As Valentine’s Day draws near, hearts race with the thrill of finding a gift that speaks volumes, surprises, and shows just how much it means.
Valentine’s Day gifts can range from the traditional to the unexpected. For couples, or even ones who want to confess their love, gifts can range from thoughtful gestures that have the perfect amount of personal touches to unforgettable experiences.
“I think the most memorable gifts are the ones that show the giver really understands the person they’re giving it to,” Sophomore Carlos Alvarez said. “It’s about picking something that reflects who they are. Gifts have sentimental value because they often tie back to shared moments or experiences.”
For Sophomore Iliana Moreno, who is dating Alveraz, gift-giving is about creating an experience, not just buying something off the shelf.
“I’d get him something fun, like a Lego car kit that we could build together,” Moreno said. “I remember for his birthday, I got him Lego flowers that we ended up building together. I would say that was one of our best dates.”
Freshman Katelyn Nguyen has a different idea for Valentine’s Day: To confess her feelings to someone special.
“We met during freshman year, and what really drew me to him was his charm,” Nguyen said. “Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, and I want to show him how much I care.”
Although Nguyen is scared of rejection, she is persistent and has a plan ready.
“I’m going to make a poster with lyrics from his favorite artist and give him his favorite flowers, which are lilies,” Nguyen said. “I want to make this moment special by doing it in private, just the two of us, so no one can interrupt or interfere. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So, I’m just going for it. Wish me luck!”
For physics teacher Minhtam Trinh, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of the bond she shares with her husband of seven years. Their love story began with a humorous twist—on a dating app.
“The app had a feature that showed who viewed your account,” Trinh said. “I saw he looked at mine, so I checked his profile. He liked science, and I thought, ‘I can vibe with this guy,’ so I liked his account. But he didn’t like mine back, so I unliked it. Turns out, he saw the notification and asked me if I had unliked him. I admitted it, and that’s how we met. It’s our funniest story.”
Trinh’s most memorable gift was her proposal, but she also enjoys their yearly Valentine’s Day traditions.
“Every year we usually go out for a nice, special dinner or have a relaxing day marathoning our favorite movies,” Trinh said. “This year, I plan to practice his favorite video game so I can finally play in expert mode with him. He’s been asking me for the longest time and he’s such a gamer.”
With February 14 just around the corner, these romantics are pulling out all the stops, preparing to turn simple gestures into cherished memories and bold confessions into hopeful new beginnings.
“At the end of the day, it’s about showing the other person that you really care about them and took the time to think of something that would make them feel special,” Alvarez said.
