With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many students are hoping to express their love and appreciation for their significant other, friends or family. Although there are many ways of expressing affection, giving gifts tends to be a challenging one when taking into consideration expenses and personalization. With some tips below provided by peers around school, we hope to alleviate some of the stress in selecting the perfect gift so the process can become one of joy and excitement, rather than exhaustion and frustration.
Quality Time
Many people tend to forget that gifts can exist in forms other than materialistic goods. For example, the thoughts put into coordinating quality time sessions may sometimes be more heartwarming than a physical gift. The idea of spending time with their loved ones sounds appealing to many UHS students.
“It’s always the little things that matter so it could be something as simple as a picnic at the beach watching the sunset,” sophomore Divya Agarwal said. “Honestly, something sweet and simple is always the way to show that you care.”
Handmade Gifts
Gifts can become quickly expensive depending on the considerations one puts into choosing a gift. Resorting to handmade crafts can often become great alternatives, even if it’s simple origami. Not only are handmade gifts more affordable, but they also allow personal creativity that can show the recipient the care that is put into the craft.
“I like handmade gifts since the person took the time out of their day to make that for me,” junior Noreis Yu said. “It doesn’t have to be anything big, some simple paper flowers for someone would be cute.”
Some ideas for handmade gifts include paper hearts, paper stars, photo books or anything in general that shows that thought went into creating the gift.
Chocolates and Flowers
There’s a good reason why chocolates and flowers remain the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts: they are affordable, thoughtful and sweet for this occasion and can always brighten up a person’s day.
“Chocolate, flowers and conversation hearts are in my opinion the best choice,” senior Claudia Kahana said. “Nothing is sweeter than a sweet gift from a loved one.”
They do not have to be over-the-top luxury chocolates or expensive bouquets; a small box or a simple rose will get the job done perfectly, leaving your loved one with a smile on their face. Handpicking out specific flowers that represent your feelings can also show the thoughts that go into them. Generally, classic red roses symbolize romance and passion, soft purple tulips symbolize friendship and appreciation and white camellias often represent admiration.
Personalized Cards
Oftentimes, telling a person explicitly how much you appreciate and love them might just be the one thing they need. If telling them verbally is not your cup of tea, then customizing a card for them might be a better choice. Words of affirmation or appreciation combined with subtle details like adding their favorite colors or doodling their favorite characters are great ways to show your love. When done with care, this simple yet heartfelt gesture can be the perfect gift for this special occasion.
Of course, there are other great options not included in this article that can help strengthen relationships and create memories, but whether you resort to gifting handmade crafts or material goods, the important thing is to express your love and appreciation toward the recipient. At the end of the day, a quick “I love you” can go a long way in making someone feel valued and cared for.
