With less than a month away from Christmas, I am quickly shifting into holiday overdrive. I’ve begun gift shopping, I cracked out the seasonal music almost a month ago, and I’ve put up my own Christmas tree … in my bedroom. Weird or passionate? I’ll opt for the latter.

But Christmas doesn’t only mean gifts, chocolate and Santa – although, that is pretty appealing. The holidays mean so much more to me. I get to see my family and I reunite with my friends, and I mean my very best friends.

When I think back to almost a decade ago, grade 9, I remember studying for finals, sledding down hills on giant pieces of cardboard, and I remember walking home with my first crush … an almost 45 minute walk home.