By Emily Larkin, Staff Writer
Valentine’s Day is commonly presented by movies and tv shows as the day love is in the air.
Most couples embrace it, while most single people dread it.
Year after year, I hear people respond to the question, “What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?” with raised eyebrows and a firm, “Nothing. I don’t have a boyfriend [or girlfriend].”
Before I got into a relationship, I felt the same way. Now my feelings have changed, but not for the reason you may think.
When I was sitting in Spanish class the other day, Professor Bontrager was discussing what Valentine’s Day is like in other countries.
When the topic came up, you could feel a shift in the room. Some were excited for the day to come, while others were expecting just another Friday.
But Professor Bontrager presented a different perspective.
In Latin America, Valentine’s Day is known as “El día del amor y la amistad,” meaning “the day of love and friendship.”
Not only is romantic love seriously celebrated but also platonic love.
Platonic love is just as important as romantic love.
My friends are some of the greatest people I have known. Not only have they helped me transverse this complicated thing called college, but they also have helped me find out who I really am, who I want to be and where I want to go.
To say my friends have changed my life for the better is a complete understatement.
Why would they not be just as important to celebrate on this holiday surrounding love as my boyfriend?
That being said, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a day to dread, romantically entangled or not.
Celebrate the people that mean the most to you, whether that be a partner, best friends, your siblings, your parents, your niece or nephew or your cute little dog (trust me, I bet they’re adorable and such a good boy).
You don’t need to be dating another person to celebrate this holiday.
At the end of the day, dating is just a more committed type of friendship.
PHOTO: Emily Larkin, Staff Writer
