Happy Holidays! It's that very busy time of year again. To complicate our lives even more, we are in the midst of a transit strike here in New York City. Chumz hopes that you are faring well, making the necessary adjustments and encourage you to look at the days ahead as an opportunity to experience something new, rather then an inconvenience.

We hope our "Fighting the Cold Season Blues"and "Hip Hop Beef... The End?" articles entertain you, while "The Underlying Factor" makes you think as we reflect back on the events of 2005. Also, in the spirit of the true meaning of this special time of year, "Season of Giving" offers you great ideas and alternative ways to give something back and make a real difference in the lives of others.

And by now, if you are a high school senior, your college applications are in, you may have already gone on a couple of interviews and are about to embark on the much dreaded "waiting game". Not to worry. While you wait, you may want to compare your experiences to that featured in "Crunchtime". And if you're worried about "Making the Transition" to college, be sure and read this article for advice from a college freshman from New York City.

On behalf of Chumz we extend our warmest holiday wishes. Enjoy!

On October 29th, Chumz presented the "Next Step: Your Dream School?" Panel Discussion, the first of a new monthly event series launched this year! Chumz monthly conferences are open to ALL high school students in the New York City area and are available to every teenager who wants to ask questions in an open environment.
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The crowded malls and nostalgic, holiday-themed commercials are a sign that the holidays are fast approaching. It's not hard to get absorbed in the whirlwind of the holidays as we go down the to-do lists of presents to get, greeting cards to write up and festivities to set up around the house. All the while, chatter and excitement are alive in the air. READ MORE ...

As I sat in that wealth encrusted waiting room complete with plush furniture in the signature maroon and gold, I started to think that my first college interview was not starting out too well. I had gotten lost on the way there and ran into the office, huffing and puffing. When I got there, the waiting room was deserted and I sat there for a quarter of an hour, which seemed like a quarter of a century. My hands started to moisten and my mouth dried completely. I started pumping myself up for the actual interview. "Karin - You can do this. Don't let this scare you. So what if it's Harvard? It's nothing special - really..." Thoughts of impending embarrassment and tears clouded my judgment. READ MORE...

Is the beef in hip-hop over? If so, what took it so long? Since the birth of hip-hop, there have always been rivalries that motivated artists to stay on top of their craft. It wasn't until relatively recently that this beef has escalated to the point where rappers need to hire numerous bodyguards and wear bulletproof vests. In the media's perspective, violence was ultimately the mirror reflection of hip-hop and what it meant. However, those of us who truly believe in the music beg to differ. READ MORE...

There isn't much left to say about Katrina. It's two months later and still its influence looms over us all, victims and sympathizers alike. Destruction plagued all of New Orleans and a lot of Mississippi. Response from fellow Americans was enormous and well received. Everyone I know donated some amount of money. People even got together items like blankets, food, and books to get down there. Every single Web site I browsed had a Red Cross link so whoever didn't donate yet could have a chance. It was excellent. READ MORE...

The transition from high school to college can be seen as difficult and even a burden on every senior's shoulders. As a college freshman, I have gone through the stress of starting something new and I would like to tell any graduating senior and any one with college in their near future to not worry too much. My advice is to continue to work hard as you did in high school but to step it up a notch, and remember that your biggest fears are the least of your worries. READ MORE...

Check out fun stuff happening in the month of December! Movie, Books, CDs, and Hobbies... more to come!

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