Holidays Within the Iron Gates

ollege life exists in a type of void. Our access to knowledge exists mostly by word of mouth, radio announcements, and professor's lectures. Although newspapers are prevalent, time limits what can be gained from them. Television is a luxury limited to those in the lighter majors.

Holidays just aren't felt in the same way on a college campus as they are out there in the real world. The smaller holidays are encountered only by the closing of the bank or by the fact that the registrar's office (usually open three hours a day) just never did have hours. We don't have real vacations except for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and long-weekends exist only if you were lucky enough to schedule all five classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Life carries on here in a quiet void. What day or month or year doesn't really matter as much as, what work has to be done, what meetings must be attended; and maybe, what parties happen in between.

The Christmas spirit does not reach college in quite the same way; it inundates everyone else. In the real world, suburbanites all over the world begin hanging their holiday lights. The television becomes overwhelmed by commercials for toys meant to tempt anyone they can. Malls in every city set up displays, hire new employees, and dress a security guard in the 'ole Santa suit. The pressure to shop oozes from every media format available.

At college, we make our airline tickets to go home and count the days until the end of the semester. For us, the holidays don't truly begin until the moment we get home- usually around December 20th. Holiday shopping does not fit in well with preparing for finals, but we try to find some holiday spirit by hanging lights around the window frames of our dorm rooms. Almost everyone I know, exchanges gifts with college friends in January when they return. We are just too busy to be students and prepare for the holidays simultaneously.

During Christmas break, we make up for lost time. We appreciate the beautiful lights and the Christmas songs on the radio. We buy our presents with only a week to spare and enjoy the company of friends and family at home. Christmas means just as much to us; we just have less time to enjoy it. Holidays within the iron gates of Trinity aren't really holidays at all.