Valentine's Day, the day of love. Loving those special and amazing people who have entered your life. Valentine's Day for me isn't spending it with a significant other, but reminding everyone I love that I love them.

Over the course of the last 3 years, my hometown has suffered some tragic losses of people who are very close to my age. Some I went to high school with, some in the same school district.

My senior year of high school was a roller coaster of emotions for several different reasons, I was getting ready to start my new life in college and finally get out of what I thought were the most pointless four years of my short life. However, my senior year took a different turn after one tragedy. The high school I attended lost two beautiful souls who were fighting battles so hard that they wanted to leave us.

Now, I look at my high school as a community, a support system. I may not have been extremely close to these souls, but I recognized them in the halls, maybe had a few classes together. Their exit was so shocking that I couldn't fathom how their families and close friends were coping.

The weeks after this were quiet, the halls were silent. Most of us we had never experienced this type of emotion before, nor did many people know how to approach those who were close to them.

Once I left high school, it felt like more and more souls were leaving us.

All I wanted to do was hug every single person I loved. I wanted to hold them and never let them go.

Someone once told me "to the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.”

That quote made my blood run ice cold because I wanted to everyone to know that to someone they are so valued and so important.

After being out of high school for 3 years now, I can tell you it gets better. You meet amazing people outside of your hometown. People who make you feel like you have a place in this world. When I met my person, who happens to be my best friend-- my life changed.

There are still days that are harder than others, and the world will break your heart ten ways to Sunday, that's guaranteed. But these people who carry you and are there for you when it does makes it feel like you can overcome anything.

I don't look at Valentine's Day as a day to only celebrate with your significant other. To me, it's a day to celebrate the love you have for your people.

So stay; stay because you're someone's world.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND/OR TENDENCIES, REACH OUT IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE SHOULD GO THROUGH THIS ALONE. SUICIDE IS SERIOUS.

National Suicide Hotline: 1 (800) 273-8255 - available 24/7