DECEMBER 2018

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3

December 2018

PIN TREE POS m o t r e f k s a k m B a o s e a r d m B re X’ t o n s ’ e B ree am

t n e r n i P l Tou l a b

L I T L A FA R G E

P i n e t r e e ’s S k i and Snowboard

Christmas in Canada

2 FIRST GLANCE P.4: SCHOOL

P.11: LIFESTYLE

The Pinetree Post

STAFF

FOUNDERS Russell Kim, Felix Guo EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Briana Ho, Katherine Liu

Winter Concert

P.15: LIFESTYLE

Christmas in Canada

P. 16: OTHER

ARTICLE EDITOR Briana Ho CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Liu, Noemi Galdamez, Amy Lee, Sophie Zhao, Sunny Liang, Raymond Gao, Chenille Wong, Cindy Liu, Elisa Korner, Tina Cao, Maria Diment, Julia Ye, Jennifer Shui, Harim Chang, Kaleigh Morrow, Zoe Liu, Yoonsik Jung, Eiko Maki, Clover L. Fowlie, Natalie Jiang GRAPHIC DESIGN Katherine Liu ONLINE CONTENT Katherine Liu, Julia Ye SPECIAL THANKS TO The Pinetree Administration, Mr. Lau, Ms. Hopkin, Eric Chen, Ms. Browne, Ms. Ikeda

Lit Lafarge

December Comic

GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! Although we at the Pinetree Post try our best to represent the voice of the everyone at Pinetree, we are only a small group of students. To find the most pressing topics and interesting avenues to explore, we rely on input from readers to curate relevant content only. Anyone is welcome to suggest a topic or provide an opinion for Pinetree Post writers and

contributors to look into further. Do you have something to say that needs your voice? The Pinetree Post also welcomes guest content, any time, of any kind. Feel free to submit an article on a topic you are passionate for, a comic you think everyone deserves to see, maybe even a letter to the editor!

You can submit your original content to us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com.

Have a question or a request? Contact us at: facebook.com/thepinetreepost

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First Glance EDITOR’S NOTE

Shifting Through Memories

Making “Sweet” memories before the holidays.

In November, it isn’t just war we should remember.

Briana Ho, Katherine Liu Editors-in-Chief

Hi Pinetree!

Thank you for reading in again on another one of our issues! This one is quite brief, for the month of school is short along with many of our current attention spans. The holiday break is literal days away, and the thought of relaxation and celebration keep many from feeling the cold outside. This is why our theme for this month is warmth, for even though it can be chilly this time of year, the spirit of giving, hope, kindness, and happiness can be a metaphorical blanket of protection from the frosty weather. How do you keep yourself warm over the winter? Is it through sports and exercise, such as Ski and Snowboard (Pinetree’s Ski and Snowboard, page 5) or basketball (Pinetree’s X’mas Basketball Tournament, page 6)? Is it through celebrating your own

holiday traditions (Christmas in Canada, 12)? Maybe you find joy in attending fun school and local events such as the Pinetree’s Talent Show (Winter Talent Show, 8) or viewing the Lights at Lafarge (Lit Lafarge, 11). Some students may find it difficult to know how to spend their free time, and are faced with bleak boredom. For those students, the Pinetree Post has got them covered as well (Break from Boredom, 14)!

All of us at PTP wish everyone safe and happy holidays!

We hope you stay warm, and have time to spend with your loved ones.

Sincerely, Briana Ho and Katherine Liu Editors-in-Chief

4 SCHOOL PHOTOS

Pinetree’s Winter Concert

Stunning performace by the Grade 9 Concert Band

A Night To Remember In December Raymond Gao, Eric Chen Photographers

Source: Raymond Gao

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School SPORTS

Pinetree’s Ski and Snowboard Who, What, and When it is Elisa Korner Writer, Interviewer

With December already coming to a close, Pinetree Ski and Snowboard is well under way.

Classified as a winter season sport with BC High School Sports, Ski and Snowboard lasts from December until March. This year our team features six skiers and four snowboarders; ten is a bit less than last year, due to grade 12s moving on. This our team consists of three grade 12s, six grade 11s, and one grade 10.

