I think it is safe for me to say that Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the lights, the music, and I will not turn down a nice hot peppermint mocha from Starbucks during the holiday season. But, sometimes it can be hard while being away at college to get into the Christmas spirit. So, for those of us who love Christmas and think that college is dampening the spirit, these tips are for you.

Without even realizing it, Wise has helped me get into the spirit in many ways. The town is glowing due to all of the Christmas lights that have decked the telephone poles, Christmas trees, and buildings that are quite abundant on the road leading into our small college community. Crockett Hall is covered from floor to ceiling in lights and decorations and the Chancellor even opened her doors to the students of UVa-Wise for a Holiday Open House, here we sang carols and drank spiced apple cider while basking in the spirit that was all around us.

I have a semi-large group of friends here at college, and I know that it would have been very expensive for all of us to have to buy presents for every member of the group. So we decided to do secret Santa! We chose names before Halloween so that we would have ample time to buy the oh-so-perfect gifts for whose name we chose. But we obviously didn't think about the repercussions of choosing names so early. Because now, a few short days before the gift exchange, the 'secret' Santa's are no longer so secret. But, when you walk into your friends dorm and see gifts decorated in shiny paper and ribbons, it makes your heart lift due to the feelings of love and togetherness during the holiday season!

Buy a tart burner and fill it with some holiday scented wax tarts! When the wax begins to melt and your dorm fills with the smell of gingerbread, Vermont white spruce, or cranberry orange peel, you can't help but to feel in the holiday spirit. The most comfortable that I have been while in my dorm was when I had on my tart burner, was curled up in my bed with my plush throw while I was watching season three of Scandal on Netflix. The hauntingly satisfying smell of Bath and Body Works' 'Tis' the Season' (Spiced apple, cinnamon, and spruce) filled my nose and I was suddenly at peace; it brought back memories of my great grandmothers house at Christmas time.

There are many ways in which to fulfill your love of the holiday season while being away in college. Sometimes your town can help you without even realizing it, as mine has. Finals week is quickly approaching and that means there are only about five more days until I get to go home for Christmas break, but until then I can live it up in my dorm, with my friends, and unwrap secret Santa presents while the smell of Tis' the Season fills my nostrils.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, from me to you!