By Michael Stevens
For many local teens, Winter Break brings welcomed relief from
early morning alarm clocks and the nightly grind of homework.
After a hit-the-ground-running fall schedule of classes, the
last two weeks of the year give students an opportunity to get some
much-needed rest and recover from the first semester.
By Michael Stevens
For many local teens, Winter Break brings welcomed relief from early morning alarm clocks and the nightly grind of homework.
After a hit-the-ground-running fall schedule of classes, the last two weeks of the year give students an opportunity to get some much-needed rest and recover from the first semester. The long vacation allows time for a change of pace.
Gilroy sophomore Adam Shorr is excited about the break from school.
“I really want to hang out with my friends, spend time with my family and relax at home,” he said.
Shorr also looks forward to hitting the slopes.
“The snow season only comes once a year, and I can’t wait to go.”
Shorr and his father have been skiing together for the past 10 years.
“It’s our favorite hobby. We love going up to Dodge Ridge; we enjoy ourselves every time.”
Unlike most Bay Area skiers who spend at least a few days in the mountains each trip, Adam and his father travel and ski all in one day.
“We have stayed in a hotel only once. We don’t feel a need to stay over night. We just get up, leave early in the morning, ski all day and then drive back.”
For the Shorr duo this year’s trip will be a little different. After getting his driving permit last month, the younger Shorr will get to share some of the long hours behind the wheel.
“Before my father had to drive both ways while I just slept. But not anymore – now he gets a chance to rest.”
While the majority of high school students will stay up past midnight and wake up close to noon during the break, San Benito High School sophomore Seth Novack will be up before the crack of dawn.
“Every year I go duck hunting in Los Banos with my father, brother and uncle,” he said. “It is a Novack family tradition.”
Novack claims that he doesn’t mind waking up in the middle of the night. “I enjoy duck hunting too much. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
Novack hopes to improve his skills during this year’s trip.
“It’s one of the hardest things I have ever done. It’s very difficult. To be successful, you have to keep your arm extremely steady. If you lose your focus for a split second, you will also lose that bird.”
While most teens tend to stay close to home, Live Oak High School senior Megan Hamilton will be spending her winter vacation more than 6,000 miles away. Hamilton is traveling with the Live Oak Drama Club to London on Dec. 26.
The group is scheduled to return on Jan. 2. “It is going to be so much fun spending time with some of my best friends,” she said. “During our trip we will see four productions and an additional one if time allows.”
Hamilton recalled that ever since her first year as a student at Live Oak she has had her sights set on this trip. “Every year the Drama Club goes, so it’s something I have looked forward to for a long time. It will be the highlight of my senior year,” she said.
In addition to attending a variety of theater performances, the group of eight students, two alumni and three adult chaperones will be visiting numerous museums and points of historical interest.
The trip costs approximately $1,800, and Live Oak students raised money to offset the cost by working at the Pumpkin Patch in San Martin.
Not all local teens will be leaving home. Many students use this time to work on college and scholarship applications, pick up extra hours at their part-time jobs, and participate in community service.
Gilroy High School senior Meg Perkins will use the two weeks to complete a variety of obligations.
As a member of GHS Associate Student Body, she will be meeting with fellow classmates to begin planning senior activities such as the Prom, the annual trip to Disneyland and Grad Night.
“I will definitely be working on my college applications. Everything is going to come very fast during the second part of the year, so I have to make sure I accomplish what I need to during the break,” she said. “It’s a great time to get caught up.”
Fellow classmate, Shea Lemos agrees. He will be spending the break traveling up and down the state visiting colleges and putting the final touches on his applications.
“This is my last year at home, so I want to spend time with my friends. Who knows where we’ll all be next year?”
Although local teens choose to spend their winter break in different ways, they all agree with one thing – the vacation is too short.
Come January, they will all be back to the daily grind. But no need to fret too much – for Ski Week will only be six weeks away.