Most people on the Pinetree team are intermediate to advanced skiers or snowboarders, racing for the first time. In fact, there is currently only one snowboarder with past racing experience, a grade eleven. He is on the BC Junior Team, and Mr. Wintermans states “This will be his first year racing with the Pinetree team and we’re pretty excited.”

Mr. Wintermans has been running Pinetree’s Ski and Snowboard team for four years, and was running the team at Terry Fox Secondary for four before that. When asked how Ski and Snowboard has changed, he said that it has stayed very similar in the past eight years, but there have been some changes since when he was a student.

All of the races take place at Whistler-Blackcomb, except for the provincial championships our team participates in, which changes locations annually. Last year, they were held at Sun Peaks, whereas this year will see them in Smithers, in northern British Columbia.

Filled with skiers and snowboarders looking to challenge their skills and enter the world of racing, the Ski and Snowboard team is looking forward to another year of fun in the mountains. Pinetree wishes our Ski and Snowboard team a great time on the slopes,

and the best of luck in their upcoming season!

With December already coming to a close, Pinetree Ski and Snowboard is well under way. Classified as a winter season sport with BC High School Sports, Ski and Snowboard lasts from December until March. This year our team features six skiers and four snowboarders; ten is a bit less than last year, due to grade twelves moving on. This our team consists of three grade 12s, six grade 11s, and one grade 10.

Most people on the Pinetree team are intermediate to advanced skiers or snowboarders, racing for the first time. In fact, there is currently only one snowboarder with past racing experience, a grade eleven. He is on the BC Junior Team, and Mr. Wintermans states “This will be his first year racing with the Pinetree team and we’re pretty excited.”

Mr. Wintermans has been running Pinetree’s Ski and Snowboard team for four years, and was running the team at Terry Fox Secondary for four before that.

When asked how Ski and Snowboard has changed, he said that it has stayed very similar in the past eight years, but there have been some changes since when he was a student.

All of the races take place at Whistler-Blackcomb, except for the provincial championships our team participates in. Last year, they were held at Sun Peaks, whereas this year will see them in Smithers, in northern British Columbia.

Pinetree wishes our Ski and Snowboard team the best of luck in their upcoming season! 2

6 SCHOOL SPORTS

Pinetree’s X’mas Basketball Tournament The Intensity of the player’s eyes and movements show their passion for the game!

Katherine Liu, Briana Ho Writer, Interviewer

There are many students here at Pinetree who participate in our school’s sports programs. It is a good way to meet new people, while also focusing on health and character building. This month, the focus of the sporting spotlight has landed on basketball, which is popular throughout every grade at Pinetree. However, during Dec. 17 to Dec. 18 of 2018, our school made a large impact on its basketball legacy by hosting the Pinetree X’mas Classic Senior Boys’ Basketball Tournament, which was so large this year that teams from across British Columbia and even Alberta have come to compete. Why did our school host this event, and what made it so huge? The Pinetree Post turned to Mr. E. Melnik(EM) for more information. 5

PTP: Tell me a bit about the tournament and why is it at Pinetree?

EM: Pinetree X’mas Classic Senior Boys Basketball Tournament is currently the fourth largest and most competitive in British Columbia. Because of the joint effort from Pinetree Secondary basketball program, our P.E. department and Pinetree Community Centre we were able to amass a great organizational effort to put this tournament together. This year we have 16 teams enter our tournament with wide geographic representation from Calgary, Alberta to Chilliwack, Victoria, and Kelowna. We fielded a very competitive number of teams with 9 ranked teams from B.C. and Alberta. We decided to organize this tournament last year to help our basketball program stay competitive and develop into an elite program. We have great coaches and support from P.E. department and school administration teams. In last two years our Senior

Boys’ team was ranked among top 15 teams in the province of B.C. which is a great achievement for a school with a very short history in the sport of basketball. We are now entering an elite group of “basketball” schools and we hope to attract and develop good talented basketball players

PTP: What made you want to do the tournament?

