It’s a “Blue, Blue Christmas” for University students

Graphic by Serena Truong
Graphic by Serena Truong

Ever since I was a little kid, the holidays have been one of my absolute favourite times of the year. I’m an unabashed lover of repetitive Christmas music, gift exchanges, ugly sweaters, glittery decorations, rich food and the festive movies that I repeatedly watch until it’s officially December 25.

I’m a sucker for all of the Disney-approved, glorified joy that goes along with the one day of the year that I can willingly wake up early for.

Yet, ever since I was thrust into young-adulthood and began attending university, the holidays hold a different kind of feeling for me than they once did. Now, instead of limitless gaiety and blissful daydreams of the upcoming winter break, I’m propelled into a vortex of stress, starting in mid-November.

Unfortunately, students are confronted with the difficulty of going to school during the holiday season.

The minute that December hits, the panic-induced jumpstart into finishing end of term assignments and essays begins. Classes officially end more quickly than we all like to realize and before we know it exams are right around the corner.

Studying becomes the main priority for most, balanced with the many who are working part-time jobs in order to sustain their education and themselves.

Typically, students work in retail and food service. Young adults are not only dealing with their own school-based stresses, they are also shouldered with the mania of holiday shoppers coming and going to their places of work in hoards, desperate to buy everything under the sun.

Now, instead of limitless gaiety and blissful daydreams of the upcoming winter break, I’m propelled into a vortex of stress, starting in mid-November.

Somewhere, between working and studying, we are also required to attend various holiday parties and exchange gifts with loved ones. As much as I love the opportunity to get the people I care about the presents they deserve, I’m faced with two problems by the time I’m tasked with this societal and personal duty: time and money.

Like many, I lack both. It’s only been this year that I’ve started to compile Christmas gift lists and budgets to set for myself in early September.

The manic state that I sped through the mall last year while I grimaced at price tags was not something I wanted to repeat.

Even with all of the planning in the world, I still seem to lack the time I wish I had, especially during December. It feels like we propel ourselves through exam studying, getting gifts and making appearances at various functions. Before we know it, we’re shuttling home for the break and Christmas has come and gone.

There really isn’t the opportunity to just enjoy all of the sappy stuff that you hear being sung in the Christmas songs that are blared in every store. I yearn for a simple enjoyment that seems to be pushed down in order to focus on more important things. Instead of making this festive season a to-do list, I would far rather sleep soundly, enjoy the snow and mouth the dialogue while I watch Elf without feeling guilty because there are other things that I should be doing.

There really isn’t the opportunity to just enjoy all of the sappy stuff that you hear being sung in the Christmas songs that are blared in every store.

Students don’t have it easy, but I don’t want to sound like one of those whiny millennials that grumpy old men on the bus like to complain about. School makes this upcoming month a difficult one, but that simply means that you’ll be even happier returning home.

Relaxing and revelling in the time we have off before the start of second semester ensures that I appreciate the overlooked splendour that is my bed and an alarm that won’t go off in the morning, even if it’s only for two short weeks.

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