Amani Sturduivent, 11, spends the holidays with her family, making traditions and forever memories. 

During a holiday season Sturduivent and her family would normally throw a new year’s party, but this year because of a 2023 resolution that Sturduivent made, they are going to Jamaica.

Sturduivent has been to Jamaica on one other occasion, but since she was younger, they stayed at their resort and did activities around the pool. This year Sturduivent plans on going water rafting, or even riding horses in the water.  

Sturduivent has only ever traveled during winter break once, and that is when she went to Texas to visit a family member. 

Aside from traveling Sturduivent and her family are going to adopt a family.  

Adopting a family during the Christmas season allows lower income children to still enjoy opening presents even though their financials might not allow it. 

After choosing a family, Struduivent and her mom are going to go shopping for gifts. 

Srurduivent and her family are also going to be hosting a gingerbread contest at their house. Friends and family are going to come together and design a gingerbread house. Then the winner with the prettiest house, chosen by Sturduivent’s aunt, gets a stipend of about 100 dollars to spend on whatever they choose. 

Sturduivents favorite holiday activity consist of making hot chocolates because of the different variations that can be made. She once tried an avocado hot chocolate. 

“[Making hot chocolate] is not an activity it is a repetitive thing for me,” Sturduivent said.