Valentine's Day at Galloway
Love is in the air this time of year, especially in high school. Hallways are filled with red and pink, candy hearts carry sweet messages, and the stores are completely sold out of chocolates and flowers. Valentine’s Day, though typically attributed to “true love,” is just a day to remind the people you love that they mean something to you. Whether it’s your closest friends or your significant other, February 14th is a universal day of closeness. But how serious is it really for high school students? And as high school draws to an end for this year’s graduating class, will these couples and friends remain close?
When asked if they think they will stay friends with their current group after graduation, the Galloway Upper Learning (UL) community demonstrated a range of answers with 46.9% stating a clear “Yes,” and 15.4% stating “No.” Others responded with write-in answers ranging from “I really hope so, I love them all a lot,” to, “Not my friends at Galloway but my middle school and elementary school friends yes,” and others provided restrictions such as, “Maybe if they go to my college,” and, “Some, but definitely not all.” With the amount of Galloway alumni that return to teach here, one would think students would feel more confident about their friendship continuation, but apparently, the bonds just aren’t strong enough.
Galloway’s high school student population is very scattered when it comes to love in the romantic sense with 22.3% “in a relationship,” 62.3% not, and an astounding 15.4% in an “it’s complicated” situationship where there isn’t a clear answer on what they are. However, regardless of their relationship status, well over half of the student population says they believe in true love in some way, shape, or form. But despite this, only 40.8% believe that a high school relationship can be sustained through graduation and college.
Statistics show that only about 2% of marriages are a result of high school dating, with the average relationship between 16-year-olds lasting about 6 months and between 17 or 18-year-olds at around a year. An anonymous Galloway student states, “I think that it's important to put yourself out there and experience new things, especially when you're in high school and still figuring yourself out. However, I also don't see the likelihood of a long-term relationship forming in high school. Maybe it works for some people, but to me, it seems too complicated to deal with.” Others, however, disagree, saying things like, “No judgment, but since high school is so important for self-discovery and identity, you have to make sure you're allowing each other to grow,” and “If you find the right person they can be great. However, if you are just dating someone to date someone in my opinion high school relationships are pointless.” And when it comes to PDA (Public Displays of Affection) in the high school halls, students pretty collectively think, “Ew. Keep it to a minimum,” with one student saying, “Ew, no thank you to seeing people making out when I’m locked in on school work.” The few exceptions however, just say that while it is fine generally, it needs to be kept to a school appropriate boundary because “no one wants to see your tongues down each other's throats.” So as long as you keep it to a minimum, showing your love at school should be A-OK, but maybe do it in a more private place.
Valentine’s Day is all about showing your love, and for those of you who are searching desperately for a gift, like one student who commented, “I DONT KNOW PLEASE GIVE ME IDEAS HELP!” When asked what the best present is, you’ll be surprised to know that most students think chocolates, flowers, and a handwritten note are all you need to show your Valentine you care. Others, however, say that in addition to the cringy cliche items, you need to give your partner “something that shows them you hear and see them, that you listen to them and know their soul.”
Overall, there is no reason that love in its many forms shouldn’t exist in high school, but the real question is: Will any of it last? Unfortunately, the only way to know is to try.
By Samantha Weiner