As the chill of winter made its way around the corner, the air was filled with anticipation on the much awaited arrival of winter break. With a variety of festive activities and precious time to spend with loved ones, winter break delights the students at Marriotts Ridge. The two week duration from December 23rd to January 3rd excited many students, as they were able to take a well deserved rest.
“This winter break I’m just really looking forward to getting some rest in, a lot of my friends from college are coming to visit. And I have a friend from Germany that I’m really excited to spend time with,” senior Christy Lee exclaimed prior to the break.
The long awaited break offered a long time of relaxation and gave students a chance to exhale after months of deadlines and a rigorous workload. Beyond the attraction of cuddling up by the fireplace with a warm cup of hot chocolate, the break was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends that have either moved away to college, or that they haven’t seen in a while. For many, winter break became a much needed reunion, where old relationships were kindled and ignited with laughter. This winter break created enduring memories that will last forever.
“I [traveled] to Philadelphia with my family, which [was] exciting because I’ve never been. We [planned] on renting this Russian restaurant with other family members, so it [was] great,” senior Raphael Feldman explained.
Not only did winter break pause academic pursuits, it invited a window to explore the world beyond everyday life. It allowed students to travel to different destinations with new landscapes and wander unique cities. For many, it was an opportunity to reconnect with diverse cultures and traditions, savoring the variety of cuisines. Winter break embodied the spirit of adventure that offers once in a lifetime opportunities to many.
“My plans for winter break [was] to stay home and play some soccer. In my opinion soccer is one of the best sports and I [was] excited because normally during school, I have less time to play,” junior Fola Adesanya stated.
During winter break, students had the perfect opportunity to relight their passions and hobbies that they may have neglected due to the busy semester. This break offered an oasis of time for hobbies like painting canvases, picking up guitar chords, playing sports or reading. It was an opportunity to fully commit to the pursuit of creativity, development and fulfillment on a personal level. Winter break became an excellent occasion for students to explore their passions and nurture their spirits in ways textbooks and lectures cannot. Whether it’s through learning a new skill or reviving an old hobby Mustang’s have had the time to do the things they enjoy.
“I’m going to go to New Hampshire to ski with my family, and I’ve been there before so it’s going to be really fun. Also, this time I really want to learn how to snowboard,” sophomore Esther Kim commented prior to the break.
Winter break presented a multitude of chances for learning new things and indulging in loved activities. At the same time, the break provided an opportunity for students to treat themselves to the things that make them happy, such as curling up with a favorite book series, trying new recipes, or exploring the world of music, movies and art. Winter break was the ideal time for students to satisfy their curiosity about life. The time was also a great opportunity to reset from the stress of school and enjoy the things that make life meaningful. Mustangs can now spend more time following their interests and getting to experience new things, all due to the festive weeks of winter break.