EM: As I mentioned before, the Pinetree basketball program is trying to break through into the elite group of schools and stay very competitive. As a result, more and more of our students join our basketball program at every level. We also have two basketball classes this year and hoping to build on this success next year.

More and more students are interested in the game and come to the gym to play, practice and watch the games. A tournament like Pinetree Xmas Classic does not only provide an opportunity for our teams to play a very good competitive basketball in front of their fans, but also popularize basketball in our school. We have over 300 Instagram followers on our Pinetree Timberwolves basketball team account, our gyms are full of students during games, our parents and community attend the games regularly, and we keep good relationships with alumni groups.

PTP: Are you proud of Pinetree’s team?

EM: We are very proud of our teams! Our Grade Nine team led by tireless coaches Ireland and Nelson are playing very well. They placed in top three in two very competitive tournaments this year. Our Junior Team coached by Ms. Mohammed Ali won a tournament already and they are definitely strong competitors in their league. All three of our teams are expected to go far in the Fraser Valley Championship in February 2019.

PTP: Which teams are participating in this tournament and where are they from?

EM: Pinetree Xmas Classic has a great line up of Teams:

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School Western Canada (Calgary) top team in Alberta Lord Tweedsmuir (Surrey) -#1 AAAA team in B.C. Seycove (North Vancouver) #1 AA in B.C. Walnut Grove (Langley) -#8 team AAAA in B.C. Argyle (North Vancouver) #8 AAA in B.C. Okanagan Mission (Kelowna) #9 AAA in B.C. Belmont (Victoria) #10 AAAA team in B.C. Heritage Woods (Port Moody) Honorable mention AAAA in B.C. Kitsilano (Vancouver) Honorable mention AAAA in B.C. Abbotsford (Abbotsford), who just won a prestigious 16 team tournament called “Big Ticket 2018” Panorama Ridge (Surrey) Chilliwack (Chilliwack) South Delta (Tsawwassen) North Surrey (Surrey) Port Moody (Port Moody) Pinetree ( Coquitlam)

PTP: Who do you predict will win the tournament? ​ EM:With so many great teams playing we expect a few great battles. Right now, the Lord Tweedsmuir team is playing great basketball and is ranked #1 in Province of BC. A team from Alberta, Western Canada Secondary, is going to show us why Alberta basketball is considered stronger than B.C.’s and possibly a couple of “dark horses” (a rising team in the rankings) such as Walnut Grove or even Kitsilano or Belmont could make a splash in this tournament. As for the

Pinetree team we will be setting a goal to make the top four.

8 SCHOOL EVENT

Winter Talent Show

Pinetree’s Annual Talent Show Kevin Liu Writer, Interviewer

As the first semester of the 2018-2019 school year comes to an end, Pinetree Secondary has continued its annual tradition of having a talent show. Pinetree has been hosting an annual talent show for over the past decade, and for the grade 9’s that have never experienced what the talent show is like, there are many interesting specialties that are to be offered by performers. Last year, performances such as dancing, singing, instrument playing, and beatboxing, were all highlights of the talent show. This year, Pinetree will be seeing talents such as singing, instrument playing, an improv team, and spectacular acts that you will have to watch in person. Rumour has it, a teacher’s band may also make an appearance in this show, so make sure you do not miss the event.This event will take place on Dec. 21 after block four, and will continue until the end of the school day. Students are recommended to enjoy the show and not make the viewing experience for others difficult. Ms. Hopkin, Mr. Wong, Mr. Nelson, and the Pinetree leadership group have worked really hard to provide Pinetree Secondary with such fascinating entertainment. The talent show is a great way to end the year as it (obviously) does not require any school work during the break, gives students a time to relax, and show off the amazing talent in Pinetree. 7

Ms. Hopkin (Jillian Hopkin) - Organizer for the talent show

PTP: What is a unique talent that has been presented this year? (Your opinion) JH: There are a lot of groups with similar talents this year, which is kind of cool and rather unusual. Look forward to seeing a lot of hip hop dancing and many beautiful sounding musical groups.

PTP: What do you think about the event? Do you recommend it (Why students should even go at all)? If so, please state why.

