‘There is a virtue in work, and there is a virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.’ –Alan Cohen.

It is important to maintain a balance in your life between work and relaxation. After a long period of studying, the long-awaited two-month holiday will start this December! Have you all decided what to do to maximize the time you have over the long break? Take a look at how some of our students are spending their winter holidays amid COVID-19 and make sure to spend this time productively!

I cannot wait to come back home, Vietnam! My life is surrounded by interesting people and projects. Together with my friends, we will continue to organize “Let’s share” - a space that gives young Vietnamese students the opportunity to engage - and be inspired by - guest speakers who have led interesting lives and are willing to share inspiring stories. Also, as a member and web developer of Share for Vietnam Development, I will restart the project and bring more young people and development researchers to our website (share4vndev.org). More importantly, I will be spending my time editing my thesis after getting all the feedback from my professors. I am sure that staying at home has made me feel excited and relaxed because I have many close friends, especially my cat. --Bao Nguyen (2020 MDP)

My time in Korea was hustle and bustle, and I cannot believe it has come to an end. Along with my academic responsibilities and duties, I made sure to immerse myself in Korean culture and to discover Korea in a balanced manner. After my journey in KDIS, I have planned to spend my winter holidays at home in the Maldives. I consider the ocean to be my second home; it brings a sense of belonging and helps me in meditation. I will therefore especially do a lot of sea barbeques, fishing trips, snorkeling trips, and picnics on the beach with my family members. More importantly, I will be spending some quality time for myself and reflecting on all the good and bad that has happened in the year 2020. This has been a very good year for me overall, and I am very grateful to be able to complete my master''s in Korea. It was a life-changing experience here and in Korea, and I will make sure I use what I have gained here wisely. --Samaha Aishath (2020 MDP)

My soul is warmed by the thought that, after a hard period of studying from home, I will be able to rest for two whole months. I would like to use this time wisely. First, I need to decide on a research topic for my thesis. Secondly, I am planning to have my vision corrected in December, so I will have to limit my physical activity for a while. I already started stocking up on audiobooks and podcasts. We already know that the school is awaiting our arrival from January 4th to 10th, after which we will have to spend 14 days in quarantine. So, the plans for January are pretty obvious. However, I am so excited at the thought of seeing other students and spending time with them in the remaining time before the spring semester starts! --Daulet Shymyrbek (2020 MPP)

The end of the fall semester is getting closer, and I feel sad as it means that my student exchange with KDI School is coming to an end. But at the same time, I cannot stop thinking about the winter holiday! Despite COVID-19, I wish to be able to reunite with my family in France in December, especially as we could not celebrate Christmas together last year. While we are currently facing a lockdown in Paris, I sincerely hope that the pandemic will run out of steam at some point. If not, I will do my best to make the most of the quarantine in Paris by enjoying some family time and cooking lots of meals! Finally, I will have the opportunity to reflect upon what I want to accomplish after finishing ESSEC this year, starting with the choice of my very last internship as an MsC student. --Alice Verloes (2020 MPM)