Caption: Underneath the Zilker Holiday Tree.
Let’s call a spade a spade: having fall finals between two of what I consider the greatest holidays of the year is such a tease.
Think about it! There’s no other time of year that has so many fun distractions. Starbucks rolls out the winter-themed drinks in November, leading to sugar-fueled, unproductive study sessions (peppermint mocha, I’m looking at you). In addition, the seasonal melodies of Mariah Carey hit radio stations and festive decorations start monopolizing our time and money. Who has time for studying?
We hang on to our productive selves until Thanksgiving, when we become accustomed to taking tryptophan-induced naps, watching football games and lovingly staring at the thermometer as it drops below 70 degrees.
After all these glorious, jolly activities have occurred, we are expected to put our poor, sniffly nose back on the grindstone and relearn every bit of info we’ve soaked up over the semester, then spit it back out on an exam that counts for a huge percentage of our final grade. We’ve only just started to hang up tinsel and tune into ABC’s 25 Days of Christmas, then we have to toss that holiday spirit aside for two weeks of studying.
Here’s a solution to the finals blues: Christmas lights. Swap your normal Facebook-stalking study break for a drive to 37th Street, where a lit-up Bevo and a sparkling T-Rex accompany a plethora of holiday lights. Or head over to Mozart’s, where a light show with music is played every hour; you can study and feel holiday cheer all at once!
Caption: Look closely for Bevo on 37th Street.
Caption: The Long Center gets into the spirit.
See? You can ease your study stress and get into the seasonal spirit. Happy holidays!