JH: It is the pinnacle of Pinetree Tradition. You get a chance to see your friends and people in your classes do absolutely phenomenal things I doubt you ever had any idea they could do. The show is always a hit, and last year we actually almost ran out of room in the gym. You also might get a chance to see some teachers show off their talents as well…

PTP: What about this event makes in different than other school events?

JH: The part I think that makes this event so special is that it is one of the only events we get the entire school out to something really positive. It is the best possible way to end the year before going off to Winter Break.

PTP: How many students are in the final cut for the main show?

JH: There are ten student groups performing, and the Improv Team will be doing a Pre-Show set with requests from the audience. Jasmine Burnamore and Cheng Luo are hosting. There is also rumour a teacher band will make an appearance.

School The acts include dance, musical melodies, singing, and even a ukulele. We have some brand new talents, performers from grades 9-12, and some veteran performers coming back for their last talent show before graduating.

PTP: Is there anything else students should know?

JH: Leave your backpacks in your lockers because you will be sent back to put them away if you bring them. Need room for people to sit! Can’t wait to see everyone there!

Rico Wu (RW) - Student performing in the talent show (Musical Jazz with a Jackson 5 song.)

PTP: Introduce yourself and what you will be performing RW: Hey there. Ya like jazz? I’m the trumpet player of the Angela Park Band, and we will be performing a pop classic called “I want you back” by the Jackson Five. [It was] arranged by Lucky Chops, a street performance group that inspired us to start this in the first place.

PTP: How long have you been practicing your act for?

RW: We’ve been practicing ever since September [or] October. We originally only wanted to do this for the Terry Fox Run, but it ended up being a lot more fun than we ever expected it to [be], so here we are I guess.

PTP: What was the hardest part to master in your act?

RW: A couple of us have our own individual solos that we essentially had to learn by ear, and make any edits as needed to make it sound better. The process has been pretty difficult, but it’s pretty fun listening to each other mess up during rehearsals while experimenting with new ideas.

PTP: What makes you interested in what you are performing?

RW: Our entire group is pretty much full of tryhard

9 band nerds, so we are all super dedicated and passionate about listening and performing the music we love.

Personally, I love performing “I want you back” not only because I like the song anyways, but also because of how fun it is to perform.

PTP: What do you think makes your talent different than others?

RW: It’s not everyday you get a band to perform in front of you so I think a mini gig band performance should shake things up a bit. I also think that a band that features more classic instrumentation is is a good refresher from modern pop music that generally comprises of a less diverse pool of instruments.

PTP: What part of your performance will the audience find the most interesting?

RW: Our band will feature four soloists who will take turns throughout the song. I think the audience will enjoy seeing what each of us manages to do in the moment.

PTP: Is there anything else you would like the audience/students to know?

RW: Expand your musical tastes (Jazz)! Try listening to something you wouldn’t listen to on a daily basis (jazz). You never know if it’ll spark any interest for a style of music that you never knew [before] (Chet baker- Lady bird)! Just because your taste in music isn’t modern, doesn’t mean [that] it isn’t good.

Angela Yoonseo Park (AP) - Student performing in the talent show (Musical Jazz with a Jackson 5 song.)

PTP: Introduce yourself and what you will be performing AP: My name is Angela Park, and will be performing with Isaac Zhang, Rico Wu, Jason Han, Kai Kong, Lilian Ouyang, Lisa Yang, Andrew Lee, and David Alim. We will be performing a song called “I Want You Back”, one of the songs by Jackson 5.

PTP: How long have you been practicing your act for?

AP: We have been practicing since September. Originally this song was for the Terry Fox Run, yet due

“ p w a o

10 SCHOOL to the rain we were not able to play. We decided to audition for the talent show.

PTP: What was the hardest part to master in your act?

AP: The hardest part would be getting together with everyone and practicing. It’s always hard to find a time when everyone is free after school.

PTP: What makes you interested in what you are performing?

AP: I always enjoy playing my instrument, which is a trombone, and the people who are in the band enjoy playing their instruments as well. We enjoy the music and the atmosphere of our band.

PTP: What do you think makes your talent different than others?

AP: I’d like to say that our band is very tight, for we are a close friend group as well. With our own individual talents, we got together and made a greater talent along with a strong friendship.

