A Report From a Busy High School Student

Just like with many other words, Gen Z has adopted “faded” and evolved its definition into one that is more modern and abstract. “Faded” originates from a Latin word, “fatuus,” meaning silly or insipid. Eventually, it evolved into the French word “fade,” meaning dull or insipid. From there, the English word adopted the definition “growing weak.” Today, “faded” is the past tense of the verb “fade.” “Faded” means for something to grow faint and disappear. It can also mean for something to come in and out of view. In golf, it means for the ball to deviate to the right.

The gap between generations may feel wider and wider, especially with the differences in culture, facilitated by social media. Here are some nongeneric, personalized gift items for teens with specific hobbies or interests.

Examples of gifts for athletic teens are sportswear, custom water bottles, or fitness trackers. Some popular fitness trackers today are Oura Rings, which can track 50+ bodily measurements; Fitbits, and Apple Watches. Recovery equipment, such as massage guns or foam rollers, are also good gifts.

For artistic or creative teens, proper tools can be important. Some gifts could be high-quality markers, sketchbooks, paints, etc. As everything is getting progressively digitalized, a drawing tablet or a software subscription could be deeply appreciated. Another option is some simple yarn and hooks for crocheting or knitting. Another functional gift is a sewing machine. For particularly crafty teens, this can help them tailor or even make their own clothes.

Custom phone accessories and headphones are gifts anyone would appreciate. In addition, LED lights, mini speakers, and technology-based ornaments could be useful for teens looking to decorate their rooms. For teens who particularly enjoy video- games, specified headsets, game subscriptions, monitors, or gaming chairs are good gifts.

The best way to gauge what to get your teen for Christmas is to simply ask them! Many have exhaustive lists of what they would like.

Christmas and Hanukkah are some of the most well-known holidays in December. However, there are countless more that are based in other cultures, as well as some that are pure fun. Today, I want to share some of these holidays in an attempt to help them gain exposure and awareness.

Here are some fun holidays in December. December 31 is Unlucky Day; it is the last day of the year and represents the last day to get rid of all bad luck and forget about all the bad days. December 5 is Walt Disney Day, celebrating Walt Disney’s role in creating and popularizing cartoons. December 9 is Christmas Card Day.

Although December is full of joy and cheer, there are some serious holidays that also deserve celebration. December 1 is Rosa Parks Day, December 2 is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, and December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day of Remembrance. December 10 is Human Rights Day, December 11 is the birthday of UNICEF, and finally, December 15 is the Bill of Rights Day.

Here are some celebrations from cultures all around the world. Bodhi Day is December 8 and celebrates the day Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) achieved enlightenment. December 12 is Feast Day of Lady Guadalupe, which celebrates the patron saint of Mexico. Yule is celebrated from December 21 to January 1. It is celebrated by Wiccans and Neo-Pagans who celebrate the Winter solstice through the Yule festival. Lastly, Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that is celebrated from December 26 to January 1.

By Michelle Li