With the ex-ception of the inevitable frosty weather, my favorite time of year is once again upon us. I have always been one to anticipate and celebrate the Christmas cheer.

Not for the presents or the theological aspects, but for the pure kindness that is exuberated everywhere around us.

This spirit and cheer can be witnessed through Christmas trees, lights, decorations and caroling, among others. These activities are not done in the hopes of attaining more presents, but instead in the hopes of spreading the Christmas joy.

Some of the aspects I enjoy most about the Christmas season are buying gifts for my loved ones, watching Christmas movies and napping in the warm glow of the colorful lights that illuminate my Christmas tree. I anxiously await when we students are given the, at this point, well-deserved and much needed break when we all retreat home to friends and family who eagerly awaits our arrival.

Perhaps Christmas and those surrounding holidays are even sweeter now that we are currently residing in an undecorated place for nine months out of the year. Granted some of us have holiday decorations here and there, but there is nothing like "home for the holidays."

My holiday has always been spent packed full of traditions surrounding my entire family, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Our traditions start with a Christmas Eve dinner, which always ends by attendees being pelted with fairy dust by my aunt to insure we will get a good night sleep for St. Nick.

The next day my immediate family and I open our gifts to one another and drink some much-needed coffee. By around 10 a.m., we gather at my cousin's house to partake in Christmas brunch, where the family exchanges presents and stuffs in some brunch (and perhaps a mimosa or two).

After that, we go our separate ways and spend the next few hours having naptime. Then, we all re-convene for Christmas dinner, the mother of all eating experiences. Traditionally, the next day my entire family then departs to Williamsburg, Va. for a weeklong vacation.

My Christmas is spent from start to finish with my family, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What makes these holidays most special for my brother, my cousins and I, is the tradition.

This year, when the adults decided to discard Christmas brunch, my cousin Caroline and I immediately petitioned to have the brunch reinstated. Thankfully, our favorite tradition was rescued because of what it was, a tradition.

This year, my family has successfully made the transition of traditions from one generation to another.

As much as I wish that I could involve myself in the rapidly approaching holidays, I have an even more overwhelming and eminent thought processes in the forefront of my mind -- finals.

But not just finals, there are projects and papers, too.

Inevitably with the arrival of holidays and snowstorms comes the hellish final three weeks of the semester, which for some consists of merely a few finals.

Yet, for others finals mean they are destined for three weeks of being behind a desk, stuck in a book and stranded at the library.

As I currently sit here and type with my Christmas blanket and cozy bed in view, I sigh and remember the overwhelming tasks that lie ahead of me. I am trapped in the ultimate power struggle, that which represents sheer joy and that which represents pure evil. Well maybe not evil, but certainly torture.

Every year since I have been at college, my father has sent me the traditional "end of the semester" e-mail. Filled with its usual banter about grades and working hard, I do realize his intentions are good, but his point is even better. "You have worked this hard all semester don't give up now. Finish strong."

And that is the advice I pass on to all of my fellow students. We only have two weeks left of the semester -- do the best you can. Before you know it, Christmas will be here and we will be done with yet another semester. Christmas will also be that much sweeter after all that hard work.

Or you could say screw it and just go shopping. Either way it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.