Valentine’s Day arrives every year spurring feelings of excitement, fulfillment and love. However, many tend to dread the holiday due to its exclusive nature. While romance and showing one’s partner thanks and affection is appropriate for Valentine’s Day, the day is not just reserved for those in a relationship, but rather everyone! 

In elementary school, before the notion of needing a partner to enjoy Valentine’s Day, students would brainstorm and create inventive Valentine boxes that would then be filled with gifts and candies from all of their classmates. 

Valentine’s Day has prompted many creative works from these boxes made in elementary school to poems people have written to convey the love one person has for another. It acts as an inspiration for artistic products that anyone can enjoy!

As we age, it seems that we lose this shared experience on Valentine’s Day and it becomes a day solely for those in a romantic relationship. 

Junior Abigail Drezewski states, “I wish they [the media] would show friendships more…”

Love in any way, shape or form is welcome on Valentine’s Day! The holiday is truly about appreciating friends and family.

Senior, Loretta Butler shares, “I don’t think Valentine’s Day is reserved for couples and romantic relationships at all… Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, no matter what kind!”

Fellow Senior, Samuel Smykal, agrees, saying, “I think Valentine’s Day is a great day to spread positivity and love to those we often take for granted.”

Smykal also expressed that this holiday can be frustrating when restricted only to romantic relationships.

The widely accepted meaning of Valentine’s Day can be changed if the media and companies broadened their audience. Merchandise available for the holiday typically caters toward relationships rather than the simple meaning of Valentine’s Day as a whole.

Drezewski goes on to describe her recent obsession with Converse’s new line of Valentine’s Day shoes, “They are simple with little hearts on them and can be for any type of love.”

Therefore, even a slight adjustment in the way a company presents the holiday can welcome more and more people into this time of love and appreciation. 

Valentine’s Day can be enjoyed by those who have a passion for art, who want to cherish their friendships or even simply love the aesthetic of hearts in pink and red that go on for miles!