I’ve always dreaded winter break. While my classmates looked forward to family celebrations, I prepared for loneliness. The absence of a “normal” family weighed heavily on me, a quiet ache I carried this time of the year. Christmas, once magical in my childhood, slowly lost its warmth the older I got, leaving only reminders of the family I longed for.
I remember lying in bed, listening to my grandmother’s quiet sniffles as she cried. My winter break reminded me of what little money my grandmother had while raising her three grandchildren. Even in her struggles, she always made sure we had a small gift under our Christmas tree. Additionally, the gift drive organizations that assisted our family when we didn’t have money helped us kids feel a bit of the holiday spirit. It was these small acts of kindness, these glimpses of winter magic, that planted a seed in me: I wanted to create the same sense of hope for others.
In the fall of my junior year, I was eager to bring up an idea to the Roosevelt High School Student Council. I proposed “The Giving Tree,” an annual charity to support young students and their families during the holiday season. I wanted to spread the love, kindness, and togetherness I had longed for as a child. Executing the charity would take dedication, organization, and leadership, and I felt ready.
At first, I worried about logistics and finances. Many families in my school community face financial challenges. Since Roosevelt is a Title I school, I wondered if they would be able to participate. To my surprise, the response was overwhelming. Students and staff volunteered, and families donated gifts. Their enthusiasm reminded me that our school is more than just a place of learning; it’s a community that cares. Last year, “The Giving Tree” provided gifts to over 70 low-income families in North Portland, becoming one of the first student-led holiday charities at our high school.
Leading this project changed me. I was able to bring the community together to create a sense of togetherness and help those in need, like others had done for me. I transformed my own childhood heartbreak into action, creating the holiday magic I had once only dreamed of. I learned the power of empathy, collaboration, and leadership, and I witnessed firsthand how a single idea could unite a community.
Education, I’ve come to realize, is not just about academics; it’s also about building community. Strengthening the bonds of the people around me while building community has become one of my most important values. This winter, I will continue leading “The Giving Tree,” teaching other students how to organize and sustain it, so that giving back becomes a tradition that grows stronger each year.
Winter break is no longer a season I dread. It is a time I look forward to, a season where hope, compassion, and community can be shared. And for me, that is the truest kind of winter magic.
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This year for the giving tree we are able to assist 130 students! Which is almost double the amount of students we helped last year!