During February, most students begin to focus on class registration and next school year plans, but others were worried about what their partner would love for Valentine’s Day. Some saw this as a day to celebrate their love with a significant other, while others rolled their eyes at all the flowers and teddy bears. No matter what side you find yourself on, it begs the question: Were students still excited for Valentine’s Day?
In elementary school, holidays were everything to look forward to: The gifts, candy, fun activities were all guaranteed for every student. Now, in high school, those expectations are replaced by graduation requirements, college applications, and teenage drama.
However, for people who love love, the little kid in them still gets excited to see what Valentine’s Day has in store for them.
For high school students, relationships are hard to define. Sometimes it’s referred to as “talking stages” or “situationships,” proving that it can be difficult to label their relationships while continuing to keep expectations low.
“I do celebrate it, but as far as excitement, not really because I feel like that gives an expectation for it, and it’s easy to be disappointed when you have any type of expectation,” Junior Kameron Furr-Taylor said.
Valentine’s isn’t only a day to celebrate significant others, it’s a day for loved ones of any kind. The most common celebration of the sort is a “galentines,” or girls’ Valentine’s Day, consisting of a brunch or dinner, snacks, cute decor, matching pajamas, and gifts for the girls.
“I feel like, not only with a relationship partner but like friendship relationships, that’s cute,” Junior Arely Hernandez said.
The holiday spirit excited students. With activities like Valentine’s grams being distributed by RCHS Spanish National Honor Society and music lightening the mood at lunchtime, it really sets the “Valentine’s Day, love everybody” tone.
On campus, RCHS Principal Mr. Azande Aikens and Assistant Principal of Educational Services Mr. Robert Sanchez have their own thoughts about Valentine’s Day.
“I use it as a way to reaffirm my love for my loved ones,” Aikens said. “So my wife, my daughters, family members, [remind them] ‘hey, you’re special to me, you mean a lot.’”
Recognizing love and quality time is the key to a genuine Valentine’s Day for most people.
“Most recently, since my kids are now older and going to be going off to college soon, we do Valentine’s family dates,” Sanchez said. “I know not everybody celebrates it as much, but if you think about all the holidays that we do celebrate, this is the only one that celebrates love.”
So whether you had a Valentine or not, whether you went out or stayed in, Valentine’s Day is always a good time to let your loved ones know how much they mean to you. RCHS makes it clear: it’s not about how much money you spend or places you go, it’s about cherishing the love between those special people.
