Students are finishing finals and preparing for the long-awaited winter break as the holiday season takes full swing.
The last day of final exams was Dec. 19 and residence halls closed Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. and will re-open Jan. 15.
Looking forward to the break, Grace Dermott, a freshman biology major, said she “can’t wait to go home and be with family.”
Dermott said she plans to relax and enjoy her break by catching up on sleep and getting a massage with her mother.
She said it is “the perfect chance to unwind and destress.”
As she counts down the days until Christmas, Dermott is “loving all the presents she can give.”
Dermott looks forward to all the traditions she shares with her mom around this time of the year.
“My mom and I would bake in the kitchen together, wear matching pajamas and put on a good Christmas movie,” Dermott said.
Dermott added that she is excited to be traveling to Cancun, Mexico.
“My family and I will be going to Cancun after Christmas, and we’ll be staying at an all-inclusive resort for 4 days,” Dermott said.
She said visiting ruins, like Tulum or Coba, is “a must” on the itinerary.
“My mom is a major history buff, so we’ll definitely be visiting some ruins,” Dermott said.
Emily Golub, a freshman primary education major, said she can’t wait to celebrate Hanukkah as she prepares for the holidays.
“I’m excited for Hanukkah this year,” Golub said. “It starts next week and will end on my birthday.”
Golub also said she intends to spend New Years with her best friend, “continuing our little tradition since 2016.”
Golub said she has thought about her goals for the upcoming year.
“I have been working out consistently for a bit and I want to continue that every day,” Golub said. “I plan on sticking to my goals for the new year and making sure I stay on top of things for the new semester."
Erika Euceda, a freshman biology major, said she is opting to stay with friends and family this year.
“As a biology major and commuter, I find it hard to spend time with my loved ones because we’re all busy with school and work,” Euceda said. “This break gives me the chance to be with them over the holidays.”
Euceda and her family have started their preparations for New Year, calling their church gathering “the biggest event of the year.”
She said everyone gets together at the Iglesia de Cristo Gosen Ministerios Ebenezer in West New York, New Jersey, to worship and praise as the community contributes a song or other gift to the church. Sharing a meal, the community would gather around and watch different presentations made by their fellow members.
“We often have different presentations like short films made by the youth, or an interpretative dance made by the worship dance team,” Euceda said.
Reflecting on this year, Euceda said she has learned about the act of perseverance and is planning to carry it into the new year.
“I faced obstacles when applying to college, trying to find an affordable university along with the major I wanted,” Euceda said. “I'm grateful for the support I have: supportive family, counselors, my success advisor and friends. They all helped me in college.”
Samantha Rueda can be reached at samantha.ruedagaona@student.shu.edu
