During the month of February, the halls of Union Catholic High School were buzzing as students and teachers shared their thoughts on this year’s Valentine’s Day. Students’ notions ranged from authentic confessions by those with a special someone to others who had no one. Wonder filled the air as students thought, “Do I have a valentine?” Heartfelt responses came from teachers who worried that we students did not understand the importance of Valentine’s Day. With diverse perspectives, this Valentine’s Day proved to be a truly memorable experience for many at Union Catholic.
Even though Valentine’s Day is considered a day of romance at UC, the holiday carries different meanings for certain people. Religion teacher Mr. Tanyag wants people to remember what is really important on Valentine’s Day. According to Mr. Tanyag, when asked how he felt about Valentine’s Day, he responded with some great food for thought. He stated that we students were too materialistic and needed to remember that Valentine’s Day was not about money and presents. “People spend so much time thinking about what to buy other people when you should be more focused on just spending time with your love,” sated Yanyag.”
I also spoke to track team member Sinclair Powell ’25. When asked about Valentine’s Day, she expressed excitement. The one thing she wanted was to spend time with her significant other. When asked if she desired anything materialistic, Powell ’25 replied, “It doesn’t really matter; that is not what is important.” On Valentine’s Day, Sinclair ’25 indeed spent the holiday with her significant other and had a wonderful time. How sweet!
I also decided to get the perspective of a younger student. I spoke to freshman track runner London Pippins ‘ 28. Pippins surprisingly let me know that she was not worried about Valentine’s Day. She felt the holiday could put too much pressure on those who were not in relationships or didn’t have friends to hang out with on Valentine’s Day. Pippins ‘ 28 expressed sympathy for others, saying, “I felt bad because for some, Valentine’s Day was depressing, and it wasn’t really fair.” When asked what she would be doing for Valentine’s Day, she mentioned attending a wedding, but outside of that, she would be hanging out with her family. Later on, Pippins ‘ 28 received flowers and a gift from a certain someone for Valentine’s Day right in the UC halls.
In the end, V-Day at Union Catholic caused a diverse range of perspectives. Whether it was from teachers who wanted students to focus on what truly mattered, students who had significant others to spend Valentine’s Day with, or students who took the time to reflect on how Valentine’s Day felt for all, each experienced what made Union Catholic a unique and wonderful place.
Valentine’s Day could be defined as a national holiday where you should spend the day with those you loved. My question for you is: How did you spend your Valentine’s Day?
