The Season of Giving

Evan Chinn

“Let’s go to Gurney together! We still need to get CB presents!” exclaimed Peter Lee (12) to his group of friends loitering outside of the band room on a hot Friday afternoon. Across high school, students scrambled to acquire a suitable gift, amidst the stress of the approaching finals week. As the end of semester one approaches, family gifts, secret Sant’s, CB gifts, and Christmas charities filled the shopping lists during the season of giving that is December.

On the quest for CB gifts, students hitched a ride in friend’s or parent’s cars or traveled in buses to various destinations with the intent of finding perfect CB gifts. Students hopped from store to store looking for a gift with a combination of affordability, originality, and creativity. “I wanted my gift for CB to be creative and fitting for my partner's style, and I, of course, wanted it to have a touch of awesomeness!” said Bijay Rana (12).

In addition to CB gifts, staff and students prepared for Christmas break, and the family gifts that have become an expectation during the Shristmas season. While most prepared for Christmas by writing out their wish lists, others busied themselves by planning ahead and purchasing gifts almost three weeks ahead of Christmas. As a result of holiday vacation for local schools during December, popular malls where the majority of gifts are purchased heave with thousands of people, adding to the craziness of gift-buying. However, most students remained undeterred by the bustling atmosphere of malls, even excited by the opportunity to surprise their partner with a small, thoughtful gift.

After a long but successful CB shopping trip by Peter Lee and his group of friends, they exited Gurney with satisfaction written all over their faces and gifts in hand. Not even the stress of finals week or the busyness of Gurney could dim the happiness and satisfaction experienced by giver and receiver of gifts during the season of giving that is Christmas.