HOTLB: What’s your holiday hot take?

As the holiday season has arrived, Samo students have endless opinions. In every busy hallway or crowded lunch table, you’ll hear debates over anything and everything festive - from the tastiest new holiday drink from Starbucks to arguments over the best Christmas movie. To avoid the overbearing stress of final grades, students can’t help hopping on the holiday train and discussing the controversial topics of the season with each other. Check out the video interviews of these students and others on our Instagram! @thesamohinews

Yaretzi Preza / The Samohi

“Leaving cookies out for Santa is pretty bad because since when were we trying to promote obesity in America? We should substitute cookies with almonds to start a new trend and get America back on track with reduced sugar intake.” - Luke Shimahara (’26)

Sara Javerbaum / The Samohi

“I hate Christmas music. It all sounds the same. It’s way too twinkly, I feel like it sounds the way that those packaged frosted cookies with sprinkles tastes. Except for the one’s from Bob’s, those are good.” - Oscar Verk (’25)

Yaretzi Preza / The Samohi

“Fake Christmas trees should be less popular because real Christmas trees allow you to get in the holiday spirit and bring in that pine smell that you can’t get anywhere else. Also using a real Christmas trees brings back nostalgia!” - Seito Phipps (’26)