Teachers win the Game of Cones
Published by Leea Ivanel on October 9, 2015 -- CAMPUS
It was the final seconds of the game — ASB Director Jim Kelly sprinted across the court, red faced and panting, and with a conclusive effort grabbed the frisbee disk off of the heated pavement, aimed, and let it fly.
The last cone had, at last, been knocked down, and for first time in Carlmont history, the Teachers Team would advance beyond the quarter-finals of the Carlmont Cup.
Carlmont Cup is an annual competition between campus clubs that has been run by ASB for the past nine years. On Oct. 8 the Teachers beat Journalism with a score of 3-1, getting them a ticket into the semi-finals.
Kelly, the co-leader of the Teachers team said, “The outcome of these competition is for the most part a matter of luck, so there is no real way of saying which team will win.”
Others, however, have taken a different perspective on the subject. To them it’s not all just a matter of luck, but rather a matter of skill and determination.
Carlmont Cup DJ Ryan Geronimo said, “I was pretty sure the teachers were going to win this game because they have a lot more experience than the students do.”
On the other hand, senior Elena Mateus, the leader of the Journalism team, predicted, “We will win because we have our youth, which will play to our advantage. We are young, nimble, fast, and we can’t be stopped” before the game began. As it turns out, some of these predictions can definitely be wrong, no matter the amount or reasoning behind them.
Kian Karamdashti, another senior on the Journalism team, had high hopes for winning as well. He said, “I have never made it further than the quarter-finals, so I hope that this year I will make it to the finals and win them with this team.”
Kelly said, “I actually feel a bit guilty about participating and winning because I feel like I am taking away from the students, as we [ASB] set up these activities for them in order to build a community that they will enjoy being part of.”
Contrary to Kelly’s opinion, Matthew Miskelly, the math and AVID coordinator of Carlmont High School as well as the winner in a round of Gladiator, said, “I don’t feel guilty for beating the students because they beat us up all year long.”
Either way, despite their loss, the Journalism team did not seem truly defeated.
Mateus said, “We gave it our best and that’s what matters. I’m walking out of the ring for the last time, and while I did not win, I have no regrets.”
The last cone had, at last, been knocked down, and for first time in Carlmont history, the Teachers Team would advance beyond the quarter-finals of the Carlmont Cup.
Carlmont Cup is an annual competition between campus clubs that has been run by ASB for the past nine years. On Oct. 8 the Teachers beat Journalism with a score of 3-1, getting them a ticket into the semi-finals.
Kelly, the co-leader of the Teachers team said, “The outcome of these competition is for the most part a matter of luck, so there is no real way of saying which team will win.”
Others, however, have taken a different perspective on the subject. To them it’s not all just a matter of luck, but rather a matter of skill and determination.
Carlmont Cup DJ Ryan Geronimo said, “I was pretty sure the teachers were going to win this game because they have a lot more experience than the students do.”
On the other hand, senior Elena Mateus, the leader of the Journalism team, predicted, “We will win because we have our youth, which will play to our advantage. We are young, nimble, fast, and we can’t be stopped” before the game began. As it turns out, some of these predictions can definitely be wrong, no matter the amount or reasoning behind them.
Kian Karamdashti, another senior on the Journalism team, had high hopes for winning as well. He said, “I have never made it further than the quarter-finals, so I hope that this year I will make it to the finals and win them with this team.”
Kelly said, “I actually feel a bit guilty about participating and winning because I feel like I am taking away from the students, as we [ASB] set up these activities for them in order to build a community that they will enjoy being part of.”
Contrary to Kelly’s opinion, Matthew Miskelly, the math and AVID coordinator of Carlmont High School as well as the winner in a round of Gladiator, said, “I don’t feel guilty for beating the students because they beat us up all year long.”
Either way, despite their loss, the Journalism team did not seem truly defeated.
Mateus said, “We gave it our best and that’s what matters. I’m walking out of the ring for the last time, and while I did not win, I have no regrets.”
Cynthia Faupusa saves a life through sacrifice
Published by Leea Ivanel on October 28, 2015 -- CAMPUS -- HONORABLE MENTION FOR JAENC ANNUAL CONTEST
Students often forget that teachers do, in fact, have lives outside of their classrooms, and that their commitment to helping others extends beyond just their students.
Such is the case of Cynthia Faupusa, a mother of two originally from San Francisco, who is currently teaching her ninth year of English at Carlmont.
