Thanksgiving is coming right around the corner, and before students pour out of Eastern in order to catch the last train home, it is important to remember some of our fellow students do not celebrate Thanksgiving in the same way.

That’s why “Friendsgiving,” and events like it, are good events to support. “Friendsgiving,” at 5 p.m. Friday in the Charleston Community Church, will help international students celebrate their own Thanksgiving, as many of them cannot make it home for the holiday week.

We believe that events like “Friendsgiving” show a great opportunity for international students to become acclimated to American culture. The whole point of Thanksgiving is being thankful for what you have and sharing it with the people you love.

And at Eastern, this is a community that is tightly knit. And when holidays come up, it should be noted that Eastern and Charleston do a tremendous job of making sure everybody who attends this university gets included in the festivities, in one way or another.

It’s easy to overlook others as you make the mad dash home next Friday. You might get home and complain that your favorite dish isn’t being made for Thanksgiving.

You might not like that certain relatives will be showing up on your doorstep, evidently “ruining” your vacation.

But, still remember some are not that fortunate. Some students here do not get the same opportunities as you.

They don’t get to complain about their favorite dish being absent because it is not celebrated that way.

They don’t get to not like relatives coming home for dinner because their relatives are thousands of miles away.

Events that include every student should be encouraged at Eastern; just as events to include the whole community should be encouraged throughout Charleston.

Don’t think just because you’re having a vacation it is a vacation for others. It could be just another day.

Instead, make sure you keep some people in your thoughts and remember that it’s OK to make sure that people who normally wouldn’t be, are included at all times.

Just because a majority of the school might flock home for break, more events like “Friendsgiving” should be available. It should go without saying that the students with nowhere to go should have a place to go.

When Thanksgiving rolls around this year, and you’re eating your favorite dish, take a moment to think about how to include everybody in this tight-knit community.

Eastern is about family. It’s about making life-long connections to people, just like a family. And you don’t leave family behind.