Holiday parties. Gift wrapping. Holiday shopping. The season is arguably the most chaotic of all. But, why? Well, with getting ready just in time for a new year to begin, the season can get a little overwhelming.
Every year, new trends, styles, and brands hit the aisles with discounts and deals all in time for Christmas. Most teens want the newest brand names with the coolest shoes on the market and maybe that new two-piece set that just dropped on the TikTok shop.
But is that all that teens want for Christmas? And how is social media influencing what is going on their wishlists?
Students spend most of their time scrolling through social media: liking, commenting, reposting, and sharing videos with friends and family. So as a result, what they’re watching is going to reflect their interest and influence their wants and desires. If you see a cool sweater on Instagram or a new pair of shoes on your friend’s story, you’re more inclined to want something like that and what better time to get these wants than Christmas, where you can put everything on a list and items magically show up under a tree.
In order to understand what teens want, we first have to get into their heads. After surveying students randomly at FHHS, answers varied from person to person, but there were some things that remained common throughout.
Students asked for a lot of name brands such as Ed Hardy, Uggs, True Religion, Lululemon, North Face, new devices like phones or an iPad, new shoes, bags, and more. One student from the survey even asked their parents for a new car. The most common thing among all students? Money.
Forest Hills is a very diverse school, so naturally everyone isn’t going to celebrate Christmas or even make a Christmas list. Aissatou Diallo, a junior, is a student who doesn’t observe any holiday over the break. “The break for me is a time to catch up on sleep, school work and overall just relax,” she shared.
But what about the teachers? Teachers just want more practical things than students. For example, one teacher shared that she just needs the essentials, candles, and even toilet paper.
Although presents are great and all, that’s not all the holiday season is about. It’s about being grateful for what you have and who you have. You have to take the moment to appreciate what you have in your life because they make every day a good day.