PTP: What part of your performance will the audience find the most interesting?

AP: I think the audience will be interested in the whole performance. It is a famous song, and I believe most people know the song as well. I hope everyone enjoys our performance.

PTP: Is there anything else you would like the audience/students to know?

AP: Enjoy! Thank you!

Pinetree Improv Club (IC) - Group Performing in talent show (Improvising Act)

PTP: Introduce yourself and what you will be performing IC: We are Pinetree’s Improv club (Code Orange) and we will be performing a couple improv games such as freeze and world’s worst

PTP: How long have you been practicing your act for?

IC: We’ve been rehearsing for the talent show since

September

PTP: What was the hardest part to master in your act?

IC: The hardest and [most] fun part is that we never practice the show we are going to perform because suggestions are taken from the audience so each show is different. Instead we practice creating and performing shows as we go along!

PTP: What makes you act different than other acts?

IC: Nobody has seen this show before and nobody will see it again.

PTP: What part of your performance will the audience find the most interesting?

IC: Everything

Lifestyle

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LIGHTS AT LAFARGE

Lit Lafarge

Lights at Lafarge Opening Night Maria Diment Writer

Every year Coquitlam strings Lafarge Lake with dazzling lights and lit decorations. The path around the lake shines with wintery blues and purples, lovely pinks and reds, energizing yellows and greens, and snowy white.

This year, the Lights at Lafarge became an official annual event. Unlike previous years, 2018’s opening night was exceptionally organized.

The stage of the theatre was reconstructed into a sheltered podium for carollers and singers, while on the opposite side of the lake were food trucks and information/activity tents offering their own entertainments. People could enjoy a short scavenger hunt (the prize was a jingle bell), wintery characters on stilts, and more music from local singer groups like the Ukeladies.

just like many people in our community, I did not expect carollers or activity tents or even food trucks, so I was ultimately surprised.

Nonetheless, although the event was very communal no one can ignore the temptation to take an Instagram-worthy photo. If you’re looking to light up your feed then this event is the best opportunity to do so. With or without flash, the scenery and colours are different every couple of steps so the variety of photos you can take is seemingly endless.

If photos aren’t your forte, Lights at Lafarge is equally an excellent place to go to with your friends or significant other. An event like this offers the perfect getaway from typical hangout spots like malls and coffee shops. 2

This event is perfect for families, kids, seniors, and youth alike. With more lights than ever before everyone can marvel at the beautiful display and create merry memories. The northern curve of the lake features new patriotic additions to the light collection: a big bright red maple leaf for visitors to pose with, dancing white stars, and a couple of delicate hummingbirds hidden high above people’s heads.

Driving by Lafarge before the event and seeing the hanging of the lights in progress I was more than excited to see the final result. As anticipated, the event exceeded my expectations greatly. Surely,

white deer decorations in the purple string-light forest Source: Katherine Liu

12 Lifestyle WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND US

Christmas in Canada

Hanukkah, the Jewish eight day, wintertime, “Festival of Lights”

What are your neighbors doing this winter?

Sophie Zhao Writer

Christmas has been a significant celebration around the world for a long time, including in Canada. This day first originated to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Today, however, people spend this day and month in their own way.

The traditions most people are familiar with involve the getting together of family and friends. It is also the day for giving and receiving gifts. This may be an even more exciting day for the children in a family as they look forward to a visit from Santa Claus and his reindeer. Christmas is a merry day especially when paired with colourful lights and a snowy day. People may find themselves putting up lights around their house or setting up a beautifully decorated Christmas tree to further emphasize the festive atmosphere. As a bonus, people often take a break from work on the 24th of December with Boxing Day following on the

Source: Flash 90

26th. In spite of these practices, the way many people spend this day varies from household to household as Canada is a multicultural country.

