“I hate people, especially today.”

“Well I feel sad for you; today’s a day full of love.”

“I feel sad for you for celebrating this stupid holiday.”

“If you’re single just say that.”

“If your whole personality is your boyfriend, just say that.”

Pros Of Valentine’s Day

   Small-minded people may think that Valentine’s Day is for couples only; however, Valentine’s Day is truly a day all about love. All different kinds too: you can celebrate with a significant other, your friends, or even celebrate self-love. 

   Valentine’s Day season is finally here. West Ottawa students have already started planning on some ideas on how to spend this day with others. “Lucas Garbarino and I originally got each other huge gifts for Valentine’s Day. Last year I baked him a heart-shaped cake. Now that we have been dating longer we just want to really spend time with each other. We also are both broke and have barely any money but we are going out to dinner together and that will be our one big gift to each other. We don’t do a lot of alone dates; normally we are with other people, but for this, it will be just us two spending the day together,” Jr. Lauren Dishenger said. Although people love to celebrate this holiday, presents can get quite expensive. We have minimum-wage jobs not careers. Valentine’s Day isn’t about buying gifts, people just want to appreciate the love they receive from people.

   Some students want to go above and beyond for their partners. “So I got us matching black and white bracelets with half a heart on them that are magnets. He likes to wear jewelry so I thought it would be cute,” Jr. Larissa Glover said. Others suggested gifts such as flowers, chocolate, and steak dinners. If you want a more inexpensive but thoughtful gift students have come with creative Valentine’s Day presents. Scrapbooking, 365-day notes, and love letters can always be a great gift.

   For everyone crying about not getting a Valentine’s Day gift since elementary school, couples aren’t the only ones who benefit from Valentine’s Day. “I’m gonna hand out candy at school with small notes to everyone because I strongly believe everyone deserves love,” Jr. Riley Zuniga said. Galentine’s parties have become a popular way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your closest friends. “I plan on making charcuterie boards like Chick-Fil-A and chocolate candies and just have a fun time with my girls,” Jr. Helen Sachs said. Self-love is also a valid way of celebrating a day full of love. “I am going to go to get my hair done and then get myself chocolate and flowers,” Jr. Monroe Milobinski said.

Cons of Valentine’s Day

“Wasteful,” Instructor Shanna Meyer said.

“Scam,” Instructor Ken Strobel said.

“Lonely,” Soph. Drew Rothstein said.

“Pointless,” Jr. Jessica Koeman and Jr. Collin Roelofs quickly agreed.

   These are just some of the words people use to describe Valentine’s Day. Not very positive, right?

   Valentine’s Day should not be considered a great holiday. Valentine’s Day often brings sadness, loneliness, and rejection. Not to mention the hoax and overindulgence of the whole holiday.

   First of all, who needs to spend more money on worthless gifts? Gifts like candy and roses. Gifts that are gone by the next week. And the money spent just goes to huge companies that just profit off of Valentine’s Day.

   “I think it’s just a Hallmark Holiday. It was something to garner up lots of extra money for the card companies and candy companies,” Meyer said.

   A search on the website Statista explains the expected profit for Valentine’s Day. The total money spent on Valentine’s Day is estimated to reach “just under 26 billion dollars.”

   Valentine’s Day is a great holiday…for one-day posers.

   Billions of dollars are spent on cards and candy for one day a year, every year. Individuals use Valentine’s Day to spend money and show their love for their significant others. But as stated above, one day a year. 

   People should not squander their money on useless objects, like cards and candy, to show their affection. People should show their love every day. 

   Valentine’s Day isn’t a holiday, but an excuse. An excuse for people to only try one day and call it good for the rest of the year.

   A 2001 statistic from the CDC states that 43% of all first marriages end in divorce. And divorce rates are constantly increasing. Apparently, one day a year to celebrate one’s significant other is not enough for a relationship.

   “You should treat someone like that no matter the day,” Roelofs said.

   And how hard is it really to just say ‘I love you’ or come home with a gift for your significant other on a random Tuesday.

   Acts of love like that, acts that aren’t planned or precalculated, are actually what make people feel special and loved. Not a cheap card on the dumbest holiday.

   “I get to choose to love my husband every single day. I don’t need a special day,” Meyer said.

   In addition to Valentine’s Day being wasteful, the holiday makes those who do not have a significant other feel bad. 

   “It makes people who don’t have a significant other feel lonely,” Koeman said. “I don’t really think Valentine’s Day has a point unless you do have a significant other,”.

    Money spent recklessly and broken hearts. The holiday is fun for no one. Valentine’s Day is the worst holiday, not the greatest.