Towards the end of the first semester, students were faced with finals week. A time of constant cramming before finals, two hour long classes, and stressing about what they scored. But in reward for sticking it out, students are given a two week break, just in time for Christmas, New Year’s, and family time. For some, this was a chance to relax and unwind; while others took the opportunity for adventure and new experiences.
“I had a great winter break,” said Rudy Ramirez, reflecting on his time spent away from the stress of school. “I spent a lot of time with family and friends, and we even invited family from Tijuana, so it was nice being able to spend time with family members we don’t see that often.” Rudy also had the chance to go camping up towards Laguna Beach, being able to admire the view despite the unfortunate cloudy weather. The main downfall of his winter break was having to go back home after a short period of being out, expressing that “there were a lot of chores and work that had to be done.
“Maddox Clark also enjoyed his winter break, making the most of his free time. “My winter break was fun. I hung out with friends and rode dirtbikes as often as I could!” Maddox shared. He emphasized the importance of living in the moment and spending quality time with loved ones. “I hung out with my family, played some soccer, and lived in the moment with the thought of the stress of school never crossing my mind,” he said. Maddox felt satisfied with how his break turned out, saying, “I don’t wish to change anything about my winter break; there is no point worrying about something I can’t change.”
For Carmine Lopez, winter break was filled with travel and family traditions. “It went amazingly. I went out with my family on a trip to Indiana,” Carmine recalled. The highlight of his break was cooking and playing games with his cousins. “We made homemade pizza and cooked something new together every night. My cousins and I also stayed up every night playing video games and board games,” he said. Carmine wouldn’t have changed a thing about his break, stating, “I honestly wouldn’t have wanted it to go any other way; it was great!”
From camping trips to family reunions and late night games, students found unique ways to make their winter breaks memorable. Whether at home or traveling, the common thread was enjoying time with those who matter most.
