USC’s Winter Break is rapidly approaching and students are ready to rest. However, before some much needed time off, students are faced with final exams during December 11-18th.
“I feel it’s a reward when I get to go home and spend time with my family during the break,” said Karissa Ng, a sophomore studying health and human science.
Ng will be spending the break at home in Las Vegas with her hometown friends and family.
To push through the final days of the fall semester, students find themselves in the holiday spirits to relieve stress.
Febie Tarpley, a first year studying biological sciences on the pre-med track, and her roommate Genevieve Sumbingco, a first year studying human biology, put up Christmas lights in their Birnkrant dorm.
Both being Filipino, they find themselves drawn to Christmas karaoke songs. While speaking with Annenberg Media, Tarpley broke into her rendition of Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want For Christmas.”
Exchanging gifts for the holiday season seems to be putting students in the Christmas spirit.
Sasha Hadjez and Ryan De Marco, both first years studying theater, gathered with friends and participated in a Secret Santa gift exchange.
“It was cool to get a gift during these trying, trying times,” said De Marco.
Issy Souleyman, a freshman studying International relations and global business, also planned to participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange with her floormates. She decorated her New North dorm with festive lights and a Christmas tree.
Many students are headed home for the holidays to spend time with their families.
Souleyman and Zaina Masood, first years studying International relations and global business and data science, are headed back home for the first time since coming down for the fall semester.
“Excited to see my family and friends again,” Souleyman said as she headed to Hong Kong.
Masood will be traveling back to Dubai.
“I have a lot of family visiting from Pakistan as well, so it’ll be good to see them too,” Masood said.
Jonathan Foo, a senior majoring in accounting, does not need to travel far as he heads to Temple City, his home.
“The break is definitely a good chance for me to be able to rest up and enjoy time with my family,” he said.
Foo said he enjoys cooking for his family during the holidays and having a big barbecue feast with his extended family and exchanging gifts. This year, he’s going to go to his first NFL game to see the Los Angeles Rams play at SoFi Stadium.
As for family traditions, Hadjez and De Marco celebrate Noche De Buena on Christmas Eve with family.