As Valentine’s Day approaches, people reflect on all the gifts they received in the past. While some of those gifts were unique and original, some gifts were unoriginal or cliche.
Junior Melodee Lovett favors more romantic gifts when it comes to Valentine’s Day, including a beautiful bouquet and a meaningful card.
“When it comes to gifts, I have always been the kind of person who feels like it’s the thought of the gift that really matters,” Lovett said.
So, when she received a pair of Victoria’s Secret underwear one year for Valentine’s Day, she was unimpressed.
“I don’t think the gift itself was what made it taboo but more so the fact that I received it from a friend and not a lover,” she said.
Like many others, Lovett feels that underwear is a more intimate gift and should only be gifted by a significant other. She thinks that friends should not be the ones to give them.
Junior Gia Riguez received her fair share of Valentine’s Day gifts like candy, bears and other items but ultimately finds handmade gifts to be the best.
Riguez always felt that handmade gifts are more sincere because of the thought, time and effort.
“I still have some cards to this day that stand out to me because they are either handmade or written by close friends of mine,” she said. “A Valentine’s Day gift I will always remember is a papier-mâché rose and a handmade bracelet I received from a friend in middle school.”
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, Riguez usually doesn’t find the holiday romantic because, most of the time, she is not in a relationship when the day comes around. Instead, she shares her Valentine’s day with friends, and they express how grateful they are for each other.
While she cherishes every gift she receives, some of them, in her opinion, were slightly unoriginal.
“Most of the gifts I’ve received consist of cards, small stuffed animals and even sometimes candy,” she said. “I consider some of them to be cliché because of how common they are.”
Junior Teri Hiley feels that Valentine’s Day gifts should be personal and reflect the interest of the person receiving them. When she looks back at Valentine’s Day gifts she’s received, Hiley remembers a box of chocolates she got from her mom.
“It was more of a symbol of the holiday rather than a thoughtful gift,” she said.
Hiley feels that the key to a perfect gift is paying attention to the things they mention.
“My ideal Valentine’s day gift is something meaningful that I’ve always wanted no matter what it is,” she said. “I think it’s best to give someone something they’ve always wanted as a surprise because it makes the gift more special.”
Despite personal preferences for Valentine’s Day gifts, most agree that when it comes to a great gift, it is the thought that counts.
