When most think of Valentine’s Day, chocolates, roses, and red galore come to mind. Valentine’s Day can be a wonderful day to show love and appreciation to a friend or significant other through thoughtful gifts, but overall, it is a commercialized obligation filled with Rite Aid bliss. Showing appreciation to a friend or loved-one any other day of the year is more thoughtful and genuine!

“It’s another commercial holiday to make you go out and buy stuff… I think you have 364 days to show someone you love them; you don’t need a specific day… unless you really need to be reminded,” Mr. Nolasco, an AP World History teacher, said. Nolasco believes Valentine’s Day is simply a display to show others that you are in a relationship, but he also acknowledges that it is a nice way to show someone appreciation. Overall, he believes that most people are forced to participate in the day due to the underlying stigma and the fear of being singled out. 

“I feel like I can get anyone else a gift any day, and it’ll be more special, like a random day when you thought about the person and you weren’t forced to get them a gift,” Abril Quiroz,  a senior, said. Quiroz believes the stigma of participating in Valentine’s day roots from commercialism. She believes that the day is a little silly, and she refuses to get influences from the marketing techniques that pressure people to participate. 

“It’s just a [day] for people to go out and waste money; it’s not necessary; it should be more friendship than love. Why not friendship?”, Ms. Mancilla, a math teacher, said. Mancilla believes that Valentine’s Day is genuinely just a regular day. She views the day as a waste of time and believes that friendships should be just as valued as relationships. She doesn’t want students to be distracted by wanting to fit into a larger group or epidemic that feeds into the stigmatism. 

“Everything you do [should] come out of your heart, and if you’re obligated then I don’t think that comes out of your heart anymore. It’s just about what people think now” Diana Oliva, a junior, said. Although Valentine’s day is filled with chocolates, hearts, and teddy bears, for Oliva, the day is just a normal day. Whether this day is spent like any other or take it very seriously, Oliva doesn’t believe over-stressing about this day is necessary. 

Valentine’s Day is only as important as a person makes it.  This day loses its meaning when it begins to feel like an obligation to anyone and it should also not be celebrated in order to show-off your relationship. Being genuine with your appreciation for another person would mean much more!