Students learn the art of holiday cheer, even far from home
By Eleanor Christopher
The holiday season is a marvelous time at High Point University. Even though students are away from their homes, one does not miss out on the holiday experience. The campus is decorated with wreaths, toy soldiers, lights, garland, bows and other holiday accessories. When walking down the promenade, one listens to the soft hymn of Christmas music. Nevertheless, students anxiously await going home to their families for this festive time of year.
Megan Switick, a freshmen at HPU said, “Over Christmas break, I will be working a lot, seeing “A Christmas Carol” with my family in DC, making cookies, making a ginger bread house, and opening presents.” However, Switick didn’t wait until break to be with her family.
“I went home the weekend of November 12th and we decorated my house for Christmas,” she said “We decorated the outside with lights and those light-up deer, and on the inside we put up our tree.”
Luckily Switick lives close enough to do that. Many other students waited until Thanksgiving break to begin decorating with their families, and some even wait until winter break itself.
Like several other students at HPU, Switick decorated her dorm with festive attributes including a small tree and Christmas stockings. She said, “I decorated my room because Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love to be in the Christmas spirit.”
Cori Bane, a junior at HPU, said “I like to consider the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, an annual tradition I like to participate in. I either go with friends or often, just spend the day shopping with my mom.” The day after Thanksgiving is the starting point of the winter holidays for most HPU students.
Several students are eager to go home for the break so they can work. Brynn Tobin, a sophomore, said, “I will be trying to make as much money as I can for when I go abroad to Australia next semester.” She will be working at a seafood restaurant in her hometown, offering to babysit, and any other opportunities that she may find.
Freshman Christa Heztler-Goin will also be working over break. She said, “With work and the age difference between me and my sisters, we are thankful for the time we get for all of our family to be together.”
The holiday spirit does seem to bring people together. Many students are simply excited to finally have time to spend with their family and friends. Senior Annie DeKraker said, “I’m most excited to be reunited with my friends from home. Since we are all away at different schools, it’s nice to have a long break to spend with them.”
Freshman Jenna Robinson, who lives in Maine, said, “Being away from home for so long has helped me realize how much I love my family, and it has also made me miss and appreciate the little things that each of my family members would do on a daily basis.”
Food is also a big part of students’ holiday traditions. Freshman Patti Suchan stated, “On Christmas day, usually around 1 p.m., we will have a big lunch with ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and sparkling cider.”
And of course, the holidays do come with gifts. Carly Lucas is hoping to get lots of cool, big, antique photo frames as well as a red bandage skirt with a zipper.
Junior Virginia Dannelly stated, “I can’t say that I am super excited to receive one gift in particular. I enjoy finding gifts to give others and seeing how much they enjoy them throughout the year.”
To her, there is nothing like seeing someone’s face light up after having received a gift that thought has been put into. In conclusion, she said, “I guess in a way, the gift I look forward to most each year is the gift of joy that my family and friends give in excess during this time of year.”
So through the decorations, jobs, visiting family and friends, the food, and the gift receiving and giving, High Point University students will greet the holidays with open arms. But of course, before any of this, there are exams. And the best present of all will be the feeling of a job well done after the hard work one has put in throughout all of the semester.