Winter break is a time to do so many things other than school. By the time winter break rolls around, many students are feeling tired and burnt out from the constant stress of school, and are in need of a vacation. Some students like to ski in the snowy mountains and go on trips, while others like to stay at home and be with family, even if it is just watching a holiday movie or baking cookies! Taking breaks and trying new things is important for everyone, especially for school students who need one.
Zoe Wax, a freshman at Issaquah High School, explains that she spent her break snorkeling in Hawaii. “We go to Hawaii every year, it’s my favorite tradition.” she states. Wax and her family also celebrate Hanukkah each year, which she spends with her family. Wax doesn’t have any specific New Year’s traditions, but when asked about what she is looking forward to in the new year, Wax says she is “excited to meet new people and try new things.”
Lots of students schedule their winter breaks so they are packed full of fun activities. But it is important to remember that taking a couple days to relax is necessary. According to Fastweb, “The first priority for winter break should be self-care. After months of studying, exams, and extracurricular commitments, students need time to decompress. Whether it’s sleeping in, binge-watching a favorite show, or catching up on hobbies, dedicating time to relaxation can rejuvenate the mind and body.” Especially for teenagers, decompressing after almost a whole semester in school is necessary. Taking time off from school to be with friends and family is important to students mental and emotional health. Common Sense states that decompressing and taking a break “can improve mental health and boost academic performance.”
A great example of this is Kylee Pachulio, a sophomore at IHS, who describes that her favorite thing to do over break is to be with loved ones. “I spent time with my family and friends over break,” Pachulio states. She and her family celebrate Christmas each year. Pachulio’s winter break traditions are usually going to Snowflake Lane and frosting sugar cookies with her family. In the New Year, Pachulio states that she is excited for this summer.
Reconnecting with family is also an important part of winter break. College Matchpoint states that, “most students haven’t been able to spend time with their extended families recently. Whether it’s their cousin they spent three summers with as pre-teens or their grandmother who has so many stories to share, now is a great time to give them a call or FaceTime.” Spending time with family is an important part of winter break, especially for students who probably haven’t seen or talked to their family a lot over the school year. Most high-school students are constantly busy during the school season with extracurriculars or sports, so winter break can be a time to catch up and bond with their families. As The Fairfield Mirror states, “Without taking breaks, we can’t be successful in our goals and careers, as a break allows us to grow and be more productive while increasing our energy levels and ability to focus.”
Ren Brown, a junior at IHS, tells us his favorite part of winter break was going to Japan. But Brown also explains that the trip exhausted him. He states it was “because my parents scheduled everything too tightly, and I was tired the whole time,” which is understandable. Brown describes that while he was in Japan, he “visited family, went to Universal Studios Japan, got a boat tour of Osaka, did a lot of shopping, and some other stuff.” Brown and his family usually celebrate Christmas each year, but recently he and his family have been going to Japan every winter break. “We don’t really celebrate Christmas that much there,” Brown explains. But he and his family do celebrate New Year’s in Japan. “We do some of the stuff that comes with Japanese new year’s, like going to a shrine to get blessed for the New Year,” When asked what he is looking forward to in the New Year, Brown states that he isn’t excited for anything in particular. “I’m just excited for another year,” he states.
Mr. Skavaril, 9th grade biology teacher, describes that over the break he did a lot of house work. “I cooked for my family, played video games, cleaned off the roof, took off my Christmas lights off my gutters, cleaned my gutters, and played with my dogs outside.” He also tells us that his son and his wife both have birthdays over winter break, so they celebrate them along with Christmas and New Year’s. “We always eat the same meal for Christmas eve. It’s called a Hawaii pig lunch, kalua pig, salad, and rice,” he states.
Overall, IHS students and staff seemed to have a great winter break, whether it was spent with family, friends, or both. Winter break is a relaxing and fun time to try new things, travel to new places, spend time with loved ones, and celebrate family holidays or traditions.
