It's the most wonderful time of the year?

Happy holidays to y'all!
Every year around this time, people begin to get into the holiday spirit. They get all bundled up and go ice skating, go caroling, go to the CSO to see Welcome Yule, their annual christmas show (co-written and composed by my boss!), and enjoy what the city has to offer this time of year. Yet, this year seems different. All my friends who are usually the Cindy Lou-Hoo's of Christmas, seem to be distracted. A lot of it, sadly, comes down to too much work. This week is the week where all the teachers try and cram in all they can before the break and before the end of the semester and everyone just seems overwhelmed. In a recent post by DocOc, he talked about what schools provide for us and what we wish to get out of them besides a diploma and a nice Ivy League acceptance letter (or where ever you may wish to go). I think that through the constant drudge of busy work assignment after busy work assignment, we lose sight of that and whats important, at least I do. Although starting December off with listening to the Christmas station in my car (and subsequently turning it off when any Mariah Carey song came on), I have not gotten into the Christmas spirit because I just haven't had time. It takes a full day to watch Rudolph, trim the tree, and enjoy your time at home, but since I've been slammed with so much work before break, I haven't had time to breathe, let alone have a Christmas party!

So back to the big question:
What do I want to get out of my high school experience besides that acceptance letter?

Honestly, I want to know how to live, be well-rounded, and not obsess so much over the little things. Maybe high school isn't the place to learn those things, maybe I'll have time to watch Rudolph when I'm older and this is the time to work hard and maybe skip an eggnog or two (not like I drink it, cuz its just disgusting but I think the idea still holds) in order to get to the next level in this video game we call life. But I hope it's not, I hope I can find time to drink and undrink an eggnog and watch the old Christmas movies I love so much, and see A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre, spend time with the people I love, and really get into the holiday spirit. Maybe.