To most, February 1^th has never been just a day. While some avoid it as if it’s the plague, others look forward to breathing it in. IT referring to that thing in the air, commonly known as love. Valentine’s Day comes around once a year and whether you are young or old, single or taken - one thing is for certain. It has always given you the excuse to eat as much chocolate as your heart desires without being judged. It does not matter if someone buys them for you or if you are treating yourself; the indulgence of too many sweets is something that will never change. Many factors besides the candy do in fact change over the years though; let’s take a look at the differences of how Valentine’s Day has taken place while you’ve grown up.

Kindergarten:

Back in the good ‘ol days, Valentine’s Day was a day of pure joy and love for everyone. You would wake up and go to school in something red or pink of course, and maybe mom even put your hair in little pigtails with cute pink scrunchies. Boys and girls did not seem to have cooties yet, so letting little Johnny give you a big hug and borrow your crayons meant nothing other than “Hi friend, Happy Valentine’s Day, let’s go color!” Which you did. You and your class would color all day long; cutting out little hearts and making little letters to bring home to Mom and Dad. Some of those little keep-safes are probably still be hanging around the house somewhere.

Elementary School:

My favorite. You would look forward to each Valentine’s Day because every year everyone would give everyone a valentine. The anticipation of going to the supermarket and picking out the coolest or cutest little valentines cards and candy to give to your classmates was overwhelming. “I love these ones Mom!” you would say, but follow up with, “but I can’t get them because Susie already got them and is giving a special one to Tommy because she thinks he’s cute. So I must get a different one.”

This irrational thought process also indicated that boys and girls may have cooties, but at the same time... are they cute? No, never. Okay, maybe a little. Either way - oh goodness; it has begun. The school day before Valentine’s Day was spent crafting your own little personal bag or box that would sit on your desk and collect valentines the following day. Those days are definitely missed.

Middle School:

Oh dear lord, Valentine’s day is coming up and all of your friends mysteriously just seem to be popping up out of nowhere with girlfriends or boyfriends. Everyone…except you? It’s okay though because you heard from Mary’s friend who knows a guy that heard from someone, that Steven in the grade above you only asked out your friend Laura because he thinks she’ll “do stuff” with him. Who knows if she will or not; but that’s something you are just not looking to get involved in. You’re perfectly content with waking up to Mom’s little heart-shaped pancakes before school and a piece of chocolate hidden in your lunch box for later.

High School:

Valentine’s Day in high school is not so much a big deal anymore; unless you’re actually in a relationship. You find there are people that don’t care about it, others that care too much and volunteer to dress up as Cupid to deliver pre-bought valentines - sold by the student council, and other people that hate everyone in relationships and hate everything having to do with the day.

If you’re in a relationship, maybe you baked your special someone something, along with a framed picture of you two. Or maybe you received a little teddy bear holding a heart with some chocolate and a piece of jewelry; how cute. Then, during your lunch period, you were slightly embarrassed by the “I LOVE YOU” with a heart written by your mom on your paper lunch bag. Only once you arrived at lunch, you found it funny to see everyone else had the same thing written on their lunches too. Oh and don’t forget the little piece of candy hidden in your lunch, thanks, Mom.

College:

College Valentine’s Day can be interesting. You either are single and super ready to drunkenly mingle at SigmaApplePie’s Valentine’s Day themed party because you’ve been eyeing Chad for the past couple of days in your 8 a.m. Or you could be totally anti-Valentine’s Day and just sulk all day. Or you could be dealing with a long distance relationship because you’re still dating Brian from high school but you both go to separate colleges. Or, if you’re lucky, you could be happily dating someone that goes to the same college as you.

Whatever your situation is; relationships in college seem to be getting slightly more serious because you’re older and that could either scare you or you could love it. You may still even get Valentine’s Day care packages from Mom and Dad at home; because whether you’re single or not this Valentine’s Day, those two will always love you.

Whatever stage you're at in life, Happy Valentine's Day.