The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is kicking in and so is the holiday stress for many students. As turkey sandwiches are still being polished off from the leftover Thanksgiving dinner, the holiday commercials are playing everywhere and the once in a lifetime advertised sales are starting to suck us in.
The holiday season may be known as being one of the best times of the year with its traditional decorating, glittering parties and hours of shopping, but weighing-in heavily on students is holiday stress.
Meggie Hughes, a junior special education major, said, “Trying to find money and do schoolwork is really stressful. It all comes at you at once.”
The holiday season has students worried about buying gifts before the holidays begin and the pressure intensifies as the semester comes to an end. Students are concerned about buying the right gifts for their families and friends while also trying to budget funds with the clock ticking.
Although Hughes feels stressed, she is in the holiday spirit and has different ideas for holiday gifts.
“A collage of pictures is the best thing to do for my friends and it’s cheap,” Hughes said.
Another student that related to Hughes’ stressful holiday season was Nicole Ketchen, a freshman elementary education major.
“It’s crazy. I don’t know what to get people because I don’t know what I can afford. It’s the last thing on my mind,” Ketchen said.
If trying to find affordable holiday gifts is a problem college students have, there are several options. Besides hitting the mall on black Friday, there are always the sentimental gifts. Cabrini students recommended sentimental gifts and most students said gift ideas can come from inside jokes. Also, if humor cannot be an option, there are other ideas under $10 like coupon books, desk accessories and picture frames with memorable photos, according to iamnext.com, which has other ideas to suit the college finances.
Kristen McGowan, a sophomore occupational therapy major, is one of the many Cabrini students dealing with the stress in and out of classes. McGowan is employed at the King of Prussia mall and is handling the holiday crowds.
McGowan said, “Shoppers stress the employees out. Once you get to the mall it’s so stressful because of the crowds.”
Despite the stress McGowan faces with the crowds, she is still enjoying the holiday season.
Also, there are some Cabrini students who can avoid the stress and just enjoy the holiday season.
Gina Comet, a junior psychology major, said, “Around this time of year, I’m the bubbliest person. I love going to the malls with Santas, and the crowds don’t bother me. I like to take everything in.”
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Posted to the web by Matt Schill
