Savannah Guyer @SavannahMGuyer [Feature Editor]

Most students view winter break as a time to settle down into the holiday spirit by surrounding themselves with the average midwest winter elements such as dipping temperatures, icy conditions, and snow filled streets.

Stephanie Hedtke, senior, is taking a different route with her time off. Instead of the normal delights of an Iowa winter, Hedtke will be spending most of her break in a state of blaring sun and rising degrees. This will be Hedtke’s second time venturing to Texas, her first time being some summers ago, “This is my first time leaving over winter break but my second time going to Texas, the first was last July for church,” Hedtke commented.

Hedtke will be spending quite a few days in Mission, Texas, the town her relatives live in during the winter, “The warm weather will probably be my favorite thing about visiting my grandparents, especially since we’re going to be there from the day after Christmas until the fourth of January, there’s a lot of sun to soak up,” Hedtke added.

With break so close, and Hedtke’s departing date rapidly approaching, she is very eager to branch out from Marion, “This is my first time leaving for winter break in a really long time, I am very excited to get out of Iowa,” Hedtke went on to say.

Though some of the components of a midwest winter may be missed, Hedtke is looking forward to embracing the Texas heritage once more and forgetting Iowa for a bit.