November 2025 "Thanksgiving Season and Finals Stress" by Adan Perez Herrera

     As the end of the semester approaches, the majority of students enter a period of high stress with final projects, deadlines, and the pressure to get a good grade, and our lives burn out. Stress, fatigue, and self-doubt can easily make us lose the purpose we set for ourselves at the beginning of the semester; however, one practice that has been forgotten nowadays can help us in this end-of-semester feeling: gratitude.

    Gratitude is the intentional recognition of the good things, practically the ones that happen in daily life, both big and small. Being a person who practices gratitude is someone who, throughout the day, takes small pauses to acknowledge the good things received and give credit to the people who have intervened and made those things happen for you. This might sound like something spiritual or even a rare practice, but psychologists say that cultivating the habit of gratitude can help an individual focus, be more resilient, and have a deeper motivation; coincidentally, all these qualities are exactly what is required for academic success.

   Some studies by the University of Berkeley and Harvard Medical School state that gratitude has measurable effects on the brain. The regular practice of gratitude activates different areas of the brain associated with dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters linked to feelings of happiness and satisfaction, making most students feel successful in their academic lives. Another benefit of gratitude is that cultivating the habit of appreciation reduces anxiety and increases optimism, while simultaneously enhancing problem-solving quality.

     The practice of gratitude changes the way students view their challenges. A student who may have a demanding final project might see it not as tough work or a burden but as an opportunity to learn and demonstrate the skills they've gained throughout the course. By cultivating this kind of mindset, stress will be transformed into motivation. This same mindset will also shift our perspective on failure, viewing it not as something negative but as feedback that provides an opportunity to grow again. By adopting the habit of gratitude, the focus will shift to progress rather than perfection.

    Another excellent quality of practicing gratitude is that our relationships become stronger. By expressing our appreciation to peers, professors, tutors, or any other staff members who make education possible, we strengthen connections within our social circles and gain a profound sense of belonging, which is essential in college, where isolation might otherwise grow. When students feel a sense of connection and belonging, they are more likely to develop an understanding of commitment in academic classes and overcome various obstacles.

    November brings Thanksgiving, a great time to reflect on how gratitude has influenced your educational journey. Remember that college life is much more than just grades or exams; it is also a time for personal growth. By practicing gratitude, each of us can become a clear sign that success in school is not only about earning good grades, but also about appreciating the many opportunities to learn something new, the people we encounter every day, or the remarkable experiences that shape our lives. Above all, practicing gratitude not only makes us better students but also makes us better individuals.