The next morning, the air in the classroom buzzed with quiet excitement. The brown envelope still lay on Ms. Larsen’s desk, untouched, waiting. After roll call, she stood up, smiled, and carefully broke the red wax seal. “All right, class,” she said, “let’s see what awaits us.” She slid out a thick stack of papers — neatly printed sheets, numbered from 1 to 24. Across the top of the first page were the words: “The 24 Important Missions.”
The students leaned forward as Ms. Larsen began to read aloud. Each page described a small but meaningful task — things like helping at home without being asked, writing to someone you appreciate, making Christmas cards for the elderly, and spending an evening without screens. The class fell silent. It wasn’t a competition or an assignment. It was something else — something that felt personal.
“These are your missions,” Ms. Larsen said, placing the papers on the table. “One for each day until Christmas. You will complete them together, reflect on them, and share what you’ve learned. None of them require money, only heart.”
Jonas, sitting in the back, raised an eyebrow. “So… no grades?”
“No grades,” Ms. Larsen replied. “But maybe, by Christmas Eve, you’ll find something worth more than that.”
The bell rang, and the class burst into chatter. Ideas, laughter, and plans filled the room. The December Project had begun — not with glitter or gifts, but with a promise: to make December about giving, not getting.