Valentine's Day Sucks
Loving Myself and No One Else

Photo Illustration by Donte' Harvey| VOX Staff

By Aja Hall
VOX Staff

Valentine’s Day was awesome in elementary school. Back then, I didn’t have to worry about who had a crush on me. I was too young to worry about boys, and besides, getting candy and cards were enough to distract me from those foolish concerns. As I grew up, I learned not to celebrate Valentine’s Day because as a Hebrew Israelite, it’s against my religion.

Still, that hasn’t stopped guys from giving me sentiments and sweets each year when that day rolls around. The further I get into my teen years, it seems to be more of a challenge not to observe Valentine’s Day. Each year, my racy hormones urge me to spend that day with a guy just so I won’t feel lonely. Last semester I went through so many boy problems with three of my ex-boyfriends. They brought me enough drama and made me feel rejected, like I wasn’t good enough for any guy to love. This year I want to enjoy my single life and focus on loving myself a little bit more.

A Special Gift for Me
When a guy says he loves me, I want him to show me consistent proof, not just on one day of the year by buying me heart-shaped chocolate. I don’t want a poem he copied from the Internet either (because I will look it up in a flash), nor do I want a bunch of flowers probably stolen from his neighbor’s gar , den. It’s not that I want something expensive. I prefer something from the heart, like a poem he’s written with me in mind or a unique and meaningful necklace from Spencer’s, the novelty gift store.

I believe love that comes in the form of a card, piece of candy or a bunch of flowers is such a waste of time. Girls only find gifts endearing to receive because those are the only symbols of love we’ve learned to identify with. In the movies, when a guy likes a girl, he spoils her with flowers and material things that are supposed to make her feel special. As girls, we hold on to those precious gifts, imagining that the guys who gave them to us are always going to love us. But things rarely turn out like what we see in the movies, and those same guys who spoil us are often the ones who break our hearts.

High School on Valentine’s Day
Since I’ve been in high school, I’ve struggled with whether I should go to school on Valentine’s Day. The atmosphere at school on that day is almost unbearable for anyone who isn’t in a relationship. I’ve noticed my peers in the hallways carrying presents and balloons from their significant others. It never really bothered me back in middle school, but now seeing my peers in love can be a bit too much for me to stand. Even though I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, seeing the lovey-dovey couples’ crap makes me feel lonely and left out.

Yet, I don’t hold my breath wishing a secret admirer would profess his undying love and give me a teddy bear just because it’s Valentine’s Day. So I suck it up and show up to school. As long as they don’t start a Rejected Club for that day, I’m going. I usually tell myself that unless these students get legally married, their love isn’t serious — and they won’t last.

Is That Really Love?
It would probably be romantic to spend Valentine’s Day on a date with a boyfriend, but I’d much rather spend the entire day alone — with no boyfriend, no family or friends—just me, all by myself. I love my friends and family a lot, but sometimes I have to be so selfish in taking time for myself. So I’m recommitting to celebrate the day in a way that helps me find peace in my life. On Valentine’s Day this year, I’ll probably spend time at home alone, writing poems about love, pain and rejection. A lot of the poems I have written are related to the heartbreak I have experienced recently. But thanks to those guys, I am pushed to love myself better than anybody else can

To me, observing one day out of a year to spend money on gifts just to prove to people I love them is fruitless. I show my love to people I care about regularly, and that’s what matters. For the sake of one day, I refuse to misuse my time and steal money to buy cards and tic tacs for someone I claim to love.

Aja is a sophomore at McNair High, and she is heartbroken.