It’s finally the day before winter break. Some people have already left for vacation. Some are in class, waiting on the edge of their seat for the last bell of the day to ring so that they can run out of the buildings and to their cars. And most importantly, Christmas is right around the corner-the twinkling lights on every house, the cozy Christmas music playing in the stores, and the chill in the air that creates nostalgia in everyone. For many people, winter is the best time of the year. Getting to spend time with family, traveling around the country or the world, and simply enjoying being away from school for a couple of weeks. And for sophomore Stella Babine, winter break was just the thing she needed after multiple weeks of school. Stella was among the group of students who decided to have a winter getaway for her winter break, taking a long trip to the Carolinas. “We drove to North Carolina. It was like ten hours,” Stella explained with a laugh and shake of her head. It’s impossible to imagine ten hours in the car- all the naps, snacks, and long discussions on the way over. Stella is better than the rest of us! When she had gotten to North Carolina, Stella had decided to “spend time with her family, went skiing, and went out to dinner a few nights.” Spending time with family is what really matters during the holidays. To be able to be around the people you love and that love you back is all anyone could ask for. For Stella, going skiing was the favorite thing to do. Being able to go down the snowy slopes and play around in the cold was perfect for her. But that wasn’t all she did. She had spent some time touring colleges, gaining experience, and learning more about who she really wants to be in the future. When asked about which colleges were her favorite, Stella had said that “Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina and Catawaba College. I thought that they were unique and beautiful schools. I would definitely consider playing for them in college!” One thing that people might not know about Stella is that she plays lacrosse. Stella played lacrosse for Sunlake High School in her freshman year, playing in the defender and midfield spots and repping the number 13. Stella is known for her amazing defensive skills and her goals, speeding past the other team and creating amazing plays. So Stella definitely made the right choice by stopping by. Winter break is a time to get away from all the work and mental fatigue of high school, and Stella Babine made sure to spend it right.