On May 29, 2015, the day of her 16th wedding anniversary, Faupusa donated her kidney to her father, Nelson Artiga, saving his life. After struggling with diabetes for 30 years and an acute kidney illness for three, Artiga suffered kidney failure at the age of 70, becoming one of the 101,189 people in America in an urgent need for a kidney transplant.
Faupusa said, “I was definitely shocked when I found out he was in kidney failure, but perhaps what was more shocking was how soon he needed the transplant.”
However, it turns out that “soon” was not so soon after all. It took six months of paperwork and a multitude of tests, ranging from several blood tests for HIV and Hepatitis, along with many other serious diseases, to x-rays and even to physiological examinations before the transplant could be approved by a committee of doctors.
“Really, the most frustrating part of the procedure was not the surgery itself but all the testing that had to be done before it to make sure everything would be alright”, said Faupusa. Later she added, “Still, I was indeed quite anxious about the actual surgery.”
The surgery for kidney transplants usually takes about two to three hours, and is achieved by a remotely non-invasive procedure known as laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
After the surgery, Faupusa’s father immediately began recovering. Although he will be on anti-rejection medicine for the rest of his life and his diabetes is incurable, Faupusa has kept a very positive mindset, saying, “He’s doing incredibly well. He has lost weight and his diabetes has improved.”
Artiga is not the only one who had to undergo recovery. Faupusa is still dealing with the many effects of the surgery.
She said, “I’m a lot more tired these days than I used to be before the surgery. On top of that, I have to try my best to not get sick because I need to protect the one kidney I have left, which gets quite challenging when students constantly come to school sick.”
Despite the difficulties she faces, Faupusa shows up to school almost every day and still teaches all her classes, which go as late as seventh period, showing her devotion to helping those that she cares about, which is something her father definitely appreciates.
Artiga said, “I am so fortunate to have a daughter who was a match and willing to give me her kidney. Her willingness to help me, though not surprising because that is the kind of person she is, is as incredible and as it humbling.”
Still, Faupusa insists that saving her father’s life does not make her any more special then anyone else.
“I’m not a hero,” she said. “I’m just a regular person who made a selfless sacrifice in order to save her father.”
Such is the case of Cynthia Faupusa, a mother of two originally from San Francisco, who is currently teaching her ninth year of English at Carlmont.
On May 29, 2015, the day of her 16th wedding anniversary, Faupusa donated her kidney to her father, Nelson Artiga, saving his life. After struggling with diabetes for 30 years and an acute kidney illness for three, Artiga suffered kidney failure at the age of 70, becoming one of the 101,189 people in America in an urgent need for a kidney transplant.
Faupusa said, “I was definitely shocked when I found out he was in kidney failure, but perhaps what was more shocking was how soon he needed the transplant.”
However, it turns out that “soon” was not so soon after all. It took six months of paperwork and a multitude of tests, ranging from several blood tests for HIV and Hepatitis, along with many other serious diseases, to x-rays and even to physiological examinations before the transplant could be approved by a committee of doctors.
“Really, the most frustrating part of the procedure was not the surgery itself but all the testing that had to be done before it to make sure everything would be alright”, said Faupusa. Later she added, “Still, I was indeed quite anxious about the actual surgery.”
The surgery for kidney transplants usually takes about two to three hours, and is achieved by a remotely non-invasive procedure known as laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
After the surgery, Faupusa’s father immediately began recovering. Although he will be on anti-rejection medicine for the rest of his life and his diabetes is incurable, Faupusa has kept a very positive mindset, saying, “He’s doing incredibly well. He has lost weight and his diabetes has improved.”
Artiga is not the only one who had to undergo recovery. Faupusa is still dealing with the many effects of the surgery.
She said, “I’m a lot more tired these days than I used to be before the surgery. On top of that, I have to try my best to not get sick because I need to protect the one kidney I have left, which gets quite challenging when students constantly come to school sick.”
Despite the difficulties she faces, Faupusa shows up to school almost every day and still teaches all her classes, which go as late as seventh period, showing her devotion to helping those that she cares about, which is something her father definitely appreciates.
Artiga said, “I am so fortunate to have a daughter who was a match and willing to give me her kidney. Her willingness to help me, though not surprising because that is the kind of person she is, is as incredible and as it humbling.”
Still, Faupusa insists that saving her father’s life does not make her any more special then anyone else.
