Christmas and winter break are right around the corner, and around this time every year the same conversation seems to come up over and over again.

Our consumerism and our brash rush to buy the best gifts, as evidenced by yet another busy Black Friday even in the face of recession, is the product of our prosperous culture. It is often brought up as a flaw or weakness in our society; our guilty pleasure. This debate is brought up especially around this time of the year, as churches and religious groups urge people to “put the Christ back in Christmas” and to remember the more solemn and joyful religious implications of the holiday.

While I do agree whole heartedly with the idea of returning Christmas to an important religious holiday, I think that the significance of this time for us is much more broad. As college students we are busy with issues of our own lives: staying up late for all nighters and feeling our body’s need for sleep, rushing to and from class and work five days a week, satisfying a craving for caffeine, nicotine or chocolate, and worrying about the next paper, exam, or presentation. In other words, our time is booked.

As we work hard for our future careers that will drive, sustain, and support us in our lives, it is still important to deal with issues of spirituality and philosophy. Our time in college is supposed to be a time to figure out who you are and how you are going to live the rest of your life. Unfortunately, in our growth our spiritual identity is often neglected. We are on the verge of a few peaceful weeks off from school and this time, surrounded by family, old friends, and a 2,000-year-old tradition, is perfect for taking the time to think about your own beliefs and to identify what is important to you.

 There is no such thing as right or wrong religious or spiritual beliefs; you could be devout or equally resolute in the opposite direction. However, the only disservice would be denying yourself an opportunity to think about what is important to you and how you place yourself in the world.

 Secular or devout, theist or atheist, agnostic or resolute, the choice is yours; now let yourself make it.