From Our Table to Yours: What Our DJs Are Thankful For

Thanksgiving has a way of pulling us out of the rush. Between work, school, family, and everything else life throws at us, it’s easy to move so fast that we forget to slow down and appreciate what’s actually going right. But gratitude doesn’t have to be loud or grand. Most of the time, it shows up in the small moments — the check-in text you didn’t expect, the laugh that resets your whole day, or the people who make life feel a little lighter without even trying.

Since today is Thanksgiving, we wanted to celebrate that feeling in the most genuine way we could. So we asked our KSSU DJs to share what they’re thankful for this year. No overthinking, no perfectly crafted answers — just honest gratitude from the voices you hear on air.

Their responses are as different and personal as their playlists, but together they capture the heart of this holiday.

Take a moment, dive in, and see what our KSSU DJs are thankful for this Thanksgiving. It might just remind you of a few things you’re holding close this year, too.

DJ Z, Host of From My Playlist To Yours

You know what I’m really thankful for this year? The simple, powerful feeling that life is finally in my hands.

Ever year, people love to say, “This is going to be my year.” I used to hear that and feel nothing but distance. I couldn’t relate. It never felt like my time. Year after year, it honestly felt like life was happening to me, not for me. Like things kept slipping out of place no matter how hard I tried to hold them together. There were moments where the sadness seemed louder than the joy, and I hated that. I felt like a character in a play I didn’t even audition for, just moving along to life’s script instead of my own.

At some point, the frustration and exhaustion hit a breaking point. I got tired of feeling powerless. I got tired of letting life push me around. And something in me snapped in a good way. I decided I was done. I cut off all those invisible strings that kept pulling me in directions I didn’t want to go. And for the first time, I really grabbed my life with both hands. 

And honestly? 2025 became that year for me. The first year I can proudly, wholeheartedly say… this was the best year of my life. 

People joke that having two jobs means you’re broke. But for me? It means something different. It means I stepped into an industry I’ve loved since I was a kid. Something that once felt like a dream, is now my reality. Little me would be so proud seeing how it is all slowly unfolding. 

I went to over five concerts this year. I know it might not sound huge, but to me it’s everything. Teenage me never got those moments. But adult me, early-20s me, is finally giving myself the experiences I spent years wishing for. And that matters.

I also made some amazing new friends this year, and even reconnected with people I lost touch with after high school. Those small full-circle moments? They hit different.

None of this is “big” in a flashy way – but man, I’m so grateful. Life is finally life-ing the way I always hoped it would. Not dragging me, not controlling me — just flowing in a way that feels aligned with who I am and who I’m becoming. I’m excited for the new year. I’m excited for what’s next. And for the first time ever, I really believe that life will continue to unfold on my terms… because I’m the one steering now.

There’s so much I want to do, so much I want to see, and I genuinely believe it’s all possible.

So in short: I’m grateful for the opportunities that came my way, the experiences that shaped me, and the people who made this year feel full.

This year was mine—and I’m ready for the next one.

And if you made it this far, I just want to leave you with this: life is energy. What you put out into the world — your attitude, your intentions, your effort, your hope — life finds a way to return it to you. The energy you carry is your real currency, and life responds to it every single time.

You’re not just a passenger here. You are the creator of your own path, the author of your own storyline. So choose your energy wisely. Pour into the things you want to grow. Believe in the things you want to receive.

Create your life with intention, my friends because life is always listening :)

DJ Jash

This year, I’m thankful for all the new connections I’ve made. It’s my first year at Sacramento State and at first I was skeptical. I’ve been a Sacramento area resident for a good portion of my life and going into college, I did not want to just feel as if nothing changed. But in my first semester here at Sacramento State, I’ve been opened to vast communities full of great people. Growing up in Sacramento, I never thought there’d be such a deep and connected network of creatives but with the academic freedom that comes with college, I’ve gotten to enjoy meeting amazing artists and creatives in their respective fields. One of the best ways I’ve been able to do so is with KSSU. The DJs and KSSU team have all been nothing but great and I feel as if I’m finally finding a place on campus where I can fit in. And through KSSU, I’ve been able to build and develop relationships off-campus as well! There’s a lot to come by being in college and I’m definitely thankful for all that I’ve already experienced.

DJ CHRYS, HOST OF AGAINST THE GRAIN

As Thanksgiving rolls around each year, I never really sit down to think about what I’m grateful for. This part of the school semester never fails to feel like I’m falling down a perpetually expanding staircase covered in dish soap, daylight savings makes me want to be in bed at 5:30pm every day, and although I love the cold weather, it makes it nearly impossible for me to roll out of my warm bed and make it to class on time in the mornings. At the end of the day, though, I really do have a lot to appreciate in my life.

I have a 10-year-old cat that’s been with me through the most transformative years of my life and still tries to spend nearly every waking moment as physically close to me as possible. I’m doing well in my classes and have a hopeful educational future. I have an outdoor job that aligns with my personal interests, and a volunteer position in the campus greenhouse that does the same. I have a group of people within the local hardcore scene that makes me truly feel at home. I’ve got every single original Star Trek movie on DVD! Most of all, though, I have a support system that allows me to be my most authentic self– my friends, my family, my mentors, some of my peers, and my pets all remind me that at the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with me being who I am– there’s nothing wrong with being trans. Strangely enough (or maybe not), I’m actually thankful to be transgender, which isn’t really something that you hear a lot in today’s current political climate.

The experience of figuring myself out allowed me to dive deeper into my sense of self than a lot of people ever will in their lifetime, reassuring the fact that I know who I am and what I want. Having to dedicate my life to being who I am and fighting to be seen as that person has taught me both the importance of having a support system that sees you for who you are and not allowing yourself to be seen as something or somebody you’re not.

All in all, I’m thankful for everything that I’ve had to go through in my life. Without those experiences, I wouldn’t be who I am today, wouldn’t have the connections that I do, and wouldn’t have the life that I am so very lucky to have.

Happy holidays, support native-owned businesses, advocate for your local indigenous tribe and their land rights, and always remember… NOBODY IS ILLEGAL ON STOLEN LAND.

DJ SAMMIE, HOST OF RED RIBBON HOUR

What am I thankful for this year? Hmm, very tough as I have received so many items, opportunities, memories while also meeting a bunch of new people, fostered new connections, and grown as a person. Every year, my thankfulness not only changes but expands. First, I am grateful for the obvious, my family and friends who have stuck by my loudness, annoyingness, crash-outs, but have also loved and accepted me for me. I am lucky enough to constantly have an amazing and understanding support system. Secondly, I am immensely and always grateful for all that is the arts. That being art-history, music, theatre, movie and television creation, and fashion. My hobbies, interests, and drive are through the arts. It is what inspires me to continue my degree, come up with fun and creative ideas for my clubs/organizations, it lets me love and be a part of KSSU! It is the driving factor of what I want to do in my future. Always love and support the arts! Yes, I am talking to you!

Going back to what I achieved this year, I am grateful for all the amazing opportunities that have presented itself to me this year. Tying in with the arts, I am also grateful for my education. Through my courses here at Sacramento State, I have further understood the importance of learning and the respect I have for my declared major. Education continues to open my mind to new perspectives, creativity, and experiences that I never thought possible. Lastly, I am thankful for personal, emotional, and creative growth. I’ve learned to trust myself more, take risks, and enjoy the small victories. This year has truly reminded me that gratitude is not just about what we have, but how we appreciate who we are becoming. I am excited for what I get to learn, meet, and the opportunities that present itself to me in the next year! Have a happy holiday!