This holiday season looked different this year for students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People’s usual plans were canceled or took a different form to keep safe this year. Some families were more apprehensive about traveling amidst COVID concerns. According to the Transportation Security Administration, travel by plane was down to 1,066,747 travelers on December 18, 2020 (a week before the holidays) compared to 2,608,088 the year prior.

People stayed home, unable to enjoy holiday dinner and exchange gifts with their extended family members during the holiday season. However, Northsiders were still able to keep the holiday spirit alive from home. 

Senior Heigen Phuah (Adv. 105), spent the holiday season this year by completing college essays and “sitting inside eating a nice meal with everyone, lazing around till the holidays are over,” he said. 

His usual plans this year looked different since his original plans of traveling were canceled: “We were planning on going to visit family overseas for the summer and possibly the winter. This time, we were going to go to Malaysia,” said Phuah. Invitations to parties or hanging out with friends over the holiday season were also taken out of the equation this year.

He was “thankful for these relaxing days as my body felt very stressed every day during the school year with my tight schedule and transportation time usage.”

Another Northside senior, Mary Manching (Adv. 108), usually visits Millennium Park every year with her friends. “For New Year’s, my family’s plans change every year. We are either hosting a celebration for our relatives or we will go to Indiana to celebrate New Year’s at their home.”

However, “as per health protocols, our family only spent the holiday season with the people in our household. I had to find new ways to connect with my relatives and friends virtually,” she said. 

Manching still found that she was able to engage in activities at home: “My younger siblings and I still blast Christmas carols and sing along and decorate Christmas cookies, but there’s also been just more general holiday decorating around the house.”

Ultimately, Manching found alternatives to see her friends through digital platforms. She held calls with her friends and family. “It’s especially important to check in with your loved ones and remind them that they’re not alone. Whether I am sending a text simply expressing my gratitude as I wish someone a happy holiday, or calling in to just ask how they are holding up, this is something I have tried to do whenever I’m free.”

Like Manching and Phuah, many students were able to find ways to relax and enjoy themselves during the holidays. Although some students could not see their families and friends in person, they were able to keep the holiday spirit alive over Zoom.