To you hopefully non-slumping sophomores,

You all are almost there! Well, through the first semester at least. I hope the Thanksgiving break treated you all wonderfully. I will say it was much needed. There is nothing like getting back in touch with your roots (in my case) and traveling to California. Sleep and comfort food, mainly Indian, preoccupied my break.

In this past month, I watched my grades increase (in the last week before break), lost every single intramural soccer game (but had an absolute blast), watched the Broncos lose in overtime to the Patriots (which I was happy about because I love that team), finished applying for a Semester at Sea, and cultured myself by watching an excessive amount of Netflix.

Back to the education aspect, I thought this meme completely expressed how we all feel about writing essays. I can sit for at least 30 minutes trying to figure out how to phrase something and failing fairly epically.

So far, I have managed to still meet new people every day, or almost every day, when I am on campus. I cannot fully decide if having Fall Break is a total tease, or like winter break a month early.

I know for a fact that November is just an odd month. For me, I start feeling the holiday spirit early and get the spirited bug of wanting to play carols on my Pandora radio station. I went home the other weekend to put up lights and this year I had to hammer new nails in to put some up in our background. Not only did we place them around the porch like shown in the picture, but we also put them on the railing by our hot tub. Here is my reasoning, although it may be cold and snowy, we will be hosting 32 relatives that are coming in for the holidays and New Year’s. CRAZY! I KNOW! I am convinced that I will become even browner than I already am! I may even be able to come back with an accent if I am lucky. Just kidding. I am beyond excited for this crazy reunion. My dad’s side of the family has 9 brothers and a single sister. She is a champ! Some of my uncles have kids, and their kids have kids even. Plus there is always the family-in-law which includes all of the wives’ families and whatnot. I am pretty confused about how I am related to most of them besides my first cousins. It is okay though, they are family! What could be better? It ought to be one darn good reunion. Out of the 32 relatives, 10 are kids so it is definitely my duty to make sure they still believe in Santa.

I have a theory about that guy! Maybe the North Pole does not actually exist, but I think that Santa’s helpers are our parents. They are the true elves and they help with putting out the gifts along with wrapping them while Santa focuses on the children who are more in need. I will continue to stick to that theory until proven 

Off the holiday chatter, there are wonderful volunteer opportunities like soup kitchens and food drives. I bought the kid I tutor a gift card so he can buy whatever he wants. I love the later months because they truly focus on being selfless.

I think, nowadays, we all need to be reminded that it does not hurt to give a little because it will pay off in the end. In the present, we are so focused on the future and constantly running our brains to get errands, homework, and other commitments done as soon as possible. Sometimes we forget to just sit and let life soak in. So, that is my task for you all. Take five minutes out of your day and think about this past month (November, that is). Think about what you all have accomplished and be proud of it. Even if this semester has not been what you were thinking, it does not mean it was not meant to work out the way it did. Do not forget that school is a learning experience and we grow each day from those experiences. I just hope that you all can express your goals with proper grammar and achieve them as well. I am sending you all good luck vibes for your finals and safe sparkles for your travels home.

Your blogger and friend,

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Chand