As December draws near, students at SUNY Cortland are eagerly awaiting winter break, a time to unwind, reconnect with family, and celebrate the holiday season. For many, this break provides a rare chance to step back from busy academic schedules and recharge, with each student having a unique way of spending their time off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber Hamernik, a senior at SUNY Cortland majoring in biology and heath, is looking forward to a relaxed break filled with family traditions. \u201cWinter break is special because it’s one of the few times I get to be with my whole family,\u201d she shares. For Amber, this means spending time baking cookies with her older siblings and decorating the family Christmas tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe best part is the Syracuse tree lighting,\u201d she adds, referring to the local holiday tree lighting in downtown Syracuse where everyone gathers around with their family to watch the lighting of the tree and where everyone can ice skate! \u201cIt really brings the community together, and I love seeing old friends with their families and catching up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some students, the end of exams signals a chance to travel home to rewind and catch up with the family about their past fall semester. Krista Flood, a senior from Long Island studying early childhood education, plans to drive home to spend the holidays with her family. \u201cI’m excited to be back home,\u201d Krista laughs. \u201cBut I will miss all of my roommates and my cheer team!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Krista plans to catch up with high school friends, and enjoy home-cooked meals she\u2019s missed while away. Despite being miles from Cortland, she acknowledges that \u201cCortland has started to feel like a second home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others are looking to use the break to explore nearby cities and enjoy New York\u2019s holiday magic. Audrey Norden, a senior at SUNY Cortland studying early childhood education, plans to visit New York City this break. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree,\u201d she says. Audrey also hopes to check out the festive lights at Bryant Park\u2019s Winter Village and go window shopping on Fifth Avenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Audrey\u2019s winter break will also involve looking for school districts to teach at after college, but she\u2019s optimistic that some sightseeing and holiday magic will balance the stress. \u201cWe don\u2019t always get to experience a big city Christmas, so it\u2019s something new and exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not everyone plans to leave the area. Lyla Read, a sophomore at SUNY Cortland majoring in communications, prefers a laid-back winter break, filled with outdoor adventures. \u201cMy friends and I are going skiing at Greek Peak, which is something we\u2019ve done every winter since high school,\u201d she says. \u201cI love how quiet it gets around here during the break. It\u2019s peaceful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Lyla, staying local also means taking time to volunteer at a food drive organized by a local community center. \u201cI\u2019m really grateful to be part of a town that cares about each other, especially during the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to personal plans, several students mentioned an eagerness to volunteer in the community during the holiday season. Various local organizations in Cortland host food and gift drives, providing opportunities for students and residents alike to make a positive impact. Whether it’s assembling care packages or helping out at shelters, the season inspires many to give back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the year winds down, students are not only looking forward to relaxing but setting their sights on the upcoming semester as well. For many, winter break offers a chance to reset, refresh, and prepare for new academic and personal goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Cortland students, winter break is more than just a pause from school\u2014it\u2019s a time to reconnect, reflect, and rejoice, all while embracing the spirit of the holiday season. Whether traveling far, staying close to home, or giving back to the community, each student\u2019s plan reflects a different perspective, adding to the town\u2019s vibrant holiday tapestry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As December draws near, students at SUNY Cortland are eagerly awaiting winter break, a time to unwind, reconnect with family, and celebrate the holiday season. For many, this break provides a rare chance to step back from busy academic schedules and recharge, with each student having a unique way of spending their time off. \u201cFamily […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":359,"featured_media":6632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","entry"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/11\/20240129-D42799-snow-z.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/11\/20240129-D42799-snow-z.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Emma Marks","author_link":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/author\/emma-marks02\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/359"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}