Lottie James, VP Welfare & Community
2025 is here! This blog post is all about coming back from the Winter break, reconvening with friends, and managing the conversations around how you spent your Winter break and what Santa left under your tree. This blog post has two objectives: one, to serve as a reminder that not everyone will have the same experience and it’s important to be mindful of other people; two, to provide reassurance and support for those who do not celebrate Christmas, or are estranged.
I personally do not celebrate Christmas. However, my family does. It can be difficult to accommodate the needs of others and their beliefs and stick to my own beliefs and traditions. It can also be isolating when people insist on saying ‘Merry Christmas’ rather than ‘Happy Holidays’. If you don’t celebrate Christmas or do not celebrate any Winter break traditions, that’s okay. Your choices are valid, and you do not need to elaborate or justify.
Christmas can be a difficult time because not all families are the same. Whether it’s a familial structure, a different tradition, or coming from a low-income background, it can be difficult to navigate those conversations, especially when you attend a prestigious university. I believe this time is about spending time with loved ones and eating good food. But it’s easy to compare and feel that your worth is attached to material items, especially if someone you know receives something you really wanted or is massively out of your price range. If you’re worried about what to say, you could say, “I kept it simple this year.” Alternatively, redirect the focus by saying, “That sounds great! What is your favourite memory?”. People love talking about themselves!
But remember: other people’s experiences do not diminish your worth or the value of how you spend your time.
I recommend preparing (and practising) your responses in advance! People will ask, and it’s good to have something you can say and think about what you’re comfortable sharing. It’s important also to set boundaries. If you’re uncomfortable sharing what you did over Winter break, that’s okay! You don’t owe anyone an explanation or an elaboration. No is a complete sentence.
If you find that you’re struggling and need some support, the Advice Centre and the Student Hub will have resources to support estranged students, as well as free counselling, and will be able to signpost you to other support. It’s important that you know that your worth is not tied to traditional celebrations or family structures, and your choices to celebrate or not celebrate something are valid. It’s okay to prioritise your wellbeing over societal expectations. If you’d like further support with planning resolutions, receiving support, or other tips and tricks around being an underrepresented student (or would like to feature), check out my Instagram.