It’s that time of year again. It’s time to sip warm hot chocolate, settle down by the glowing fireplace, watch the newly fallen snow and laugh at classic holiday movies.

But it’s also a time to drink lots of coffee, pull all-nighters, frantically study for finals and hope that papers written at 3 a.m. are actually coherent.

Ultimately, it’s a time to reflect on the past and look to the future. It is a time to look for lessons learned that can be implemented to make the new year even better.

This year, I have learned a great lesson through volunteering at Campus Kitchen.

Just a few steps off campus, many people are suffering because of cold, hunger and loneliness. But that’s something we hear about everyday (and some may even be tired of hearing it).

But, I learned that it is actually easy to make a difference in these people’s lives. It is as simple as two hours a week. Two hours a week is not that long, yet it can mean the world to someone.

It can be the time to see the relieved wrinkles on the forehead of the stressed father when he sees that he will have dinner tonight. It can be the time to see a smile of joy from the 60-year-old woman when seeing enthusiastic faces sharing a meal with her. It is the time to listen to the grandmother’s inquiring questions marveling at how much times have changed for college students.

With the economy in turmoil and tuition prices skyrocketing, I know that donating money to important causes is very difficult. So instead, like me, you should donate one of the most precious things every individual has: the gift of time.

There is no volunteering requirement in college. And, especially when we, college students, enter that scary real world, there won’t be any such requirements. So in the end, it comes down to each individual. Will you allow yourself to ignore the suffering taking place in our own community or will you challenge yourself to manage your time a little more and volunteer?

Obviously, this commitment to service shouldn’t just begin and end during this holiday season. Rather the holiday season should be an excuse to start serving the community in hopes of continuing the service throughout the year.

This semester, I have tried to use this column as a vehicle to challenge you, to make you question what you stand for, to make you challenge yourself to become a better person and, ultimately, to make you understand yourself just a little bit better.

This is the time to be thankful, as we approach the end of the year. But most importantly, it is a time to finally take action that is meaningful: volunteer, donate time and share a smile.

Take a “you”- turn. Make choices right now that will not only bring you happiness, but will bring happiness to others. During this holiday season, take a step out of your comfort zone and empower yourself and your community.

Samiksha Tarun is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.