As the weather begins to cool down and the start of the most wonderful time of year slowly inches closer, people often feel nostalgia and longing for simpler times, reminiscing on old and new favorite holiday traditions and memories that have stayed with them for as long as they can remember. Middle College High School (MCHS) is full of unique and special memories surrounding the holiday season and students are eager to share how these special stories tell how this time of year is very meaningful to our school’s community.
Freshman Kianna Espino shares how for many students at MCHS, the holidays are about spending time with loved ones.
“A few days before Christmas my family and I gather at my grandma’s house where we all have stations on the table with each step in order to make tamales. This tradition helps me create meaningful and funny memories between me and my family,” Espino said.
Whether it’s preparing a special homemade meal, baking sweet treats, or decorating a christmas tree, these traditions help students feel connected to the people that are the most important in their lives.
Others look forward to traveling during the break. Some students have fun visiting relatives that live far, while others travel to see new places and create new special memories.
Freshman Camila Gonzalez explains her tradition she is looking forward to.
“[In the days leading up to Christmas] My mom and I take a 10 hour road trip to Utah to spend a few days with my uncle and his big dog. After spending like two weeks at his house I go home with my mom on the same long road trip after New Years,” Gonzalez said.
Unforgettable traditions like these are what students have to look forward to every year.
Senior Victor Higareda describes how teachers and staff also play a part in shaping the season’s spirit
“I remember my freshman year it was Ms. Hariri that had a potluck for us in AVID. Everyone brought food and had a lot of fun and watched, I think it was called [‘Forrest Gump’],” Higareda said.
The role teachers have in creating memories for their kids by hosting small parties or themed activities to help students unwind before exams is prominent.
Our principal here at MCHS, Scott Werner, comes from a mixed family that celebrates both sides of the holidays.
“My moms side of the family, they celebrate Christmas, and my dads side of the family, they celebrate some Christmas, but they also celebrate Hanukkah,” Werner said.
Werner’s blended traditions show us how holiday memories don’t have to look the same for everyone. Instead, the small moments that create a sense of togetherness for everyone is what matters most.
For the MCHS community one thing is made clear. The holidays are made for joy, traditions and being with the people that matter most. Whether it’s staying close to home or traveling far, no matter how the staff and students spend their winter break, the memories they create become stories they carry with them to tell for years to come. As the holiday season approaches, the MCHS community is eager for the holiday break where they will spend their time making memories with family and friends.
