Candy hearts and teddy bears all for that day of love and appreciation. Colors of pink and red wrapped over gift bags and flowers. The holiday that is loved and hated by so many is Valentine’s Day.

This holiday is said to just be for couples, but that is not the case. Valentine’s day can be for couples, friends, and families.

“It’s a celebration for everyone you love and not just a significant other and this holiday can be sad for some people,” senior Lucy Thompson said. “I feel like it is a celebration of love in general.”

PLHS has taken some of its own steps in the month of February to make sure everyone can feel loved. Student Council taped up individual colored hearts with names in the school and students of all grades’ name’s were given recognition.

“I feel like sometimes people either don’t feel love in this day and age and it’s hard to know who is really there for you sometimes,” Thompson said. “Putting hearts up on the walls with everyone having their name on one, makes everyone feel like they have a place in the school and has a bigger impact than people might think.”

Alongside hearts on the walls, PLHS DECA also allowed students to show appreciation for their peers and significant others the whole week before Valentine’s day. However, students do not just celebrate this holiday on school grounds.

“Usually my mom will get me something for Valentine’s Day like chocolate or a little stuffed teddy bear,” Thompson said. “We just do it for fun, but I might have plans with a guy for Valentine’s Day.”

There are many ways students can show appreciation for the people they love that are easy and thoughtful all in one. After all, this day is simply about showing people you care for them.

“Maybe go out of your way to write someone you love a letter or just randomly tell that person you love them,” Thompson said. “Or compliment someone on something that you’ve been waiting to tell them for a while but you just didn’t know how to.”

This holiday does not just have to be loved and celebrated by couples; everyone should find joy on this special day.

“I like Valentine’s Day because I like telling people I love them and it’s fun to enjoy the friends around you and spend time with people you love,” Thompson said.

Valentine’s Day should have more of a positive stigma as it is becoming more of a holiday for everyone to celebrate. With being in the twenty-first century, there are a lot of worldly and societal issues that we face on a daily basis. This holiday can be to reflect on the positives of life and the people we are surrounded by

“I feel like this holiday needs more recognition because I think the world needs more love and celebrating a holiday that is all about love could make this world a better place,” Thompson said.

This holiday does not have to exclude anyone of any kind. In fact, this holiday can simply just be about spreading kindness and positivity. You do not have to buy a teddy bear to show your appreciation for someone, even a kind word might do the trick.