Here are all the things we're thankful for, Vol. 1

Thank you for your continuing support of the Ramspondents.

I asked our staff what they’re thankful for, and they responded with some sweet and heartfelt thoughts that will hopefully help you get into the Thanksgiving spirit if you’re not there already. We’ll be back tomorrow morning with Volume 2. I’ll share mine tomorrow, too.

— Jake Sherlock, editor and instructor

I’ve known I was trans since I was 13, at the time I was incredibly determined to get surgery to remove my breast and feel much more comfortable in my skin. Throughout high school I’d slink around the halls hunched over and ashamed about my body and how others saw me. Slowly, with lots of help from binders, testosterone and finding friends like me,I started to feel less self conscious in regards to my chest and happier to just be myself. The idea of top surgery started to be less of an absolute need to survive and more of a lax desire that I’d get to someday when I graduate and life was peaceful. 

That was until my skin started to rash under my armpits randomly one week and suddenly binders became incredibly painful to my under arms. I still have no idea why this happened, as I have been binding for nine years of my life with no issues and it has not come back at all since. Either way there was a good week where I couldn’t wear a binder till my underarms had healed. During that time I used trans tape, a specialized tape to secure your chest and create a semi-flate look. It’s typically too much effort to bother with it regularly, but I decided to try it out. After applying it I was not really happy with it but I had things to do so I hopped on my bike and made my way to class and that’s when I felt it. Wind had sneaked its way through my short sleeve shirt and danced against my skin. The sensation was like a gentle hug sweeping my spine, it crept to the front and slid down my chest giving a cooling sensation I had never experienced before due to my binder often covering that area. 

Getting to class I stretched my back straight and didn’t feel that instinctive need to cover it up. While the trans tape was uncomfortable and didn’t give me the look I wanted, I still felt free. Even after my rash healed and I started wearing my binder again, I would recreate that feeling alone in my room with a box fan whistling against my bare back.

Still, even with how affirming that experience had been, I was — for all intents and purposes — too busy for top surgery. I couldn’t take a month off my life for something I had only a slight need for, I was getting by all right, and I could live at peace with that at least till I graduated.

Then on Nov. 5, 2024, I had to actually really take in consideration surgery as now there was a chance that that later date would never come. If I wanted to make surgery a reality I needed to act immediately. The idea was still very, very scary, my body is what makes me me, even if I had the choice to have been born a biological man from the start I would not take it. Even so, I’m at a very privileged position in my life where my surgery would be completely covered by insurance and being on Medicaid I’m not sure if that will still be the case in the near future. I got on the waitlist in April and now my winter break will be spent recovering not only from classes. 

As Thanksgiving creeps nearer and we all share our gratitude around the table, I’m thankful to have the opportunity to go through this surgery as I know there are many others who have to go through hell and high water to even get to this stage. I’m thankful to live in a state that has respected my rights and will hopefully continue to do so and for all the family and friends who’ve helped me get here.

— Bear Atwood

This Thanksgiving, as always, I am grateful for my education and the people who have supported me through it. I’ve been reading a lot of class-assigned philosophy books recently, (against my will) but they have opened up a lot of channels for self-reflection and a chance to widen my perspective on life.

 I have really been thinking about the context education, especially higher education, has in society. I really have been so blessed to be put in a situation where I have the opportunity to pursue what I want in life. I also have the chance to exist in such a unique space that is a public university, where I get a chance to participate in all of these cool things, such as this newsletter, the student senate, student media and so, so much more. 

This is a really cool place with really cool people and I am thankful I get to take my first steps into the adult world in a place like this. I am also grateful for my family for pushing me to make this possible and for creating a household that values education. I got my love of learning from them and I will never lose it. 

I am also grateful to my roommates for being a second family (all seven of them). They have seen me go through my worst and best, and they have always approached me with kindness. Shoutout to the people and places that have made me fulfilled and successful, I couldn’t have ever even attempted the path I chose without you guys. 

— Ava Fricke

While a holiday baked in tradition is definitely something special, the Horn family has built their own traditions over the years, with curating a multi-day celebration for not just being thankful, but for our families as well. The food happens to be the least traditional part, which for someone who is very against stuffing and turkey, I am very thankful for! 

Celebrating the different cultures each part of our family has come from and met is the best way to show appreciation for the life that surrounds us. Even with the great food, this holiday will always mean more than a great meal. Thanksgiving has always been a special time for me and my family, as the surrounding days before and after the holiday are usually spent celebrating birthdays as well. I am so thankful for the time I've been able to have with my family, making and baking food in a crowded kitchen, and making valuable memories I hope to share with my family one day. 

With each passing year, it's hard not to think about the emotional aspect of aging, and remembering those in my family who are no longer around to celebrate with us is always so important. I am so thankful that each year I get to be here with my loved ones, and surround myself with those who care about me and each other so deeply. 

For our readers, thank you for your support. Remember to embrace your present and find appreciation in every day, and every one.

— Matthew Horn

What am I thankful for? As Thanksgiving approaches, that terrifying question looms over. For the longest time I found it eternally difficult to come up with something to say at the dinner table every year. This year however it comes easier. And for that I am deeply grateful. Over my two years at CSU, my eyes have been opened to the beauty around me and to the opportunities and joy amidst the turmoil of life. 

I am hugely thankful for my roommates. It is amazing to live in a house of people who all truly care for one another. I am especially grateful for my cousin, Trinity. She is one of my closest friends. It has been our dream forever to live together and this year it finally came true. She is definitely the brightest light in my life. 

I am also deeply grateful for the community around me. It is impossible to go through my day without having so many amazing conversations with the people around me. Hanging out with friends, chatting with coworkers and meeting new people every day is truly a blessing and something that I believe makes the CSU community really special. 

I have seen a lot of blessings throughout this semester and nothing confirms this more than the beauty of the outdoors. Whether staring up at the northern lights or hiking through the autumn leaves in the mountains, it is impossible to ignore. The heavens declare the beauty in our world and blessings always become easier to spot when I am in nature. This year my blessings are too many to count and I can only hope to share some of that joy with others around me.  

— Isabella Hemness

I've spent a lot of time this year thinking about what I'm thankful for, and it all boils down to the people and places that make my life better every day. 

The most important thing to me is my family. They've always been there for me, cheering me on when things are going well and picking me up when they aren't. My family gives me the support that I need and the confidence to keep going after my goals. Whether it's advice, a phone call after a long day, or just knowing they believe in me, they are always there. 

Also, I'm really grateful for my friends here at CSU, who make the good days even better and the bad days easier. They're the people I laugh with, lean on, and make memories with, and I wouldn't swap that for anything. I'm especially thankful for how my friends push me to grow, try new things, and stay true to myself, even when things get hard. 

Finally, I'm thankful for all the chances I've received at CSU. I've grown as a student and as a person thanks to my classes, campus life, and the community I've discovered here. My family, friends, and CSU have all shaped who I am, and I don't take any of it for granted. I hope I can keep showing them how much they mean to me.

— AJ Merriman