We have arrived at both the most stressful and the most joyful part of the semester at the Heller school. As we near the end of the semester, there are countless holiday celebrations from Diwali, Thanksgiving, and the beginning of Hanukkah. There are events, assignments, and deadlines, oh my!
Here at the Heller school, we have numerous community events celebrating the multitude of cultural and religious celebrations. These celebrations bring together all the cultures seen at the Heller school to showcase their uniqueness and allow us to share how our traditions varying. These events give us a chance to take a break and learn even more about our classmates. Outside of these events, I love getting to take time during our class breaks to ask students how they typically celebrate major holidays, whether they are from the U.S. or abroad. It's also super interesting to see while we all celebrate differently, celebrations often encompass signature meals, the gathering of friends and family, and taking time to be present.
Many of us may be traveling to go visit family, both close and far, so remember to take a break, enjoy the quality time, and remember the Heller school will be waiting for you when you return! This is a reminder to both take time away from class to participate in the celebrations and know that soon finishing the semester is a celebration in itself!
Waiting for you at the Heller school after the upcoming long weekend for the U.S. celebration of Thanksgiving is finals season. This is usually a stressful time but it's also a celebration of the learning that you have done this semester. One thing that I noticed last year is that during finals, I felt a really strong sense of community. Not only are we likely working on several group projects, but we are united in our final push to finish the semester. This helped me stay motivated and finish the semester strong.
Amidst this season of celebration and finals, there are also so many events to check out outside of Heller. The city of Boston transforms into a festive epicenter of holiday cheer and winter festivities. After the finals rush, I highly suggest taking in the festivities, such as ice skating on the Frog Pond in the Boston Public Gardens or taking a walk to see people’s outdoor light decorations – or maybe go check out one of the museums that as a Brandeis student you have free admission to.
However you choose to enjoy this upcoming season, enjoy and remember to take time for
yourself and your loved ones!