Winter break is approaching quickly and with students lamenting about how they long for home, it may be hard for students without one to feel as if they can have fun during the holidays.

Although untraditional, the holidays can be celebrated alone and with people we are not connected to by blood; no matter which category you may fall in, it is important to find a way to rest and celebrate the holidays when they arrive. 

When we were younger, most, if not all of us, looked forward to the holidays for one reason and one reason alone: opening gifts on Christmas day. 

Grabbing boxes, grasping and ripping away at the paper until we got to what lay underneath seemed to fulfill us.

Now that we are older, now that we have matured, most of us have realized that it was not the gifts alone that brought us joy on Christmas, or just the idea of stuffing our faces full of food that made us count down the days to Thanksgiving. 

It was something much more profound than that: being with the ones you love, being with family. Hopefully, when we were younger and when times were simpler, many of us got to ring in the holidays with our family. 

As we get older, however, things change for a lot of us. 

Some parents pass away, some disown their children. 

Some of us refuse to stay away from our families because they don’t feel safe for us. 

Whether or not you have a home away from home to go to during the holiday break, you deserve to enjoy the holidays. 

If you plan on staying on campus during winter break, consider ringing in the new year with friends. 

Family is not just the people we share DNA with. 

We choose our family, and they choose us. 

Celebrate with them however you would like. You can host a small gathering, game night, or holiday movie marathon. 

If you are running low on funds, grab a cheap meal from your favorite nearby restaurant. 

What you eat doesn’t matter – whether you’re carving a turkey or chomping on a fry – the people that are right there, eating with you, is all that counts. 

Remember to invite someone you may not know, someone who is stuck in the dormitory just like you – you’re not going to be the only one celebrating the holidays in a 10-by-12-foot room. 

You may also consider volunteering, donating or participating in local community service during winter break. 

Donating goods like food, clothes and toys, or serving underprivileged communities is something you can do year-round, but there is a special need present during the holiday season. 

If you still find yourself alone for a few days over the break, do whatever you want.

Pick up that hobby you’ve been thinking about forever, or continue perfecting that craft you’ve been tinkering with since the beginning of the fall semester. 

If you like the fall weather, consider taking a walk in nature, and be sure to bring a journal with you, you never know when inspiration might strike. 

The holidays are a challenging time for those who do not have a traditional home to return to, but make no mistake — they can still be filled with meaning and joy.