“I’m not a hero,” she said. “I’m just a regular person who made a selfless sacrifice in order to save her father.”
Students share opinions on current skiing season
Published by Leea Ivanel on November 19, 2015 -- CAMPUS
Skiing is a sport that has been around since the Last Ice Age and the Paleolithic period, around 43-45,000 years ago, according to an BBC Travel article. The “sport” was originally a necessity, used for traveling and hunting during the frozen winters of Europe and Asia.
Today, skiing is a form of entertainment and enjoyment for many. An estimated 15 million people consider themselves skiers, and that’s just in the United States.
Sophomore Isla Shi said, “I have been skiing every winter since I was eight, and honestly, it’s more of a hobby than anything.”
For others, skiing is a chance to step back into the past and relive old memories. Sophomore Emma Castro said, “Skiing reminds me of my childhood, as I have been doing it for quite a while. Plus, I just really love the snow.”
Still, due to the lack of snow last season, neither Shi nor Castro were able to partake much in the sport. According to Ovidiu Predescu, an expert skier and a resident of South Lake Tahoe, there was a decent amount of snow only at the beginning of November and _the end of December, leading to big problems for local winter sports resorts such as Kirkwood and Heavenly.
Despite last year’s meager snowfall, some believe that this winter holds a lot of promise due to the upcoming El Niño, which is expected to be one of the three strongest recorded since 1950.
Castro said, “I really think this is going to be a great winter because the weather seems to be perfect for lots of snow.”
The promise of snow has led others to consider skiing this winter as well. Freshman Rebecca Jiang said, “My dad is planning on taking me skiing this winter, but I’m anxious considering I wasn’t that good when I skied the last time. It’s also quite frustrating because I can’t learn how to do it as easily as I learn other things.”
Another particularly bad skiing experience comes from sophomore Miya Okumura, who started skiing in seventh grade. “While skiing was fun, I had to stop because the elevation made me terribly sick. Also, after falling numerous times and almost running into a tree, you tend to stop enjoying it that much,” she said.
Regardless of the unpleasant experiences some students have experienced, others remain very excited for skiing.
Sophomore Daisha Sherman said, “I have never skied and I have only seen snow once, but it seems like it would be a very fun and adrenaline-filled experience. I would really love to try it.” Sherman later added, “However, my family cannot afford to go, and my dad is incapable of leaving work most of the time, so, unfortunately, I don’t think I will get to ski anytime soon.”
Financial issues when it comes to skiing are not rare. The prices of the ski industry have been gradually rising over the past years, both for lift tickets (which can cost over $100) and for equipment (which can cost thousands).
Another issue of skiing was brought up by Shi, who said, “Skiing [can be] an uncomfortable sport. Not only are you constantly freezing, but the boots are terribly heavy and tight, making your feet numb a lot.”
Despite all of the challenges that might arise Jiang said “…it’s really fun and definitely worth trying.”
Today, skiing is a form of entertainment and enjoyment for many. An estimated 15 million people consider themselves skiers, and that’s just in the United States.
Sophomore Isla Shi said, “I have been skiing every winter since I was eight, and honestly, it’s more of a hobby than anything.”
For others, skiing is a chance to step back into the past and relive old memories. Sophomore Emma Castro said, “Skiing reminds me of my childhood, as I have been doing it for quite a while. Plus, I just really love the snow.”
Still, due to the lack of snow last season, neither Shi nor Castro were able to partake much in the sport. According to Ovidiu Predescu, an expert skier and a resident of South Lake Tahoe, there was a decent amount of snow only at the beginning of November and _the end of December, leading to big problems for local winter sports resorts such as Kirkwood and Heavenly.
Despite last year’s meager snowfall, some believe that this winter holds a lot of promise due to the upcoming El Niño, which is expected to be one of the three strongest recorded since 1950.
Castro said, “I really think this is going to be a great winter because the weather seems to be perfect for lots of snow.”
The promise of snow has led others to consider skiing this winter as well. Freshman Rebecca Jiang said, “My dad is planning on taking me skiing this winter, but I’m anxious considering I wasn’t that good when I skied the last time. It’s also quite frustrating because I can’t learn how to do it as easily as I learn other things.”
Another particularly bad skiing experience comes from sophomore Miya Okumura, who started skiing in seventh grade. “While skiing was fun, I had to stop because the elevation made me terribly sick. Also, after falling numerous times and almost running into a tree, you tend to stop enjoying it that much,” she said.
