Valentine’s Day is that one special day of the year for couples, family and friends to show their love and appreciation for one another.

For others, though, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is too commercialized and puts too much pressure on couples.

Junior Mackenzie Croyle said she doesn’t think Valentine’s Day is horrible, but it isn’t her favorite holiday.

“I’m impartial to Valentine’s Day,” she said.  “It’s an okay holiday, but I think it’s mostly a capitalist ploy.

“I have celebrated it before and I am celebrating it this year, but I don’t think you need a specific holiday to show someone you love them.

“My girlfriend lives in Kentucky, but she’s going to be out of town that weekend, so I’ll at least send her a care package.

“I’m going to visit her over spring break and take her out to dinner to make up for it. She’s definitely worth it.”

Croyle said she feels like there is too much pressure put on people during the Valentine’s Day season.

“I think it’s super materialistic and people shouldn’t feel obligated to get their significant other big and expensive gifts. I feel every year there’s more and more pressure put on couples, almost like the day isn’t about love anymore but the gifts you give them.

“I feel like the worst part about Valentine’s Day is couples feel like they need that specific holiday to affectionate to one another.

“However, I know it sounds contradictory, but I think the best part about the holiday is that it gives me an excuse to be extra affectionate.”

Sophomore Kyleigh Way said she doesn’t usually celebrate Valentine’s Day, but this year she will celebrate it with her boyfriend.

“I never really celebrated Valentine’s Day before last year. We didn’t do much, but at least we acknowledged it. This year my boyfriend and I will do dinner and exchange gifts. 

“To be honest, I don’t really like Valentine’s Day because I’m not sure why you need one day to dedicate your love to somebody and spoil them on this one day.

“I feel like it should be every day. What could be improved is probably not to market it so much.

“I do think stores use this holiday to market it because they have so much hype about it.”

Professor Barbara Petrosky said she doesn’t make a big deal out of Valrntine’s Day, and that she just celebrates it with her kids and family.

“We don’t do much, we’ll exchange cards and some chocolates,” she said.  “I do agree that it is a commercialized holiday. You should love one another and tell each other that every day of the year, not just one.

 “In France, they don’t make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day. They might give each other a card, but surprisingly the French don’t celebrate that much. 

“Over there it’s not really a holiday about friends, family grandparents or anything like that. Over there it’s really just for lovers.”

Education Division Administration Assistant Karen Clites said she celebrates Valentine’s Day every year.

“What me and my husband do on Valentine’s Day depends every year, whether the holiday is during the week or weekend,” she said.

“Sometimes we’ll go out to dinner, but every year we exchange a card and give chocolate covered strawberries as a gift.

“I feel like you don’t need a holiday to show someone you love them. Valentine’s Day is about being with someone, whether it be your grandparents, friends, family, significant other; it’s all about sharing the love.

“I don’t have anything negative to say about it. I feel like the best part about Valentine’s Day is that you can show love to anybody, which you should do every day of the year.

 “I can’t pinpoint a bad thing to say about the holiday, but I can see how other people feel pressured to make it extravagant, when it should really just be about spending it with the person you love.”