A story I heard in college goes like this: One spring morning, a group of Harvard students file into a room and sit down to take the final exam in their philosophy class. The professor passes out the exam, and students are shocked to see only one word: "Why?"

The professor tells them it is an essay question. Most scribble furiously for hours, regurgitating as much as they can remember from the course. But one student walks out almost immediately. His fellow students assume he had left in disgust, but he turns out to be the only student who gets an A.

His answer: "Why not?"

I don't know if that story is true, but it has always been a philosophy that has worked for me. When I was trying to come up with a column idea on Tuesday and a press release arrived by e-mail about an event called Holly Days, my first thought was: I can't write about an event just because (coincidentally) it bears my name.

But then I reached back to my college training and I came up with: Why not?

So I'd like to tell you about Holly Days. This is an annual fund-raising event held by Sanderson High School.

Vendors gather in the school's gym to sell crafts, food and other items. With the proceeds from that, as well as silent auctions of gift baskets created by students and a $2-per-person admission fee, the school raises money for student activities.

Some proceeds will also go to the Food Bank of North Carolina and to a college scholarship for a Sanderson senior.

The event is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday, Dec. 6, and 1 to 4 p.m Sunday, Dec. 7. The school is at 5500 Dixon Drive in Raleigh.

If you'd like to donate an item for a gift basket or need more information, call Jasmine Hart at 818-6635.