On Valentine’s day, you’ve got a lot of options. Maybe you’re having a cute dinner date with your partner or friends. Maybe you’re giving flowers, letters, cute cat valentines, or even chocolate to the ones you love. Maybe you’re planning to watch some cheesy romantic comedy on Netflix, and you stopped by Target on the way home to buy some chocolate which you pretended was for that special someone, but that ‘special someone’ is really you; treat yourself. Or maybe it’s just another Wednesday for you because you aren’t defined by the trap of mass consumerism. More power to you. Any way you treat it, it’s still a widely known holiday, so, Happy Valentine’s Day, my friends.

In a Twitter poll of 78 students here at Southeast, 60% of students said they would be spending Valentine’s day “Alone with food and Netflix,” 24% voted “It’s just another Wednesday,” 11% voted they are “Sad and single,” and a mere 5% voted they were spending Valentine’s day “With their boo.”

“I [sadly] don’t have a boo,” said junior Celia Walters. “But high school is kind of a weird time because most of the people are too immature anyways, so I guess if you’re sad just remember dating someone now might suck anyway.”

Walters enjoys the idea of a relationship but enjoys her good friends and discount candy on the 15th more than the stress and hype around it.

“Sellers definitely take advantage of Valentine’s Day. I’ve read up on how many flowers and candy gets sold in one day and it’s bizarre man,” said Walters. “I don’t know why but I always get excited for Valentine’s Day even though I know it’s just a day and nothing really ever happens.”

Walters notes how it has taken a turn and turned into more of a consumer holiday solely because of how much effort we now have to put into it to feel gratified.

“Honestly it’s just a day that has turned into something different than what it was initially,” said Walters. “It can be nice or it can be sad, but really it’s just one day of the year.”

Whether you’re single, hanging with your pals, or spending quality time with your boo, it’s important to remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day you should be showing your favorite people how much you love them. And from the Clarion staff to you, Happy Valentine’s Day.