December 7, 2017 Volume 88 Issue 6
Holiday traditions make the season bright By LAUREN EBBEN Ranger Reporter
As the winter season rolls in, the time comes to get together with families and reflect on the past year before preparing for the next one. It’s a time rooted in warmth and tradition. “One of my favorite Christmas traditions is when my family and I play the domino game Chickenfoot after we have finished our meal,” Michelle Wittler, a biology pre-med major, said. “It’s like monopoly to us.” “We normally put up the tree as a family and then, a week or two before Christmas, we all go to the Hallmark store and pick out Christmas ornaments for the year together,” Juliana Sandridge, a nursing major, said about her STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger own family traditions. Of course, the holidays The annual tree lighting at Oeschger Mall took place on Nov. 28. The Washington Street Campus mean different things to was lit up with 10,000 lights to mark the beginning of the holiday season. different people. They mean I get to see my family,” in commemoration of the not a holiday,” he said, “it’s a “To me, holidays mean Sandridge said. rededication of the Temple of celebration.” tradition, doing things my But Christmas isn’t the the Maccabees in Jerusalem. Another misconception is parents and grandparents did only reason people come Sid Garza, a business major, the seven-branched menorah, makes me feel connected to home for a break. Hanukkah was born Jewish and has faced according to Garza. “That one them,” Wittler said. is the Jewish celebration that multiple misconceptions about is only supposed to be used “Holidays mean togetherness. occurs around this time of year Hanukkah his whole life. “It’s for temple services. The one
for Hanukkah is called the hanukkiah. That is the one with four candles on each side and then it has the one in the middle,” he said. “We have a tradition where the kids in my family all make their own hanukkiahs,” Garza said. They also play the dreidel game and make latkes, which are basically hash browns, he said. “My grandma has always made us sit down and read the Maccabees I and II, it’s the story about when the Romans invaded the temple,” Garza added. “It’s my favorite part, just reading the Maccabees over with the family and just being thankful for the times that we’re in right now, instead of having to live in a time like that where we were being persecuted for what we believed in.” The tradition of Hanukkah began after the Romans invaded the temple, according to Garza. Once the temple was taken back from the Romans, “they had to burn oil but they only had enough oil to burn for one day but it ended up burn for eight days.” “It was just a miracle, that’s what we observe it as,”he said.This year Hanukkah will be celebrated Dec. 12 through Dec. 20.
Start here, travel the world Finals frustrate By BRIANNA MAESTAS
The Amarillo College Presidential Scholars will be spending part of the winter vacation in the Dominican Republic. Twelve AC students and their sponsors will be collaborating with Outreach 360, an international volunteer program that connects groups to service opportunities abroad. The Scholars will be serving the children of an elementary school in the town of Monte Cristi. They will spend four days with the children, coordinating activities for them, such as games, sports and crafts and teaching them English. “We learn cultural lessons from traveling, but what really sticks with the students is interacting with the locals,” said Lesley Ingham, honors program co-coordinator and speech instructor. “I think it will be a culture shock but I will step back and take time to appreciate the little things and give back. I am looking forward to working with the kids,” Olivia Moctezuma, a psychology major and Scholar, said. The Scholars are a group of AC students who have been selected to become a part of
worse as time passes. “What works best for me is to tell myself that at this stage The holidays are nearing in life, school isn’t optional, and so is the end of the fall it’s my full time occupation semester for college students, and I have to tough it out no which can include study burn- matter how burnt out I feel. out and one of the scariest The only thing I know to do F-words known to students, is push through and know that some may even shudder at the I’m making the people who sound of it, finals. Students’ care about me proud,” Daniel stress levels may be at an all- Smith, a history major, said. Several websites regarding time high during this time, so college share that students can how do students cope with it deal with study burnout and all? “I cope with stress by eating stress with time management, food, taking a break away from exercising, eating and sleeping studies by going to hang out well, breaks, being realistic and with my boyfriend, going to seeking help. Short breaks can the nail shop or going to get help students recharge and an eyelash fill and also by self- prevent burnout. It can also motivation,” Adazia Lewis, a help students work better for longer. Study groups, shared nursing major, said. Finals play a vital role meals or just working next to in the majority of college friends are also good ways to students’ stress and GPA. stay social and get the needed Many students will also peer support. “I just have to focus on my experience study burn-out sometime throughout their goals and where I want to be academic careers. According in life. If I want to get school to Albert Einstein College totally off my mind, I’ll go of Medicine, study burn- work out,” Nathan Martinez, out can be characterized by a surgical tech major, said. As finals season symptoms such as intellectual exhaustion, long-term fatigue, approaches, many professors medical directors lack of motivation, reduced and recommend college students ability to absorb information and a decline in academic to get an adequate amount performance. It is important of sleep as this may improve to deal with these symptoms test scores and academic early, as they will only get performance. By EMILY HERNANDEZ
Ranger Reporter
Ranger Reporter
STEVI BRESHEARS | The Ranger
Scholars Olivia Moctezuma, Cynthia Huerta, Aden Sharp and Sarah Nease doing research for their upcoming trip.
this competitive, applicationonly program. Students admitted are generally within the top 10 percent of their graduating high school classes and show leadership skills. The Scholars participate in leadership retreats, volunteer work, community service and academic research. One of the highlights of the program is the annual overseas trip. In the past, AC has taken groups to Lithuania, Poland, India, Nepal, China, England, New York and Cambodia. “I think that the fact that they are willing to leave their comfort zone and travel to another country to help and interact with complete strangers is brave,” Ana Prieto, a psychology major said. “The students will feel uncomfortable at times, but
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people don’t grow unless they get out of their comfort zone,” said Ingham. “I think it they will look back and reflect on themselves about our country, it will shape their global awareness and heart for others.” During the fall semester, the Scholars said they have formed close friendships. “I want to bring what we have created in our little group at AC to the citizens of the Dominican Republic,” Dalena Nguyen, a business major and Scholar, said. “I do believe that everything happens for a reason and that by being a Presidential Scholar, I have a new positive outlook on life, school and friends. I can’t wait to change the world with my new friends.”
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