Regardless of the unpleasant experiences some students have experienced, others remain very excited for skiing.
Sophomore Daisha Sherman said, “I have never skied and I have only seen snow once, but it seems like it would be a very fun and adrenaline-filled experience. I would really love to try it.” Sherman later added, “However, my family cannot afford to go, and my dad is incapable of leaving work most of the time, so, unfortunately, I don’t think I will get to ski anytime soon.”
Financial issues when it comes to skiing are not rare. The prices of the ski industry have been gradually rising over the past years, both for lift tickets (which can cost over $100) and for equipment (which can cost thousands).
Another issue of skiing was brought up by Shi, who said, “Skiing [can be] an uncomfortable sport. Not only are you constantly freezing, but the boots are terribly heavy and tight, making your feet numb a lot.”
Despite all of the challenges that might arise Jiang said “…it’s really fun and definitely worth trying.”
Students and staff consider homework overload
Published by Leea Ivanel on November 13, 2015 -- CAMPUS
Sara gently stroked the white, silk-soft mane of her unicorn, letting out a laugh as it neighed. She walked over to its right side and put her foot in the stirrups, preparing to mount it, when she realized something was wrong.
In the distance, she could hear a faint beeping noise, over and over again.
Could it be… an alarm clock?
Upon thinking so, Sara was imminently torn away from her one-horned friend and back to reality. Her head was laying on a math book and worksheets were spread all around her, her alarm clock continuing its obnoxious beeping as it flashed 1:23 a.m.
Believe it or not, there’s quite a lot of students that frequently end up in similar situations to Sara’s — working on schoolwork until the early hours of the morning, ultimately having little to no time to themselves.
Sophomore Daisha Sherman said, “School shouldn’t take up so much of my time that I only get 30 minutes to myself. It’s truly ridiculous that I am unable to do the things I have a passion for.”
Another example is junior Sophie Zhai, who is currently taking five AP classes. Zhai said, “To put it simply, I don’t have any free time at all. School is just a constant stream of homework.”
But who is at fault for the lack of free time students have because of school?
AP European and US history teacher Jayson Waller said, “The blame ultimately falls on the students. Advanced classes are not mandatory; no one is forcing students to take all AP classes. It is up to them to be able to decide if they can handle all those classes or not.”
However, some people have a different opinion on the issue, saying that the fault lies with society, not the students.
Language teacher Roberta Scott said, “I think the culture that we live in is at fault for students taking so many AP classes and pushing themselves so hard. Both colleges and parents practically force students to do so, as well as the status quo of needing to get into good colleges.” Later she added, “High school should really be a fun time, not a stressful one filled only with homework and studying. It’s ridiculous that students don’t have time for anything but school.”
Whoever may be at fault, both students and teachers think that the system could change and improve, and both have ideas on how such a task could be accomplished.
Sherman said, “I think that if the course [material were cut down], we would have less homework and more time to do it because teachers wouldn’t have to try to cram so much information in so little time. It would also lead to us actually understanding what we are learning, not just temporarily remembering it for a quiz or test.”
AS English II and English IV teacher Cynthia Faupusa had a different solution to the problem. She said, “I think block schedule would really help students have more free time, as there would be more work done in class and they would understand the material better. Also, block schedule would help them learn time management for college, as the majority of college classes are block schedule.”
Some people take the discussion one step further, saying that it is colleges that need to step in and solve the issue.
Scott said, “I think the colleges are the ones that need to start changing and stop demanding so much out of the students. Also, they need to have a lot more communication with students, telling them exactly what they are looking for.”
Still, it is important to remember that it is not just the free time of students that is affected by school, but that of the staff as well. Just because it is often assumed that Sara was a student, does not mean that Sara could not be a teacher that was grading late into the night.
Faupusa said, “It’s impossible to finish all my work, especially grading, in the 100 minutes of prep time I get every day. I have 168 students, which means I have 168 papers or essays to grade, each one taking about 20 minutes. Plus, every time I want to do something a bit more special in my classes, I have to plan it outside of school. It really takes away from my free time.”
In the same vein, Scott said, “I always have a stack of papers to grade that I carry around with me wherever I go because, as a teacher, I never really stop grading. It’s quite sad.”