Canada’s Christmas celebrations are often specific to the region they take place in, or they are influenced by other cultures like the British, American, and French. When thinking about the French, Québec may come to some people’s minds. Québec’s traditions around these winter times are not too different from those in British Columbia, but they have their unique elements. Around late November and early December, artisans in Québec set up stalls for Christmas markets to display their pastries or decorations. People often organize these types of markets in front of churches, where choirs sing the traditional songs that have been passed down throughout the generations. To bring more highlights to the day, people may have a warm cup of hot chocolate or snack on treats like small chocolate cookies. Another way to pass time on this day includes riding in Québec’s horse-drawn carriages which can provide a relaxing and possibly romantic way of viewing the Christmas

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Lifestyle sights around the cities or villages. Then, near the end of the day, back in one’s home, the tradition is to eat foods like turkey, cranberries, and Tourtières (meat pies) followed by La Bûche (yule log) for dessert. This represents the typical “midnight meal” that may occur as late as around 10 P.M. on Christmas Eve. Finally, the messe de minuit (midnight mass) takes place after the meal and ends this festive day.

Aside from, Québec’s traditions, in provinces with a larger Jewish population, people in Canada celebrate Hanukkah. The days of Hanukkah in 2018 were from Sunday, December 2, to Monday, December 10. The name of this tradition comes from the Hebrew word Chanukah (kha-nu-kah) meaning dedication. It celebrates the miracles that Jews experienced during their conflicts with Seleucids or Syrian-Greeks who tried to force their Greek culture on to them. A small group of Jews first defeated one of the strongest armies on Earth and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Then, using the only small cruse of olive oil they could find, they managed to light the Temple’s Menorah for eight days before new oil could be prepared. Stemming from this history, the way of celebration is the nightly Menorah lighting which has nine flames: eight to represent the number of days, and one to light them. At this time, people may give blessings or sing traditional songs, and the typical foods to eat would be fried to represent the oil involved in the miracle.

Knowing these few different ways of spending Christmas or the month of December demonstrates the wide variety of culture within Canada. Other than the yearly traditions some people are familiar with, their neighbours may be celebrating this winter in a completely different way. Apart from the family meals and gifts that people usually associate with Christmas, there are a great number of other practices that people partake in during this festive season.

Overall, Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to be merry, celebrate the past, and count one’s blessings.

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Yule Log, AKA La Bûche

Source: French Today

Tourtières, AKA meat pies

Source: French Today

14 LIFESTYLE ARTICLE

Break from Boredom

Friendly advice for when you’re stuck inside with nothing to do.

Briana Ho Writer

With winter break achingly close by, many students have trips or other festivities planned to spend their days of freedom. However, there may simply be the few (or many) odd days where boredom seems like an eternal companion. Have nothing to do? Looking for a break from your electronics? Tired of whatever ungodly homework and studying was given to you for the break?

Well, we have the solution for you. Get ready to remedy your weariness with these activities (for at least a few hours)!

Do Something Kind for Someone (I’m not kidding) The holidays is a time for generosity and happiness, so what better way to beat boredom than doing something nice? If you are able to donate, there are many charities running during this time. For those with a limited budget, volunteering somewhere local, such as a food bank, craft fair, or other place is always rewarding and fun, but usually needs registration and planning beforehand. Taking the initiative to do this is encouraged, yet volunteering isn’t the only outlet for costless good will. You could think about the people in your life that you appreciate, and write them genuine messages (I’m talking truly heartfelt, sappy, borderline emotional stuff) about how much they truly mean to you. This is completely free and, no joke, can mean more than any money spent on any material gift. Delivering the message as a letter personally/ through the mail or making a phone call could count as extra brownie points, depending on the recipient! If you’ve got a bit of spare money and time, you could bring some baked goods, candy canes, festive cards, or other small gifts to neighbours, friends, local firefighters, or others. Do you have a friend or family member that you haven’t seen in a while? Take a risk and make an old-

fashioned phone call to catch up and wish them happy holidays! There are many ways to spread cheer during the wintertime, and the internet is always available for inspiration.

Learn a New Skill

Is there something that you’ve been wanting to learn how to do, but never had the time? What about something that you don’t know how to do, but have never thought about trying? When weighed down with cabin fever, with too much time on yours hands, why not pick up a new skill? The best part is, the level of commitment you put into your learning is entirely up to you! You could begin learning a new instrument (which can be inexpensive with cheaper instruments such as the recorder or harmonica), song, or both. How about learning a new language, how to make a new dish in the kitchen, how to sew, or other practical skills? If you are intrigued by art, origami can be an interesting, cheap hobby to explore. Looking for something more active?

