Where Are You Christmas?

I awake to the sound of my phone alarm going off for the third time so I begrudgingly get out of bed. It’s December 25th, also known as Christmas day. Now I don’t mean to sound like the Grinch but today is just another day of the week for me. However I haven’t always felt this way, let’s rewind back to seven year old me. I awake barely having slept all night due to excitement. I run downstairs to see presents piled under the Christmas tree. Of course I was always the first to wake and too impatient to wait for my siblings. I would run to all their rooms waking them up myself. Once everyone was awake my mom would make cinnamon buns and we would watch the parade on T.V. I know it sounds like a movie right? Fast forward to twenty-one year old me living away from home waking up mid afternoon and traveling to my parents house. Once I arrive there I’ll see a pile of presents under the tree all marked for my nieces and nephews. I know it’s not about the presents and I love to see their faces light up when they open theirs. As I watch the joy in their faces I can’t help but feel sad knowing that one day they too will turn into the pessimistic adult I am today. As I get older each year I feel my holiday spirit slipping away. You start to realize that you may not have money to buy presents or if you’re in school all you can think about are finals rather than relaxing by a fire place. It’s not just Christmas either, it’s other holidays too such as Halloween. Once you hit a certain age it’s no longer acceptable for you to run around in a costume collecting candy. Just like now it would be weird if I waited to sit on Santa’s lap. The people around you no longer asking what you will be for Halloween or what you want for Christmas. We’re adults and we need to do adult things. I really wish I could fill myself with holiday cheer but I feel like I’m just going to have to settle for nostalgia and memories. Maybe I need my ghost of Christmas past to come and remind me not to be a Scrooge. I guess at a certain point in time we all wish to rewind the clocks and go back to when things were simple, before finding out that Santa isn’t real, there’s more on T.V then just cartoons and people won’t give you candy for dressing like a princess. As my imagination fades and reality takes over I find myself struggling to feel the joy I once did as a child.

-Melanie S.

Bah humbug.

The most wonderful time of the year –right? Except for some of us the holidays aren’t all that it’s cut out to be. The build up to the holidays sets us up for some great expectations. The Christmas lights, the movies, and the songs are magical. The endless supply of hot chocolate and cookies can be comforting but for some of us something crucial is missing. As an immigrant, I left most of my extended family back home. For many of us the holidays are just a reminder of how alone we are. I’ve bought so much into the holiday spirit that every year is a constant let down. I can’t help but get excited along with all my friends. I count down the days until winter break. I collect all the sparkly holiday cards and I wrap presents for my friends with serious pride. But it’s always a bummer when I can’t share that with a house full of family. It’s so disheartening coming home from work or school to be greeted by an empty house. Even though statistically Christmas is the least miserable day of the year, I’ll be honest I’m not too excited for it this year. All I truly want is my friends and family dressed in ugly sweaters around a dinner table filled high with mashed potato. Is that too much to ask for?!

But in all seriousness, I think I’ve gotten to the age where I have to start creating traditions for myself. It’s really about who you’ve got around you during the holidays. Not the presents, or the food (not entirely anyway). So I think next year I’ll create my own holiday cheer. I don’t have to be alone if I don’t want to be. No I won’t have a large family to celebrate but family isn’t always just about blood. Friends make for good company too.

 

How To Be Kickass At Your Summer Internship

This past summer I was fortunate enough to intern at a wonderful non-profit organization that fostered my energy and creativity and helped me use it in the best of ways. I’ve gained many new experiences and insights and it’s only fair that I share it all with you.

1. Ask Questions
   Be annoying. Be as annoying as you need to be but make sure you get the job done right. You’re going to be an even bigger pain in the ass if you don’t ask about something you’re unsure about and it causes a greater problem. So just ask. Use the forms of communication that are available in the office and pester away.
2. But also make sure to ask questions unrelated to work. Be curious. Ask about their personal lives. Ask about the previous jobs that your co workers held. Ask about favorite movies, T.V. shows, music. This helped me make relationships that were more than just professional. For example another intern and I bonded over Sense8. If you haven’t seen it already you need to stop reading right now, watch that, then come back 🙂 The show was a segway into something that was even greater and I’m honestly glad I got the chance to connect with her. At the end of the day you’re a human, they’re a human… so BE human.
3. Be Observant
   Really pay attention to the tasks being assigned to you. How do you feel about them? If you hated it, which parts did you hate? Why did you hate it? It’s important that instead of blindly getting jobs done, you use each project as an opportunity to find out something about yourself.
4. Be Honest
   Don’t lie to yourself. Admit your likes and dislikes for things. Don’t just agree with the group if you actually disagree. Voice your opinions when appropriate and be genuine. You’re there for a reason. No one wants you there just so you can file papers (I mean maybe they do but if that’s the case you probably don’t belong there anyway). You are brilliant and no one thinks in exactly the same way as you do. So speak your mind and give your input.
5. Ease Up
   Don’t be so hard on yourself. You WILL make mistakes. That’s okay. Some mistakes need to happen in order for lessons to be learned. Take it for what it is and move on.

You are going to be kickass one day. I’m going to be kickass one day. In order for us to get there we have to be open and receptive and think quickly on our feet. These four insights were just a few of many. I expect to gain many more as I move on to bigger and better things and you should too!