Nevertheless, not all of the school’s staff is under the same regime of barely doing anything else apart from schoolwork. Kristin Vernon, one of Carlmont’s counselors, said, “A lot of times I work after school with students that need any sort of personal, emotional, or academic guidance and help. However, I usually do not do any work once I leave the school campus.”
An even more relaxed attitude comes from substitute James McDowell, who said, “I don’t really feel like school is taking away from my free time because it is part of my free time. I’m a substitute because I enjoy working with kids and helping them, not because I have to.”
Either way, as Faupusa said, there is no doubt that “school is time consuming and demanding, and it [can require] a lot of self-sacrifice in order to be done right.”
In the distance, she could hear a faint beeping noise, over and over again.
Could it be… an alarm clock?
Upon thinking so, Sara was imminently torn away from her one-horned friend and back to reality. Her head was laying on a math book and worksheets were spread all around her, her alarm clock continuing its obnoxious beeping as it flashed 1:23 a.m.
Believe it or not, there’s quite a lot of students that frequently end up in similar situations to Sara’s — working on schoolwork until the early hours of the morning, ultimately having little to no time to themselves.
Sophomore Daisha Sherman said, “School shouldn’t take up so much of my time that I only get 30 minutes to myself. It’s truly ridiculous that I am unable to do the things I have a passion for.”
Another example is junior Sophie Zhai, who is currently taking five AP classes. Zhai said, “To put it simply, I don’t have any free time at all. School is just a constant stream of homework.”
But who is at fault for the lack of free time students have because of school?
AP European and US history teacher Jayson Waller said, “The blame ultimately falls on the students. Advanced classes are not mandatory; no one is forcing students to take all AP classes. It is up to them to be able to decide if they can handle all those classes or not.”
However, some people have a different opinion on the issue, saying that the fault lies with society, not the students.
Language teacher Roberta Scott said, “I think the culture that we live in is at fault for students taking so many AP classes and pushing themselves so hard. Both colleges and parents practically force students to do so, as well as the status quo of needing to get into good colleges.” Later she added, “High school should really be a fun time, not a stressful one filled only with homework and studying. It’s ridiculous that students don’t have time for anything but school.”
Whoever may be at fault, both students and teachers think that the system could change and improve, and both have ideas on how such a task could be accomplished.
Sherman said, “I think that if the course [material were cut down], we would have less homework and more time to do it because teachers wouldn’t have to try to cram so much information in so little time. It would also lead to us actually understanding what we are learning, not just temporarily remembering it for a quiz or test.”
AS English II and English IV teacher Cynthia Faupusa had a different solution to the problem. She said, “I think block schedule would really help students have more free time, as there would be more work done in class and they would understand the material better. Also, block schedule would help them learn time management for college, as the majority of college classes are block schedule.”
Some people take the discussion one step further, saying that it is colleges that need to step in and solve the issue.
Scott said, “I think the colleges are the ones that need to start changing and stop demanding so much out of the students. Also, they need to have a lot more communication with students, telling them exactly what they are looking for.”
Still, it is important to remember that it is not just the free time of students that is affected by school, but that of the staff as well. Just because it is often assumed that Sara was a student, does not mean that Sara could not be a teacher that was grading late into the night.
Faupusa said, “It’s impossible to finish all my work, especially grading, in the 100 minutes of prep time I get every day. I have 168 students, which means I have 168 papers or essays to grade, each one taking about 20 minutes. Plus, every time I want to do something a bit more special in my classes, I have to plan it outside of school. It really takes away from my free time.”
In the same vein, Scott said, “I always have a stack of papers to grade that I carry around with me wherever I go because, as a teacher, I never really stop grading. It’s quite sad.”
Nevertheless, not all of the school’s staff is under the same regime of barely doing anything else apart from schoolwork. Kristin Vernon, one of Carlmont’s counselors, said, “A lot of times I work after school with students that need any sort of personal, emotional, or academic guidance and help. However, I usually do not do any work once I leave the school campus.”
An even more relaxed attitude comes from substitute James McDowell, who said, “I don’t really feel like school is taking away from my free time because it is part of my free time. I’m a substitute because I enjoy working with kids and helping them, not because I have to.”
Either way, as Faupusa said, there is no doubt that “school is time consuming and demanding, and it [can require] a lot of self-sacrifice in order to be done right.”
