As the bitterly cold month of February trudged along, one special holiday kept the hearts of students all across MCLA’s campus warm: Valentine’s Day.
Just days before, on Wednesday, February 12, MCLA’s Freel Library held a DIY Valentine’s Day card-making event, to get students in the spirit. Whether making a card for a lover, a friend, a roommate, or just to practice their crafts skills, everybody was helping spread the love and cheer.
Library tables were chock-full of stickers, card paper, glitter, markers, pens, colored pencils, and snacks for crafty students to make the perfect Valentine’s Day card for their special someone.
“I don’t really know what I’m doing,” admitted Kaylee Strayer, ’25, as she applied some glitter-tape to her card paper. “I’m figuring it out as I go along. I’m not very artsy, but I’m gonna do my best.”
As Strayer’s admission would suggest, students of all skill levels were welcome to attend the event. The group was small but dedicated, and students laughed and chatted as they worked.
Around the tables, conversations naturally turned towards participant’s views of Valentine’s Day, with a wide variety of opinions represented.
“I like it,” said Strayer, of the holiday. “Even if you don’t have somebody in particular, you still have friends you can spend the day with to spread some love.”
“I love it,” said Megan Kessler, ‘27, turning to her boyfriend and asking him if they had plans for the holiday. After he shook his head, she followed it up with a smiling, “I hate it now because we have no plans.” Her lighthearted ribbing got the entire table laughing.
“I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s Day,” admitted Michael Lynch, ’25, in contrast. “I think that it’s a scam from the greeting card companies.”
“I get that, but I still like having a special day to celebrate my love for my partner,” countered Strayer.
Scam from the greeting card companies or not, the table eventually agreed at the very least, it’s important to show your love for your loved ones—and for some people, Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to do so.
As the event came to a close, conversation turned joking once more as everyone showed off their cards. Attendees ooh’ed and ahh’ed when Kessler showed off her card, made for her boyfriend, followed by teasing noises of sympathy when it was his turn to show off his creation, which elegantly displayed the disparity between their levels of artistic prowess.
Lynch, for his part, wrote, “Do you like me? Check yes or no. xoxo” on a slip of paper and handed it to Kessler’s boyfriend.
Ultimately, the DIY Valentine’s Day card event did everything it was supposed to: it brought people together, gave them something to smile about, and helped make spreading the love a little bit easier for the Valentine’s season.
