Story by Grant Dillard, Staff writer

Valentine’s Day is here, and with it comes many people celebrating the day of love with their crushes or significant others. Though, is it truly an important holiday on par with other yearly traditions like Christmas and Easter? Or is it an overrated time of year that some people are starting to get sick of? Here’s what a few select individuals had to say.

Amanda Swift, junior from Bloomington, Illinois, said she sees both sides of the holiday.

“I think if you’re in a relationship, it’s useful to have a point in the year to focus on each other and on romance in whatever way you choose to celebrate it,” Swift said.

She also believes Valentine’s Day is overrated, but only in the sense that it holds such high expectations for everyone.

“At the core, Valentine’s Day is about love and should be used to celebrate all the people you love and care about,” Swift said.

Ryan Flaherty, junior from Louisville, Kentucky, is Swift’s boyfriend.

“Valentine’s Day is a useful holiday for both single people and people in relationships,” Flaherty said. “I look forward to it more as a reminder to love and appreciate those I care about most because I don’t always dedicate time to giving them the love and appreciation they deserve.”

Flaherty said now that he’s in a relationship, Valentine’s Day brings a different kind of excitement that is new to him, and he’s really looking forward to the holiday this year.

Kassidy Maierhofer, graduate student from Seneca, Illinois, has a strong opinion on the holiday.

“I’m not sure that I would call Valentine’s Day useful,” Maierhofer said. “I think that it’s a great way to celebrate your relationship and love for your partner. But I also think that you can do that on other
holidays and every other day of the year.”

Maierhofer also said Valentine’s Day may not be exciting for everyone, based on years in her life where her relationship was rocky and how she and her boyfriend weren’t celebrating like she felt they should.

She said her mother would always have big Valentine’s Day plans for her and her sister including heart-shaped pizzas and little gifts; so no matter what, she would always have someone to celebrate with.

“To an extent, I do think Valentine’s Day is overrated,” Maierhofer said. “People do big extravagant things on Valentine’s Day and I think that’s over the top. And as I’ve said before, you shouldn’t need a holiday to show someone your love.”

Maierhofer said since Valentine’s Day does exist and people celebrate it, it’s nice to join in on the
celebrations.

Kayle Adams, WKCTC freshman from Mayfield, Kentucky, said she had conflicting views on the holiday.

“I don’t think Valentine’s Day is useful,” Adams said. “While it’s a good way to show others you care about them, we shouldn’t have to have a day dedicated to that.”

Adams also said while Valentine’s Day may be fun for those in a relationship, the same can’t be said for those who aren’t in one.

“For those who have someone to celebrate with, it’s a great holiday,” Adams said. “On the other hand, people who are single are more likely to think it’s overrated.”