Every February brings a holiday identified by giant teddy bears, heart shaped boxes, red roses, candy hearts, make-out sessions at each corner, and the enormous social pressure to be one of those couples called Valentine’s Day rolls around. Students at BYUH have diverse feelings about Valentine’s Day. For some, it is just another day to express love to their family, others feel like the holiday is pointless and some feel like it is another reminder of their failure in the search for “the one.” Rachel Lastoria, a junior studying English from Missouri, called the holiday a “hallmark holiday,” saying it makes her sick. “Honestly, it makes me want to throw up. I feel like it is for couples who want to put on Facebook how happy they are,” Lastoria continued, “It’s not even a real holiday. The decorations and stuff like that are irritating. There is no point to this holiday. The purpose is purely for couples to have another excuse to go on an expensive date.” Not every single student finds the holiday revolting, however. Zachary Giles, a junior from England studying Anthropology, feels like this holiday is more of “a celebration about human affection.” “I think it’s a cute holiday,” Giles admitted, “If you have a special someone then you can go and do something with them, but for me it’s just more about celebrating love. It doesn’t have to be about romantic couples. My family Valentine’s Day is an opportunity not just to show romantic love, but familial love.”Ofa Fetuli, a sophomore from Tonga majoring in accounting, agrees with Giles. Fetuli said her family is what she thinks about on Valentine’s Day. “The most important thing for me is family, because I’m in Hawaii and my family is back home I always think about them. We always do fun activities together, like making hearts and sharing with each other how we love each other.” Fetuli hopes to be able to continue that tradition here with her boyfriend. There are students, though, who have a significant other, who have strong feelings towards Valentine’s Day. Makenzie Hill, a freshman from Kansas studying psychology, has a boyfriend and thinks of Valentine’s Day as a reminder of one’s individual single status. “The problem is that it’s that holiday that comes around and reminds everybody that they’re single.” Hill said that this year will be different because she is possibly going to have plans with her boyfriend. “It finally won’t come around and be like #foreveralone. I’m excited for Valentine’s Day for the first time in forever because I actually have a boyfriend,” Hill said excitedly with a big smile on her face. Whether the holiday is about pleasing a significant other, exchanging love with family or another step in pursuing “the one,” Valentine’s Day will have many different critics on campus. Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015.
Writer: Kaitlin Broyles
