Reese Van Brocklin, a senior at Sunlake High School, had an amazing winter break filled with loads of fun, excitement, and meaningful family traditions. Her break allowed her to spend quality time with loved ones, celebrate the holidays, and travel, making it both memorable and refreshing before returning to school.
Reese spent the first half of her winter break at home with her family, including her “cousins, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, and sister.” Being surrounded by family was especially important to her during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, everyone gathered at her grandma’s house, where they enjoyed a traditional Christmas meal and watched Christmas movies together. Reese shared that her grandma plays a big role in making the holidays special, saying, “My grandma is a really good baker and she makes lots of fun breakfast meals, and desserts.” Christmas Day was then celebrated at Reese’s house, allowing the family to continue spending time together and enjoying the holiday spirit.
One of the highlights of Reese’s break was seeing her cousins, aunt, and uncle, who live in Boston, Massachusetts. Since they only see each other “once or twice a year,” the time together was especially meaningful. Reese explained that her favorite part of break was “seeing my cousins, aunt and uncle,” adding that “it was really fun hanging out with them and catching up.” Being able to reconnect with family she does not see often made her winter break even more special.
On December 26th, Reese traveled to North Carolina with her boyfriend, Drew Weinberg, and his family. They visited Banner Elk, where they explored the town and spent a day skiing. Reese described the town as “a very cute and welcoming place” and was especially excited because “we even got to see snow,” something she does not experience often living in Florida. Although the trip was enjoyable, Reese admitted that the long drive was not her favorite part, saying, “The drive to North Carolina was about 12 hours though, so that was kind of boring.” Despite this, she felt the trip was worth it overall.
Reese’s Christmas was also filled with excitement when it came to gifts. While she received many great presents, one stood out the most. Reese shared that her favorite gift was when “my grandma got everyone in my family Florida State merchandise to celebrate my commitment and acceptance to the university.” This gift was meaningful because it recognized an important milestone in her life and showed her family’s support for her future.
In addition to holiday celebrations, Reese’s family has a special annual tradition. Every December 23rd, her dad and uncle take Reese, her sister, and her cousins to Tree Hoppers, which she described as “a zipline and tree course.” This tradition adds adventure and excitement to the holiday season and is something Reese looks forward to each year.
Overall, Reese Van Brocklin’s winter break was a perfect mix of family time, travel, celebration, and tradition. From reconnecting with relatives and enjoying holiday meals to skiing in North Carolina and celebrating her college commitment, her break was filled with moments that made it both meaningful and unforgettable.
