Giving Thanks This Thanksgiving
By On November 26, the United States will come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time to look back at the year prior and to give thanks. It is also a time to look forward and be thankful for what is to come. Thanksgiving is the pinnacle of the fall season, transitioning the American people into numerous holidays and ultimately, the New Year. In these times, the prospect of a new beginning is one that many of us eagerly await. In 2020, this Thanksgiving holiday will look and feel different from many other Thanksgivings in the past. There might not be a large, lavish meal with family. There might not be a trip across states to see old friends. But in a year where so much has happened, it is important to remember what we are thankful for.
For me, while this year has been full of a number of struggles, there have been a number of bright moments. I got to see my brother get married right before quarantine. I got to spend six months working from home, in which I spent time with my new kitten. I was able to become more productive in my workspace, and I got to begin a new work adventure as I transitioned back into the bankruptcy world. Despite the numerous disasters that were a part of this year, there was some peace. So, think to yourself — what am I thankful for this year? Am I thankful to be able to spend more time with my family? Am I thankful that I can still see my friends on Zoom? Am I thankful that my new coworkers have four paws, even if they do not actually contribute to the workload? Or, am I thankful that I made it to another Thanksgiving?
While this Thanksgiving may seem different from most Thanksgivings, it does have some similarities with the first Thanksgiving. In September of 1620, the Pilgrims had set sail to come to America and were faced with illness and the unknown. But by November of 1621, the Pilgrims had been able to establish their colony, thanks to help from the Native Americans. In just over a year, the hardships of 1620 were forgotten, and a celebration was held for three days with food and friendship. Now, 400 years later, we too are faced with illness and the unknown. Our country has been greatly affected by the events of 2020, and it is uncertain what the future will bring; but it is with great optimism that we will rise from this, and by November of 2021, we, too, will celebrate Thanksgiving with an exuberance that will, I hope, be remembered 400 years from now.
To all of you — the Paralegal Division Council wishes you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Here’s to hoping that 2021 will bring more joy, more success, and more to be thankful for.
Yazmeen Gadalla is a North Carolina Certified Paralegal currently employed as a bankruptcy paralegal at Hendren, Redwine & Malone, PLLC in Raleigh, N.C. Previously, she worked at Smith Anderson as a Corporate Paralegal, and Waldrep LLP as a Bankruptcy Paralegal. She has now been in the legal field for several years and has become proficient in bankruptcy and corporate work. Yazmeen regularly assists health care clients with corporate matters, including business formation, regulatory compliance, certificate of need (CON), and licensing issues. She also has worked with corporate clients as they begin their start-up practices, assisting with the formation of corporations and other business-related matters. Currently, Yazmeen assists attorneys with a wide variety of business and debtor bankruptcy matters, primarily in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 proceedings. In terms of her educational endeavors, Yazmeen graduated from North Carolina State University in 2016, with a double major in English and Criminology cum laude. She obtained her Paralegal Certificate from Guilford College in December of 2017 and became a North Carolina Certified Paralegal in April of 2018.
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