Everyone talks about the broke, stressed out college students around the holidays, but no one seems to be talking about the legitimately broke, mid-term stressed, high school students. Most of us have absolutely no money, and are worried about a million things while also worrying about the holidays. So these are a few problems only high school students will understand.
1. Finding it hard to get in the spirit.
Between constantly studying for midterms and having to be in school practically the whole month, it is quite hard to be able to get into the holiday spirit.
2. The holiday parties.
Nearly every high school class decides the best time to throw a party is right before winter break, so that leaves everyone scrambling to bring in something to eat for every one of their different classes without falling into the "I'll bring the cups" hole.
3. Trying to buy gifts for everyone.
In high school, there is a very high chance that you are either actually broke behind belief, or you work a minimum wage job and barely have enough money to put gas in your tank, meaning finding presents is hard. So your left hunting for the best deals or coming up with creative and thoughtful homemade gifts.
4. Application season.
While most people are out celebrating the fact that they get a month off of college or a couple days off work, high schoolers are facing the dreadful doom that is applying for college. What's more fun than curling up at the fireplace and writing a 500 word essay on the most meaningful point in your life.
5. Having to deal with everyone being back in town.
Most people leave their hometown for college, but then return home for the holidays. This means that, for a month, your hometown is a little more crowded than usual. And you have to deal with those couple people who never actually got over high school, coming back to high school for fun.
6. The social calendar.
Why is it that every year around the holidays EVERYONE wants to hang out? Your parents want to go see Christmas lights and carolers, your friends want to go to the bonfires, your Aunt that's suddenly in town wants to take you shopping. It's too much.
7. Having two weeks off of school, but no time for fun.
The holiday break seems like the perfect time to hang out with friends, but most of your time is taken up by the list of chores your mom left for you and the fourteen projects you were assigned to do over break.
8. Having to abandon all your friends.
Having to spend the first days of your vacation are spent either in a tightly packed car or a tin box in the sky only to realize that you most definitely will not be able to escape your family for two weeks. But, you know, happy holidays.
So, while the last month of the year may be a little hectic and kind of terrible at some points, it is also a great time to spend with family and friends and to be grateful of what you have. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!