Valentine’s Day is undoubtedly one holiday we love to hate and hate to love. Whether you’re in bed watching “The Notebook” over a box of chocolates or living in a real-life rom-com, this holiday has a delightful culture that almost everyone dabbles in. In college, the possibilities of celebration are endless. 

Through gift-giving, romantic activities, and special visits from long-distance partners, Emerson students are taking it up a notch to show their love this year. 

Abby Kobberger, a sophomore theater and performance major, has a Zoom dinner date planned with her boyfriend, Jack, who is attending college in Pennsylvania. The couple added a twist to this virtual rendezvous: paying for each other’s dinners. 

“We just celebrated our five-year anniversary,” Kobberger said. “He recently visited to celebrate, so our Valentine’s Day celebration is virtual this year.”

Along with this heartfelt Zoom dinner date, the couple also sent each other surprise gifts. 

Like Kobberger, freshman theatrical design and production major Max Ripley and sophomore public relations major Tessa Beshere are going out to dinner and paying for each other’s meals. 

“We’re both really broke this year,” Ripley explained. “But we still wanted to make it fun, so after dinner, we’re going to watch the ‘Hunger Games’ on my friend’s projector screen.”

Ripley and Beshere are a month away from celebrating their two-year anniversary, similar to Ana Baldwin, a sophomore comedic arts major, who has been long-distance with her boyfriend since her freshman year, while they’ve been dating for one and a half years. This Valentine’s Day, Baldwin is flying home to Michigan to celebrate with him.

“We try to see each other every two to three weeks, so it was super important to me that I be there with him this Valentine’s Day,” Baldwin said. 

The couple has a romantic night planned, which includes a double date with her boyfriend’s parents.

“My boyfriend’s parents are taking us to a vineyard, and we’re going to have a little double date with them and try different charcuterie boards,” Baldwin said. “They’re our number one cheerleaders in our relationship.”

After visiting her hometown, Baldwin will attend a celebratory dinner for a friend whose birthday falls on Valentine’s Day. Baldwin’s friend, sophomore visual media arts major Gianna Ballin, enjoys celebrating her special day in Boston, where she can find many birthday and Valentine’s Day events.

“Now that I’m in college, I love having my birthday on Valentine’s Day because in Boston, there are so many fun things to do,” Ballin said.  

The rest of Ballin’s exciting combination of birthday festivities and Valentine’s Day fun includes a visit from a hometown friend and getting a holiday-themed manicure. 

Like Ballin, sophomore visual media arts major Julia Giordano has always been a big Valentine’s Day fan and anticipates the holiday each year.

“I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, whether I was with someone or not,” Giordano said. 

Giordano’s Valentine’s Day has gotten a little sweeter this year, as she is spending it with her boyfriend, with whom she just celebrated five months. 

“We have a reservation at a nice Italian place in the North End for dinner on Valentine’s Day,” she said.

Before her boyfriend revealed his special plans for them, he executed a sentimental gesture to ask Giordano to be his valentine. 

“The other day, he brought me roses, a necklace, and some chocolate-covered strawberries to ask me to be his Valentine,” she said. “He brought me the roses in a wine bottle that we shared and put the necklace around the wine bottle.”

Just as Giordano enjoys Valentine’s Day each year, she values keeping the romance alive year-round. She said it is important to show appreciation to your partner daily. 

“I feel like every day is Valentine’s Day when you’re with someone you care about, especially when you’re in love,” Giordano said.