{"id":1902,"date":"2020-11-25T13:31:35","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T17:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog2.textbookrush.com\/?p=1902"},"modified":"2024-04-10T12:51:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T16:51:41","slug":"finding-reasons-to-be-thankful-in-2020-despite-a-turbulent-school-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.textbookrush.com\/blog\/post\/finding-reasons-to-be-thankful-in-2020-despite-a-turbulent-school-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Reasons to Be Thankful in 2020 Despite A Turbulent School Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While this year may have been quite a challenge to say the very<\/em> least, it\u2019s important to take some time over your holiday break and reflect on everything positive that still surrounds you – and to be grateful. Gratitude<\/a>, after all, is a powerful human emotion that can help instill positive moods, relish positive experiences, feel more positive emotions, improve your mental health, and help you deal with adversity. All persuasive reasons for a stressed-out college student to work more gratitude into their life, even after the Thanksgiving holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, before we start counting the days of Christmas and all the random birds and golden rings involved, let\u2019s count off a few reasons to be Thankful this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increased College Affordability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pandemic may have negatively impacted the educational system in a lot of ways, but one thing it didn\u2019t change for the worse is the pace of college tuition increases. The increases are among the lowest in decades and at some schools – didn\u2019t increase at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late March, the CARES act was passed \u2013 which suspended payments on federal student loans and waived interest through the end of the year \u2013 and with fingers crossed, hopefully indefinitely. Modified fall plans at many Universities also offered tuition discounts<\/a> for students, helping them save in the range of 10-15% off at some elite colleges, and more than 30% at less-selective Universities. Southern New Hampshire University is even offering a free year<\/a> for first-time freshmen. But that\u2019s not all! Some colleges waived or refunded student-activity fees, which can average almost 2k per year at a public four-year college. So, while college is still pretty expensive, let\u2019s be thankful for these aids and discounts that have made it a little easier for us to focus on our education and less on our financial hurdles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Opportunity to Have A Higher Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your spring or fall semester of school may not have been ideal this year, but it\u2019s important to remember what a privilege it is to be able to get a higher education. Everyone wants one, but not everyone can receive one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And though it\u2019s hard to be grateful while temporarily burdened by student loans \u2013 know that the hard work and perseverance to finish your degree and accomplish your goals and dreams will one day pay off. Employment is steadier for those with higher education, and graduates with a bachelor\u2019s degree earn $32,000 more on average than those with a high school diploma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attending university online probably isn\u2019t the ideal way for some students to learn, study or get the full \u201ccollege experience\u201d, but why not be thankful for even having the ability to continue our education throughout a pandemic. Not only that, but online education opens doors for students everywhere<\/em>\u2013 including those who need the flexibility of online courses to work around full-time work schedules, childcare\/family and other personal responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Friends, Family and The Technology That Keeps Us Together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anything, this strange and difficult year has made us recognize the importance of our family and friends, so let\u2019s be thankful for one another\u2019s presence, love, comfort, support and despite an undisputedly rough year \u2013 that we\u2019ve made it this far together. And while we\u2019re being all mushy-gushy, let\u2019s not forget to show a little gratitude for technology like Zoom and Facetime for giving us the opportunity to virtually hang \u201cface to face\u201d when obstacles like lockdowns or a general concern for one another\u2019s safety have forced us apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few other important (if not more important) things to be thankful for this year:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n