The week leading up to Thanksgiving break was a calm and refreshing one for Junior Gabriella Hernandez. “My week leading up to Thanksgiving break was really good,” she said. With school still in session, she worked hard so she wouldn’t have to work during the break. Most of her classes kept things simple with mostly catch up assignments. “School work was pretty simple,” Gabriella explained. “Not a lot of my classes had a lot of work.” One highlight of her weekend was visiting Hyde Park to see the Christmas lights. Even though the display wasn’t huge, she still enjoyed the moment. “They were good, but it was just a couple of lights and that was it,” she said.

A major moment for Gabriella came with a job change. “I got hired at the new Outback, and got to quit my old job,” she shared. Her busiest day that week was Saturday, when she had job orientation before heading to the beach with her best friend Camryn, who goes to Steinbrenner. “We drifted but recently got closer again, and it feels amazing,” Gabriella said. They spent the afternoon catching up and having a Bible study by the water. At home, family traditions helped set the tone for the upcoming holiday. “My family always goes shopping together for the food,” she said. They also pulled out decorations from the attic. Tablecloths, plates, and everything needed to prepare for Thanksgiving. The week also brought plenty of time with friends. Gabriella hung out with Camryn often and even went to see Zootopia 2 with her family and her friend Catalina.  “My mood was pretty calm. Nothing special happened and nothing too crazy happened.” Reflecting on the week, Gabriella gave it a rating. “I would give it an 8 out of 10,” she said. “It was nice to sit back, relax, and reconnect with my friend.”