According to Healthline, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is targeted towards couples. It’s filled with romantic dates, boxes of chocolate and saying “I love you.” According to the AARP Foundation, 26% of people without a significant other feel lonely on Valentine’s Day. The holiday is controversial because of the mixed feelings everyone feels, whether they are loved by others or left alone watching sad, depressing movies. People often question whether or not Valentine’s Day is worth anyone’s time and energy celebrating or not. Here is what students at KHS think of Valentine’s Day. 

Greer Schnider, senior, said Valentine’s Day isn’t worth celebrating because all the attention is on couples. She said the holiday is unnecessary.

“It’s a nice idea, but if we already have a bunch of other holidays then why are we celebrating Valentine’s Day?” Schnider said. “It’s expensive and we have other holidays to give each other presents and candy.”

Ray Molett, senior, said Valentine’s Day is worth keeping, whether you’re in a relationship or not. He said it’s all about love. 

“It’s the Christmas of relationships,” Molett said. “It’s [the] day that you get to express yourself [to] your significant other and make a connection with them.”

This year, however, Molett has decided to spend Valentine’s Day alone. He said, for him, the day is about checking in on himself and his mental health.

“Valentine’s Day is my day,” Molett said. “I’ll buy myself chocolate, watch movies, hangout with myself [and] make sure I am okay.”

Andrew Hickman, senior, said that Valentine’s Day is the time to appreciate significant others and your loved ones. He said there’s no better time to tell someone you love them than on this special day. 

“[Valentine’s Day] is the time to appreciate the people you love,” Hickman said. “I think it’s important to show affection.”

Hickman said Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the “one chance” you have to show appreciation to the people you love. He said relationships are all about the amount of effort that you put into them year-round. 

Hickman and Sarah Tilly, senior, have been together since freshman year. They usually celebrate by giving each other small gifts on Valentine’s Day. Buying each other big gifts and going overboard with decorations like couples on TikTok aren’t their style.

“I might get him some candy,” Tilly said. “It’s somewhat silly because we shouldn’t just have one day where we choose to show love to someone else.”

Tilly said that couples shouldn’t depend on one day a year to show their appreciation for one another. She said it doesn’t make people who aren’t in relationships feel appreciated.

“It’s a day where people can feel isolated,” Tilly said. “It puts pressure [on people who aren’t in a relationship] to ask someone out or have someone by Valentine’s Day.”

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