Students gathered in the gym during tutorial for the annual Winter Wishes rally yesterday, bringing a close to Winter Week and promoting the spirit of giving. 

ASB runs the annual Branham tradition, taking wish requests from students and staff and inviting the community to donate items to fulfill those wishes.

At the rally, seven wishes were granted to people including psychology teacher Jennifer McGrath, who received a model of the human brain wished for by seniors Madi Simmons and Audrey Duncan. Senior Colin Kalanges received AirPods. 

Starting from Monday, small wishes ranging from a sewing machine to 15 high fives were handed out throughout the week. ASB showed a video of small wishes being granted during the rally.

Senior Erica Kim wished for a plane ticket to Seoul, South Korea to give to her mother Injoo Kim. Her mother will use the ticket to visit her family in Seoul, allowing her to spend more time with loved ones during the holiday season. 

“I knew about it happening, but I was just more excited about telling my mom her gift and telling her how much I appreciate everything she’s done for us,” Kim said. “I’ve never seen my mom cry, but I felt really good about giving her this moment.”

For the past two years, the rally was held after school. Switching to during tutorial resulted in higher attendance. Emcee Anya Desai enjoyed seeing the rally bring more students together to cheer on others. 

“[The rally] was really big because when I was standing in front of [the audience], everything was filled,” Desai said. “I didn’t see any empty spots, so I was really happy.”

The continuation of this annual tradition brings not only the student body together but also the community beyond campus. Kim highlights the remarkable opportunities the Winter Wishes rally brings for the community. 

“Everybody should come even if you’re not the one to make or receive a wish,” Kim said. “It’s a great opportunity to be a part of the Branham community. Being there is an appreciation to the people who’ve worked so hard to make this happen.”

Photos by Elliott Yau