Carlmont shares opinions on the holiday spirit
Published by Leea Ivanel on December 16, 2015 -- CAMPUS
With winter break approaching, the “holiday spirit” can be felt booming all around.
But what exactly is the holiday spirit? Is it just Santa Clause hats and peppermint coffee?
As it turns out, the holiday spirit means a wide variety of things depending on who is asked.
Freshman Gianna Lippi said, “I think the holiday spirit means to have fun with your family members, especially those who you do not see that often. Every year we have two parties, one on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas.”
To others the holiday spirit is about a lot more than just fun. For English teacher Cynthia Faupusa, December is a time to be grateful for all that she has. She said, “I recognize that things could be a lot worse than they are now. This is the time of year when we have to acknowledge the good things in life and be thankful for them.”
English teacher Kristen Fewins said, “I agree that the holiday spirit is about being grateful, but I also think it is about helping those who are not as fortunate as we are.”
Fewins’ ideology is, indeed, not a rare one in America. A study done in 2012 by Guide Star, the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations, concluded that around 250 of 500 charities said they received the majority of their donations from October to December.
Faupusa and Fewins are not the only people that find a deeper meaning in winter than just colorful lights, presents, and parties. To some, the month of December is closely tied to religion, especially as Christmas is a traditionally Christian holiday.
Freshman Kelly Doherty said, “To me, the holiday spirit is not just about being grateful. It’s also about going to church. I just think that it’s very touching how so many people get together to celebrate a holiday that’s all about loving each other and being happy.”
Still, despite the ideological differences between the students and the teachers, there is an important pattern that all of them brought up — family.
But why is family so important, especially when it comes to the holiday spirit?
Faupusa said, “My family is the center of my life and heart. Everything I do is for them, and therefore the holidays are just a time to be truly grateful for having them.”
For sophomore Isabel Harnett, the holidays would simply not be the same without her family by her side. “My family has made me who I am today, and there would be something missing during the holidays without them; it would be very lonely,” she said.
Whatever the case may be, it is clear that many people view the holiday spirit and the holidays as important parts of their lives. In some cases that is due to deep, personal beliefs and feelings stemming from religion or a desire to help the less fortunate, but in others it is simply a matter of having fun and enjoying time with one’s family.
Lippi said, “The holidays are overall just a time for people to come together and be happy.”
But what exactly is the holiday spirit? Is it just Santa Clause hats and peppermint coffee?
As it turns out, the holiday spirit means a wide variety of things depending on who is asked.
Freshman Gianna Lippi said, “I think the holiday spirit means to have fun with your family members, especially those who you do not see that often. Every year we have two parties, one on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas.”
To others the holiday spirit is about a lot more than just fun. For English teacher Cynthia Faupusa, December is a time to be grateful for all that she has. She said, “I recognize that things could be a lot worse than they are now. This is the time of year when we have to acknowledge the good things in life and be thankful for them.”
English teacher Kristen Fewins said, “I agree that the holiday spirit is about being grateful, but I also think it is about helping those who are not as fortunate as we are.”
Fewins’ ideology is, indeed, not a rare one in America. A study done in 2012 by Guide Star, the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations, concluded that around 250 of 500 charities said they received the majority of their donations from October to December.
Faupusa and Fewins are not the only people that find a deeper meaning in winter than just colorful lights, presents, and parties. To some, the month of December is closely tied to religion, especially as Christmas is a traditionally Christian holiday.
Freshman Kelly Doherty said, “To me, the holiday spirit is not just about being grateful. It’s also about going to church. I just think that it’s very touching how so many people get together to celebrate a holiday that’s all about loving each other and being happy.”
Still, despite the ideological differences between the students and the teachers, there is an important pattern that all of them brought up — family.
But why is family so important, especially when it comes to the holiday spirit?
Faupusa said, “My family is the center of my life and heart. Everything I do is for them, and therefore the holidays are just a time to be truly grateful for having them.”
For sophomore Isabel Harnett, the holidays would simply not be the same without her family by her side. “My family has made me who I am today, and there would be something missing during the holidays without them; it would be very lonely,” she said.
Whatever the case may be, it is clear that many people view the holiday spirit and the holidays as important parts of their lives. In some cases that is due to deep, personal beliefs and feelings stemming from religion or a desire to help the less fortunate, but in others it is simply a matter of having fun and enjoying time with one’s family.
Lippi said, “The holidays are overall just a time for people to come together and be happy.”