Holiday requirements add stress
The thought of getting a gift on Valentine’s Day might make most people smile. Unfortunately, this holiday isn’t all love and laughter. It’s also the holiday of heartbreak and pressure.
“I’m bitter about Valentine’s Day,” sophomore Rani Allain said. “I’m forever alone.”
Single people loathe Valentine’s Day. One reason is that, in their minds, it is simply a pointless holiday.
“It’s unnecessary,” freshman Drew Vest said. “Couples should love each other and celebrate it all the time.”
Some people like Valentine’s Day for the sweets.
“I like to buy the candy,” senior Abi Avitia Lopez said, “but I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day.”
For “single pringles” the day goes much differently than it does for lovers.
“I celebrate Valentine’s Day with family,” sophomore Linda Giesbrecht said. “We do little things to show how much we love each other.”
Even people with a relationship are pressured by the requirements of the holiday.
“I don’t like Valentine’s Day,” senior Jordan Matthews said. “It’s a day for girls to make themselves feel special because they like feeling special.”
Not only do guys feel pressured by getting “the right” gift for their significant other, but they are also faced with pretending to like things that females pick out for them.
“I would want my gift to be something that is small but valuable to me,” sophomore Justyn Sales said. “I wouldn’t want to be bombarded with massive gifts or flowers.”
Often males say they’re embarrassed to pick up certain types of gifts from the office.
“I wouldn’t want a big ole teddy bear,” junior Gus Jurado said. “It’s something a guy should get a girl.”
Often the abuse from “the guys” over a “girly” present isn’t worth the anguish of picking it up in the office.
“I wouldn’t want anything huge like any six foot tall teddy bears,” sophomore Joshua Sendejo said. “Something like a card or a little basket would be nice.”
Although, if a guy didn’t have a significant other, he might be okay with any gift as long as it came with a girlfriend.
“I would take that teddy bear,” senior Matthew Neufeld said. “I would walk around with pride.”
Whether looking for love, maintaining love or dealing with the commercialization of the event, pressure is a big part of Valentine’s Day, and everyone experiences this feeling to some degree in his or her quest to be loved.
