Well Clark, those little lights aren’t twinkling. In fact, I’ve seen a lot more glazed, dull looks than I’ve expected in these last couple days. The metaphorical lightbulbs of our “proactive minds” have dimmed considerably, and no, SGA’s annual hanging of student lightbulbs does not make up for the decreased productivity because it’s only paper. (A real bummer, I know.) Winter break is still 9 days away – that’s more than a week for those that have already shut down – and it has me concerned for those among you who already have visions of sugarplums prancing through your daydreams. The week before winter break is probably where everyone really ought to buckle down. But as you sit there scrolling, asking the necessary questions like “Whyyyyyy?” with way too many syllables to be taken seriously, I want you all to know that I actually have an answer.

As someone who woke up Monday morning at 5:30 officially prepared to begin winter break and terribly unprepared to handle a real life school day, I too was once in the “Christmas Apathy” boat. My logic was simple and made complete sense in the wee hours of the morning. Break starts in 9 days, which is close enough to 7 days (a week), but a week in school terms is only 5 days, and one of which is a half day (and everyone knows those don’t count), so really that’s four days but half of four is two and it’s totally pointless to attend school for two days because what could you possibly get done? It’s best to go back to sleep.

I beg you all, resist the urge! The return from break is even worse than the sluggish anticipation of it because you’re weighed down by all you didn’t get to do and the pounds of Christmas cookies you told yourself you wouldn’t eat. That’s what I like to refer to as a valid excuse.

Put this into perspective: you and I both know that teachers will test and quiz us out the wazoo because you and I also know that everything we’ve learned will be forgotten over break in an eggnog induced stupor. Study hard; be attentive in class. Consider that maybe your teachers don’t want to be in school either. If you put forth effort, they’re more inclined to notice, and perhaps offer a partner test or open notes quiz instead. In the end, that’s less for teachers to grade over the holiday, and despite popular belief, they do not live in closets, which means they have family they’d rather spend time with too.

If not for your teachers, stay awake for your friends. Often times it’s hard to catch your friends with free time during winter break because relatives are coming and going. You may not get to see them at all. Your friends are people you surround yourself with because they make you happy (if they make you miserable, they’re called enemies, and you should probably think about getting them a nice box of disappointment for Christmas), so make sure you give them some attention. Do you even know their plans for winter break? A conversation in person still holds more meaning than one over a text. Thinking about sleep is futile unless you’re actually sleeping, so take a break and think about your friends instead.

And commercialism. This is the first year I’ve really noticed how much of a toll it’s taking on people. The constant barrage of Christmas music and advertisements is enough to make even the most enthusiastic feel a little jaded. My advice? Unplug for a few hours. Listen to a Top40 playlist that has absolutely nothing to do with Rudolph and his mangy reindeer friends. Your days will slowly feel like any other winter day (s’winter day I suppose, if it’s still 70 degrees,) without any looming, anxiety-driven holidays. Perhaps the Jewish community has it right – their holiday is eight whole days, but not once have I seen a Macy’s Hanukkah doorbuster sale. And Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song plays on the radio about once every week. It’s not repetitive like the eight renditions of Frosty the Snowman I’ve heard; it’s just enough to inspire the perfect amount of festive enthusiasm without smothering the true meaning of the holiday.

When it comes down to it, North Penn, it’s important to take this week day by day. I know you’re all dying to have Aunt Petunia and Uncle Herb ask about school, have Grandma set you up with the “cute neighbor kid” who’s actually thirty, and have Great-Aunt Irma ask you how old you are. (It’s the same as last year, Aunt Irma! Just add one!) Revel in your 9 days of freedom. I know you don’t think so now, but you just might find yourself missing it when you’re on the third verse of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and all out of figgy pudding. Cheers!