With Thanksgiving only weeks away, Oakland University students are counting down to a break from exams and assignments — and looking forward to the plates they’ll build for themselves when the holiday arrives.
Some students plan to travel and visit family, while others have Friendsgiving events and celebrations spanning the break. Many are taking advantage of the time away from school to relax, recharge and enjoy the traditions that make the holiday meaningful to them.
The shortened fall semester often leaves students feeling stretched thin, making the Thanksgiving break one of the most anticipated pauses of the academic year.
OU sophomore Julien Danzy said his Thanksgiving plan is to “eat as much as I can.” His go-to plate includes “turkey, yams, mac and cheese, Watergate salad and probably some greens.” Danzy said he is ready for downtime after a demanding fall.
“I’ve been going hard all school year,” he said, adding that he sees the break as a well-earned time to unwind.
Freshman Al Altalibi will spend Thanksgiving in Canada visiting his cousins.
“My whole mom’s side lives there,” he said.
He hopes to visit Toronto, but those plans are still uncertain. Altalibi said he looks forward to relaxing with family, noting that he has limited family in Michigan.
“Most of them are Canadian — but they live in Europe,” he said. Traveling during the holiday gives him something special to anticipate.
“I like sides more,” he said, noting a particular fondness for mashed potatoes.
Mohamed Karim, also a freshman, plans to visit his grandfather on Thanksgiving. His favorite dish is macaroni and cheese, and like several other students, he said he prefers side dishes to the main course.
Sophomore Alaina Hillman has a double celebration this season — Thanksgiving followed by her birthday on Nov. 29. Hillman will spend Thanksgiving enjoying the comforts of home. Unlike her classmates, who favor the sides, her favorite dish is the main attraction: turkey.
“On my birthday, we’re going bowling, and out for dinner after,” she said.
Some students, however, won’t get much of a break. OU sophomore Tanesha Griffin said she will spend the holiday working.
“I work on Thanksgiving, I work on Christmas, and I work on New Year’s,” she said. Due to her busy schedule, she was unable to make plans. Griffin said she might pick up a rotisserie chicken and macaroni and cheese to bring to work so she can still enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.
Despite varying plans, many students said they are most excited to spend time with people they care about, enjoy good food and enjoy a chance to unwind from academic pressures and end-of-year deadlines.
With several days free from classes due to the upcoming extended campus closure, students said they hope to enjoy family, fun and food without the usual worries of upcoming assignments or tests. Whether celebrating with a large gathering, a small family dinner or a quiet meal during a work shift, the Thanksgiving break provides OU students with a moment to pause during a busy semester.
