By Janine Campbell
Valentine’s Day has a way of showing up whether you’re ready for it or not. One minute it’s just another cold February week, and the next there are red balloons in the grocery store, heart-shaped chocolates at the checkout, and a quiet pressure hanging in the air that asks: So… what’s your plan?
For some people, Valentine’s Day is exciting. It’s a chance to celebrate a relationship, dress up a little nicer than usual, exchange thoughtful gifts, or just feel chosen for a day. For others, it’s awkward at best and uncomfortable at worst. It can feel like a spotlight on what you don’t have, what didn’t work out, or what you’re still figuring out. Most of us fall somewhere in between… not fully in love with the holiday, but not totally against it either.
What makes Valentine’s Day especially strange in a school setting is how public it can feel. You hear people asking each other, “Did you get anything?” You see friends carrying flowers through the hallways. You notice who’s posting what online. Even if you don’t care that much, it’s hard not to notice. And when you do, it can make you start comparing your relationship status, your friendships and your life to everyone else’s Instagram story.
But here’s the thing: Valentine’s Day is way bigger than just romance, even if it doesn’t always seem like it.
At its core, Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about connection. Not just romantic connection, but human connection….the kind that makes you feel seen, supported, and valued. That can show up in a lot of ways that don’t involve roses or grand gestures. It can look like a friend saving you a seat in class. It can be late-night talks, inside jokes, shared playlists, or someone checking in on you when you’ve gone quiet.
In school, some of the most meaningful relationships we have aren’t romantic at all. They’re the friendships that get us through long semesters, stressful exams, and days when everything feels like too much. They’re the people who know your coffee order, your worst habits, and your best qualities and still stick around anyway. Valentine’s Day can be a reminder to appreciate those connections, even if they don’t fit the traditional idea of the holiday.
There’s also a side of Valentine’s Day we don’t talk about enough: being okay with being on your own. There’s a lot of pressure to see being single as something that needs fixing, especially around this time of year. But being single doesn’t mean being lonely, and it definitely doesn’t mean being unlovable. Sometimes it means you’re learning who you are, focusing on your goals, or just not settling for something that doesn’t feel right.
In a school environment where everyone seems to be growing, changing, and figuring themselves out at different speeds, that’s completely normal. Some people are ready for relationships early on. Others aren’t. Neither is better. They’re just different paths and both are valid.
It is also worth acknowledging that Valentine’s Day can be tough for people who are grieving, healing from breakups, or dealing with complicated emotions around love and self-worth. When everything around you is themed around happiness and romance, it can feel isolating if you’re not in that headspace. If that’s you, you’re not alone, even if it feels like you are.
That is why kindness matters so much right now. Not the performative kind that only shows up for Instagram posts, but the quiet, everyday kind. The kind that says, “I see you,” without needing a holiday as an excuse. A simple message, a handwritten note, or just spending time with someone can mean more than the most expensive gift.
Maybe this Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be about doing what everyone else is doing. Maybe it’s about redefining what the day means to you. That could mean celebrating with friends, treating yourself to something small, writing a note to someone who’s helped you this year, or even choosing to ignore the holiday altogether (and that’s okay too).
Love isn’t something that only exists on February 14th. You see it when a friend checks in before an exam just to say “you’ve got this”, when someone shares their notes after you miss class, and in the small moments that don’t make headlines but still matter. If Valentine’s Day reminds us of anything, it should be that connection comes in many forms and none of them are less important than the others.
So, whether you’re excited, indifferent, or simply ready for the day to pass, just remember this: you don’t need a card, a date, or a perfect plan to be worthy of love. You already are. And sometimes, the most meaningful Valentine’s gesture is simply being a little gentler with others and with yourself.