HIGH LIFE: A Weekly Forum For High School Students : Events That Are Custom-Made for the Holidays

What we’ll remember all our lives are those traditions we’ve helped to keep flourishing by our love and respect.

Hot Topics wonders, “What is your favorite holiday tradition?”

“Leaving out cookies and milk for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and waking up the next morning to find them gone.”

Christina Martin, 14,

freshman, Ocean View

“On New Year’s Eve, we play cards until midnight, and then we all make our New Year’s resolutions. . . . Then we keep playing cards.”

Holly Kent, 14,

freshman, Sonora

“Every Christmas, I go into my back yard and plant a yam, then watch it grow the rest of the year.”

Jeanie Lee, 16,

junior, Villa Park

“Every year, our family ridicules my mother about her latest sweet potato creation. She tries every Christmas to cook it in a way that we’ll actually eat it, but we never do. This year, she’s making yams.”

Paul Connelie, 16,

junior, Fullerton

“I enjoy having my birthday on Christmas. I receive twice the amount of gifts, except from my cheap relatives.”

Molly Robinson, 17,

senior, Connelly

“Our family gorges ourselves all day.”

Kristine Reck, 14,

freshman, Los Alamitos

“Waiting until Dec. 24 to put up Christmas lights, because we’re too lazy.”

John Niccolai, 15,

sophomore, Servite

“Running to the bank on Christmas Eve, not having enough money to buy Christmas presents.”

Matt Pence, 17,

junior, Newport Harbor

“Opening the presents and eating chili on Christmas Eve.”

Rebecca Stuenkel, 15,

sophomore, Orange Lutheran

“Snooping around my house to find Christmas gifts so I know what all of them are before Christmas.”

Amanda Sandifer, 17,

senior, Woodbridge

“Picking out our tree and cutting it down fresh.”

Talin Pariyani, 17,

senior, Rosary

“When my family sits around the Christmas tree and sings our favorite Christmas carols.”

Thanh Vu, 14,

freshman, Bolsa Grande

“Ever since my great-grandfather came over from Italy, his mother would put tangerines in his stocking for Christmas. Back then, tangerines were very expensive and rare, and ever since it has been a tradition in my family to receive a tangerine in your stocking.”

James Young, 15,

sophomore, Santa Margarita

“Spinning the dreidel for gelt (chocolate coins) during Hanukkah. And then, of course, the presents.”

David Krinsky, 14,

sophomore, El Toro

“Watching people’s reactions when they open their gifts.”

Janeane Richey, 17,

senior, Liberty Christian

“Chinese New Year, because you get money.”

Jennifer Wong, 15,

sophomore, Kennedy

“Every Christmas, my family goes to Arkansas.”

Dan Dula, 16,

junior, Southern California Christian

“Having a party on New Year’s Eve.”

Liam Anderson, 14,

freshman, Dana Hills

“Baking Christmas cookies and treats and giving them out.”

Stacey Kitano, 16,

sophomore, Pacifica

“Going to a play. Usually we go to the ‘Christmas Carol’ at the South Coast Repertory. It’s fun because it kicks me into the Christmas spirit.”

Mark Schiefelloine, 14,

freshman, Sonora

“Delivering gifts to people’s houses anonymously.”

Sherilyn Apgar, 16,

junior, Newport Harbor

“Having all my family over to trim the tree.”

Susan Choi, 17,

junior, Pacifica

“All the grandkids and I put on a play for the parents at Christmas.”

Mike McCoy, 17,

senior, Servite

“My family and I make Christmas cookies and watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ . . . Just plain quality time.”

Kristen Stoneburner, 17,

senior, Woodbridge

“Putting up the Christmas tree while sipping hot chocolate.”

Brandy Tornquist, 17,

senior, Bolsa Grande

“Going to Crystal Cathedral for Christmas Eve candlelight service, and then opening one present afterward.”

Melissa Johnson, 15,

sophomore, Villa Park

“My mom’s side of the family is Italian. An Italian tradition is to eat seafood on Christmas Eve. Everyone gets to open one present, and afterward, I look forward to eating my grandma’s homemade cheesecake.”

Renee Darke, 15,

sophomore, Fullerton

“ Deewali, because it is the Indian New Year.”

Sarang Aranke, 16,

junior, Kennedy

“Three or four days before Christmas, all the kids in my neighborhood and my brother and I go Christmas caroling.”

Sharon Rauterkus, 16,

junior, Santa Margarita

“Opening stockings on Christmas morning.”

Gabriel Baltodano, 17,

senior, Liberty Christian

“Gathering around the fireplace with my family, drinking hot cocoa and roasting chestnuts while singing ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.’ ”

Jay Yamamoto, 18,

senior, Ocean View

“Waking up Christmas morning and opening my stocking gifts.”

Jennie Reeves, 17,

senior, El Toro

“Spending time during the New Year holiday reflecting on what the past year has given us.”

Misty Hendrickson, 15,

junior, Southern California Christian

“Having a family reunion.”

Seona Turner, 14,

freshman, Los Alamitos

“I love decorating the tree.”

Anita Kumar, 15,

junior, Connelly

“Going to the mountains the day after Christmas.”

Joe Nguyen, 16,

sophomore, Dana Hills

“Bringing family and distant friends back together.”

Diana Cheng, 17,

senior, Rosary

Next Week’s Hot Topic: What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Responses gathered by Kelly Maakestad (Bolsa Grande), Heather Cox (Connelly), Tina Toochinda (Dana Hills), Traci McCrimmon (El Toro), Brian Singer (Fullerton), Abby Fung (Kennedy), Yvonne Cook (Liberty Christian), Trisha Ginsburg (Los Alamitos), Dan Eastmond (Newport Harbor), Susanna Lee (Ocean View), MaryAlice Perez (Orange Lutheran), Diana Mueller (Pacifica), Lara Lagos (Rosary), Katie Elftmann (Santa Margarita), Henry York (Servite), Aimee Johnston (Sonora), Rosalind Blames (Southern California Christian), Darice Liu (Villa Park) and Alison Lefkowitz (Woodbridge).