‘Tis the season of thanks and giving. Here at the Independent, we bring you an inside look into the team that has the final say in each and every issue—the editors. From non-stop email follow-ups to late nights at the office to skipping meals (and classes… just kidding!!), our dedication gets it done. But here’s the secret to our success: we can’t do it without you, dear reader!

So, this Thanksgiving, and for our last paper of the semester, the whole team would like to end on a thankful note.

Jiaming, Special Section Editor: Do you celebrate anything this time of the year? If not, what’s something you do celebrate?

Leslie, Editor in Chief: Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving. Having it as a Friendsgiving style helps to illustrate that you can be thankful for people that have been in your life, that aren’t [just] your family.

Zachariah, Opinions Editor: The majority of American Holidays are based around commercialism and religion, so I chose to celebrate the people I love and the goodness in my life as often as possible, outside of these structures.

Ananth, Sports and Health Editor: I do not actually celebrate any national or religious holidays … but this time of year, I’m thankful for the little things – moments of calm, bonding time with family, great conversations with friends, and time to reflect on what is meaningful to me. It is a good reminder to appreciate what I have and the opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally.

Jiaming: How do you express your appreciation to the people you are thankful towards?

Jasmine, Managing Editor: I try to at least schedule one event with them a month. We’ll go out to eat, or watch a movie together, … or something. Friends, people at school, people whose schedule I know… mostly it works out.

Gabe, Campus Arts and Life Editor: Saying hello and how are you goes a long way. I always say hello to them and ask them how life is treating them at the moment. Saying thank you goes a long way as well. 

Zachariah: Cooking, cleaning, calls, spending time with them, reminding them as much as I can that I’m thinking about them.

Dan, News Editor: Thanksgiving. By spending time with the people I care about and sharing talk, delicious food, and plenty of laughs.

Jiaming: Name some of your favorite dishes.

Leslie: Mashed potatoes with gravy is for sure a highlight, especially when they’re actually made from potatoes and not packaging. And mac and cheese – I always love it just as a meal, but especially for Thanksgiving – I always look forward to it because you can tell the care people put into it; you can tell from the taste.

Jiaming: Who are you thankful for?

Ananth: The people who inspire and support me – friends, family, mentors, and even those I have had brief but meaningful interactions with. Each one contributes something unique to my life … They remind me of the value of connection and the importance of showing gratitude every day, not just during this season.

Dan: The people around me who have made a difference in [my] life… sometimes whether I wanted them to or not … My best friends, my family, and all the wonderful people I have the privilege to work with and learn with here at NEIU.

Jiaming: What are you thankful for?

Gabe: I am thankful for the work I do as an editor. I take pride in how I get to inform NEIU students, faculty, staff, and alumni about events on and off campus they might not know existed … I hope I have been able to make a difference. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Jasmine: Being alive. Being in the present, not alone, but with people.

Questions and answers have been edited for clarity while trying to retain the original message as much as possible. Spacing of all punctuation is intentional. Both editors’ names and titles are stated at the first mention, and only the name is referred to afterward.