Daily Lobo: What is your favorite Christmas song?
Travis Smith Houston: 30 Days by NeverShoutNever!
DL: Who do you celebrate the holidays with?
TSH: I did celebrate with extended family, but now my parents live around south Texas. I am just going to go visit them, see immediate family. I have got two siblings — younger, both. It’s good to see them. They both look up to me — only get to see them once a year.
DL: So, will this be your first Christmas in south Texas? Are you excited for the weather?
TSH: Yeah it will. One of my main motivations for going down there is the heat. I just cannot stand the cold up here.
DL: What is your favorite tradition?
TSH: Actually, kind of at Thanksgiving where you say what you are thankful for. We do that at Christmas. We also do News Year’s resolutions — what happened in this year, what you are looking forward to in the next year.
DL: So what are you thankful for this year?
TSH: I am thankful for all of the opportunities I have been
presented with both professionally, personally, educationally. I have had a lot of good opportunities coming my way.
DL: If you could ask Santa for one thing, what would it be?
TSH: I would want a plane ticket down to south Texas. I don’t have that yet. I kind of pay my own way in college, so I have to figure out a way home.
DL: What gifts do you think your family will get you?
TSH: Nothing. I really don’t ask for anything. They have given me so much in my life I don’t need anything now.
DL: Are you more of a giving type of person?
TSH: Absolutely. And it’s not always material things. It’s more about favors and volunteerism.
DL: Where do you like help out?
TSH: I did soup kitchens one year — wherever I can find people who need help. Also, I used to volunteer at the special education department at my school. We did a Christmas program for the kids, and it was really successful. The smiles on those kids’ faces were amazing.
