Seniors no longer roam the senior courtyard because of the freezing cold temperatures. Juniors have gone crazy studying for the hardest exams they will take in their Jesuit career. Sophomores are trying to get a passing grade with the least amount of studying possible. And freshmen are stuck trying to figure out what exams actually are.

 

This time of year has come, yet again.

 

In the next few days, the exams will be done, and Christmas break will be upon us. There have been numerous reports that “Christmas 2012” may be the best Christmas yet.

 

But let’s be honest, that’s up to you to decide.

 

Christmas break has a varied significance for everyone, but it typically involves friends, family, and a whole lot of fun.

 

I will be spending the break at my house, as I do every year, hanging out with my friends and playing games with my family. I would rather not bore you with my own story, though. Instead, I found some interesting Jesuit students and their interesting Christmas vacation plans:

 

Ivan Maduka ’13 will be attending a family reunion in Michigan this Christmas. Relatives will be coming in from South Carolina, Texas, and parts of Nigeria.

 

Greg Ehlinger ’13 will be going to Kansas City, Missouri to visit his grandparents for part of his break, while his sister, Victoria, will be going to Madrid for a month. While he is in town, Greg will be working at the local Tom Thumb, bagging groceries.

 

Jacob Keeley ’13 will be going to Vancouver, Canada to ski with his family. Jacob has been skiing since he was six, and looks forward to shredding some fresh powder on the steep slopes.

 

Dave Koenecke ’13 is going to Wisconsin for a family reunion. Family will be coming from Texas, New York, and different parts of Wisconsin. Dave, along with his family and relatives, are planning on skiing and snowboarding, and then spending Christmas together.

 

Ms. Katherine Guinn, a junior and sophomore history teacher, is taking a group of students to Washington, D.C. over the break to get a human rights petition signed. Ms. Guinn is the faculty advisor of the club “Not For Sale,” which works to raise awareness of and take action against human rights abuses and global human trafficking.

 

Nick Wageman ’13 is going to Mississippi to visit family. Nick looks forward to seeing his many cousins and grandparents that live in that area. Nick remarked, “I love spending time with my family on Christmas. It’s nice to get a break from the school year and catch up with them.”

 

Matthew Schonberg ’16 is going to Louisiana for a large family reunion. It will be particularly special because this is the only team of the year that he gets to see many of his relatives.