Teach yourself some dance moves! There are many, many abilities that one can learn, including rather obscure, unique, and fun ones. Try experimenting with some magic tricks to dazzle your friends and family, or hone your deadly aim with shooting an elastic band. If one enjoys inventing things, you could attempt to make up your own game or contraption! You don’t have to feel like you are obligated to stay with a certain skill or get to a required level, because in your free time you are able to choose the hobbies you want to commit to, without having to worry about being graded.

Go Outside

“It’s cold and wet out there!” you may say. Well, what are umbrellas and coats for? Fresh air can make one feel renewed and relaxed. It doesn’t need to be a long time; a step out onto a balcony or patio, or a brief walk around the block can be rewarding. Some may find it freeing to get out of the house with nowhere urgent to rush to and nobody telling you where to be. If the true outdoors isn’t your preference, then simply going

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LIFESTYLE out somewhere, such as the mall or library either with friends, family, or by yourself, can be enjoyable as well.

There are many events that happen over the winter, such as concerts, markets, festivals, light displays, and other delights that can be fun to check out. A change of scenery and some new memories can often offer a different perspective of the world!

Create a Project or Set a Goal

The great thing about having a personal project is that there is no deadline unless you set yourself one.

You can start and stop whenever it is convenient for you, and take it in whichever direction you please. Now, a project doesn’t have to be a jaw-dropping masterpiece; it can simply be something that brings you joy. It could be something visually artistic like drawing, video-making, painting, or sculpting, or it could be something musical like learning a new instrument or song. If neither of these categories suit you, there are plenty of other ways you can have fun! Try checking out RecordSetter.com, where there are plenty of unique (and oftentimes obscure or bizarre) records that you can try to break, such as “Fastest Time to Write ‘Donald Trump’ 12 Times on a Sticky Note” or “Highest Floor of a Building to Throw a Tennis Ball on and Catch with a Snapback Cap.” There is also an option to begin your very own world record!

On another note, if school or life in general has just been completely hectic for you, then you may want to try looking back on your easier, younger days by remastering a childhood hobby. You don’t need to go as extreme as the men who played the same game of tag for 23 years, but their shenanigans are a perfect example of adultlevel child’s games. Did you used to build pillow forts or blanket caves? Try building yourself a comfy nook to hibernate during the winter. Did you play games such as Hide-and-Seek, Murder Mystery, or Grounders? Grab a group of friends, find a large space, set some rules, and commit! Props and appropriate music is optional. Were you fond of dress-up and Halloween? Try creating your own cosplay. Everyone has different interests that they would dedicate their free time to, but sometimes it just takes a bit of encouragement and initiative to begin.

Tired of projects or not feeling creative? An alternative to this would be to set a goal for yourself.

If you’re looking to exercise more, then give yourself

a specific window of time to work out either at home, at the gym, or outside (if you enjoy braving the chilly weather). Trying to live a less stressful life? Over the winter break, find some mindfulness activities that work for you, and you may end up choosing a few to carry over to the rest of the school year. They do not have to be productive pastimes, they are merely meant to help you feel peaceful and relaxed. Meditation (not sleeping) and breathing exercises are examples of true mindfulness, but activities such as listening to music (preferably of the gentle, instrumental kind), knitting, reading, or going for a leisurely walk can also bring tranquility to the mind.

Once again, the internet can be a great reference to find what works for you.

Altogether, boredom can be the result of many different circumstances. Sometimes, options for activities can be limited because of weather, lack of materials, mood, or other variables. It will most likely take patience with yourself and the world to turn a dreary, plain day into worthwhile, special memories. 2

Try making these easy Melted Snowman Biscuits!

Source: stockeldpark.co.uk

Winter kindness can go a long way.

Source: stockeldpark.co.uk

16 OTHER

PSSSST Ya, You :D <---- The solution is right here

Other Comic by Zoe Li

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