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" Before college I always really looked forward to getting in the holiday spirit by hanging up lights, getting presents for my friends, decorating the tree, and making cookies. However, I wasn&amp;#039;t exactly sure how I was going to be able to do all of this while living in a dorm. Turns out, it&amp;#039;s definitely not as hard as I thought! Many of the people that live in your dorm will end up feeling the same way that you do. Who wants to forget the holidays if you don&amp;#039;t have to?! My hall mates and I collectively decided before Thanksgiving break that we were going to decorate the hall as soon as we came back. So, over break, each one of us brought back all kinds of decorations to plaster all over our home away from home. A few hours after everyone had arrived back at the dorm from break, the hall was completely decked out! Everyone&amp;#039;s doors are decorated, with lights all over the hall. We even have our own makeshift tree! We definitely drew the attention of the other students in our building, and it was a really great bonding experience getting to decorate with all of my friends. They are my family here at school so I want to participate in all the holiday activities here with them! Of course, the festivities didn&amp;#039;t stop at the decorations. There are so many fun events around campus during the holidays! The one that I&amp;#039;m really looking forward to is Lighting of the Lawn, a ceremony here at UVA in which students gather in front of one of our historic buildings, The Rotunda, and watch as the lights that decorate this building as well as many of those surrounding are illuminated. My hall mates and I are going to exchange Secret Santa gifts, take awkward family photos in tacky sweaters, and get in the holiday spirit this upcoming Thursday! I can&amp;#039;t wait! I really encourage everyone out there to participate in what your college has to offer during the winter season, no matter which holiday you celebrate. It&amp;#039;s a great way for you and your friends to make great and lasting memories! "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/life/school/a19745/claire-celebrates-holiday-season/>