By Lauren Towart | Staff Writer
Valentineās Day- a holiday loved and dreaded by many. The occasion promises an overwhelming aura of love in the air; a day where itās okay to kiss your boyfriend a thousand times consecutively and have nobody think twice, or surprise your sweetie with the cutest and yummiest gifts you can find. Reminders arrive weeks in advance, as store shelves are flooded with goodies in shades of pink, white, and red. But for some students, there is one thing preventing them from participating in these celebratory acts of love: a date.
āI hate Valentineās Day – always have,ā senior Zephir Lambert said, āItās too much money out of my pocket if I have a girlfriend, and if I donāt have a girlfriend itās too much sadness. Iām not looking forward to seeing all the couples together, and then Iām gonna be like āOh, snapā. I see everyone kissing and stuff, I donāt want to see all that! Itās embarrassing because I donāt have one.ā
Valentine’s Day has a tendency to bring forth some negative feelings for singles, like loneliness or the fear of never being able to find that special someone. But instead of perceiving the day as a taunt, some realize that this time can be used to an advantage.
āDonāt be afraid to tak to the person you like or ask them out. Iām shy, but itās still never been a problem for me. It shouldnāt be for you, either!ā sophomore Jose Lozada said, āYeah, being single can make you feel bad, but at the same time itās like a huge weight off your shoulders. If everything goes according to plan, I wonāt be single this year.ā
The lack of a boyfriend or girlfriend need not knock out one’s spirit of Valentineās Day. Some students tend to forget that the holiday is not exclusively for those going steady. Vernacular advice suggests that students own their independence, since buying gaudy presents for friends and family-or even yourself- can be as much, if not more, than sharing it. Sophomore Katherine Mack sits calmly in the theater room, excited by the mere thought of Valentineās Day.
āThis isnāt the first year Iāll be single, but I still receive the love. It doesnāt have to all be about couples, I know my sister and I usually receive candy and a big Valentineās Day bear from my mom. I get little gifts from my friends and stuff like that, so I definitely donāt think it can only be from your boyfriend of girlfriend. Mom, dad, sister and brother can always give you presents, since they obviously love you too.ā
This loving holiday is not only about showing your affection for your special someone, but moreso showing everyone around you how mch you care about them. Itās a great time to show your parents, siblings, and close friends how much you appreciate them.
āYou know, itās okay being single on Valentineās. I have other people in the world who love me and itās not always about having a boyfriend. My advice would be to not be so sad-donāt let that get you down. Just because youāre single doesnāt mean youāre not pretty, or not kind, it just means you have to be thankful that you have other people in the world who love you. So anytime you feel yourself getting sad about it, keep your head held up high. Just keep thinking, you know, hopefully next year,ā Mack said.
Having a Valentine in no way ensures that good gifts will be received from a significant other. Some students use Valentines day to snag a gift for themselves.
āSometimes I look at something I like that I normally wouldnāt buy, but since itās for Valentines Day Iāll splurge,ā junior Tanvi Kanjiyani said.
Whether in a relationship or single, Valentine’s Day isn’t one to be bogged down with unhappiness.
āIām gonna go to school, work out, I love to work out…then go to work. Iāve got a date with money this year,ā Lambert said of his Valentine’s plans.Ā āHave fun, donāt worry about relationships, just live up high school while you can.”