Today, many around the world will celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is a widely recognized holiday to celebrate love and admiration through gift giving and the exchange of teddy bears and chocolate to a special someone.

But what if you don’t have a special someone? Who are you going to give chocolate and teddy bears to? And more importantly, who are you going to receive chocolate and teddy bears from?

If you don’t have a valentine on Valentine’s Day that must mean you’re a failure, right?

This is the thinking of many, if not most college students and people around the world.

“There is a level of pressure because no one really wants to be by themselves on a day that’s meant for love,” remarked first-year Caleb Honaker.

For college students, the desire to have a partner in general is high among most. This only escalates around Valentine’s Day.

This is due to the fact that there is a negative connotation with being single on this holiday. Not having a valentine can make some feel lonely, behind, or like they’re failing when it comes to love.

However, you may want to consider yourself lucky if you don’t have a valentine.

Valentine’s Day is a monopolizing holiday. Heart shaped chocolates take over the shelves in drug stores and jewelry commercials take over the T.V. screens advertising their one-of-a-kind heart shaped necklaces.

This leads to the performativity that is Valentine’s Day.

There is a certain pressure put on those in relationships to do something fancy on Valentine’s Day. It all becomes a competition.

Who can go to the fanciest restaurant? Who can buy the prettiest flowers? Who can gift the most expensive jewelry?

It all dwindles down to money.

Low-cost Valentine’s Day plans do exist, but rarely without social media getting involved. People want to post their whole lives and that definitely does not change on Valentine’s Day.

It then becomes:

Who can have the most romantic homemade dinner? Who can make the coolest gift for their partner? Or who can write the most beautiful love letter?

Valentine’s Day is a made up holiday. One that is rooted in ancient Roman festivals where they would sacrifice a dog or a goat and beat their wives with the hides of the animal that they had just slain.

So this all begs the question, where is the love?

If you don’t have a valentine on Valentine’s Day what are you really missing out on?

The marketing scam? The competition? The over-priced heart shaped jewelry? The made up holiday?

If you want a day to celebrate love than do just that.

“I think love should be celebrated,” said senior Emily Wood. “You can spend time with your friends and family.”

Sophomore Hannah Hooper agrees.

“You can spend it with anybody” she remarked.

While I may have my contentions against Valentine’s Day, I know that it is not going anywhere. It is much too important for fancy restaurants and candy companies.

With that being said, you are not a failure if you do not have a partner this Valentine’s Day. In fact, you are probably doing yourself a favor by not spending all of your money on tacky heart-shaped jewelry and chocolates, just to be able to fit into a holiday dependent on love.