Searcy (LP) With all of the recent controversy and drama surrounding the election and its results, many students and teachers have decided to step back from it and try their hardest to be positive and show what all they are thankful for. November should be a time to give thanks and be uplifting and joyful, given that Thanksgiving is this month.
Practicing thankfulness and gratitude in school actually has many proven benefits as it increases students’ positive emotions and optimism, decreases their negative emotions and physical symptoms, and makes them feel more connected, content, and satisfied with school and with life in general.
According to Junior Rylee Cook, “When I get up in the morning, I try to immediately focus on the good things in life that I am grateful for, and it just really improves my whole day.” Also, a student’s enhanced gratitude is often translated into a more grateful behavior, creating a more positive environment for those around them. Teachers who express gratitude to their students on a regular basis in the classroom have reported higher grades and general better performance from their students.
Most people are thankful for their family and friends like Junior Tiffany Baker, who stated, “I am most thankful for my sister because she is my best friend and always has my back. Friends come and go, but at the end of the day we have got to live with each other, so we might as well try and enjoy each other’s company.” While it is easy for most people to take these things for granted, it is extremely important to recognize them and show gratitude because it can literally transform your mood entirely, and this is not just the case for students. According to the Senior Advanced Placement Literature teacher Doctor Watson, “ When my students and I have a positive and grateful attitude, it really just makes for a better learning environment for all of my students, and it makes for a better teaching environment for myself. Plus, when we all work together and give thanks everyday, it takes away from time that could be spent in a more negative way.”
