens, community centers, or food banks. Basically anywhere that needs help.

I know that not going home and seeing your family for the holidays can be really tough, but hopefully these suggestions help you feel less alone and give you plenty of new or old ideas to try out to make the holiday feel less lonesome. Calling your family can also be something you do over the holiday; as much as you miss them, I'm sure they are missing you just the same, so FaceTiming, texting, or talking over a regular phone call will make all the difference.

By Chris Martinez