Does Harrison have love to spare? 

Leading into Winter Break, several of our classmates, teachers, and staff are preparing to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Most people recognize the holiday as something worthy of excitement, but everyone has a different tradition that makes it special.

For some, like U.S. History teacher Mr. Douglas Liscio, Valentine’s Day falls into a lovely month where “we’re closer to spring, and the weather gets a little bit more warm, and the days get a little longer."

Spanish teacher Señora Lauren Stewart also agrees that February signifies “a new opportunity because you have changes of weather."

"It’s starting to get a little bit warmer," she said. "We go outside and enjoy it.”

For others, the month has personal value, like junior Madeline Gutierrez.

"February means my birthday," she said. "I’m really excited, it just gives me an opportunity to invite my friends over for a special occasion. Me and a couple of my friends are going out to eat at 1885 [Grill].”

Though only one day in the shortest month of the year, the 14th of February has global significance. 

“You celebrate love on Valentine’s Day," said junior Katherine Tabor. "Also, I guess, happiness, but mainly love.”

 

Teachers

Harrison High School might not do much decorating or host any grand events for the holiday, but they do make sure their teachers feel appreciated.

Mrs. Shannon Lindsay, the theater teacher, says that “teachers all got Valentine’s Day candy from admin.”

“They did bring some stuff by [Friday], so I picked, instead of picking something healthy, I picked M&Ms with the nuts in them,” Mr. Liscio said.

This gesture isn’t surprising for the Harrison staff either because Mr. Liscio further comments that “they do that two or three times a semester. Sometimes four, sometimes five times.”

In that way, Harrison helps foster a loving community amongst its staff and administration, but how do their students benefit? 

 

Students

Katherine Tabor remembers that she and her boyfriend, junior Josiah Weaver, met in band class. 

"I think we hung out at a school event or something,” she said.

“Harrison’s helped me build a relationship with the community because I’ve been able to start a club called Stem Outreach,” said junior Rahul Mathew on his appreciation for the Harrison community.

On the same note, Madeline Gutierrez shares that “I met a lot of new people and a lot of new friends. I joined a lot of clubs and different after-school activities where I can meet new people who really care about me.”

School is a place where many relationships begin and grow, so the community helps foster connectivity. 

 

Traditions and plans

“I’ve been at some schools where they gave carnations away," Mr. Liscio said. "Obviously, red is like 'oh it’s serious, ' but then the white carnations are just like friendship.”

Whether you’re in a relationship or not, today can be a reason to be loving to others and to yourself. 

Señora Stewart hopes that others are “acknowledging how they are important to other people because everybody is important to somebody, whether you might know it or not.”

For couples like Katherine and Josiah, Valentine’s Day typically comes with plans and traditions. 

“Usually it’s the guys bringing, you know, the traditional flowers and stuff,” Mr. Liscio said. 

“Our first Valentine’s Day was spent at Cluck and Moo," Katherine Tabor said. "This year I think we’re going to go to Long Horn.”

For Mr. Liscio, going out to eat is a tradition.

"We drag them to these Super Bowl games, and it’s the make-up for that, you know like 'okay you go to our thing, then we’ll take you out to eat.'”

Some believe that this holiday is reserved for romantic relationships. 

Katherine adds, however, that “I’ve always either spent [Valentine’s Day] with my friends or kind of just doing something even if I didn’t always have like a boyfriend. Just to like celebrate the holiday.”

And “with friends” is where many students will find themselves this weekend. 

“On Saturday, my friend from Florida is coming over and I’m going to show her what Waffle House is like,” Madeline said.

While junior Evan Lewandowski says, “I’m going to see a movie [with] a friend of mine.”

Señora Stewart shares the plans her daughter has with a friend of hers.

“We’re going to take her to a store where she can go play some claw machine games, and then get more fun foods, and just hang out with one of her friends," she said. "So, like a little Galantine’s thing for her and her friend.”

Most teachers similarly reported having traditions concerning their children for the holiday rather than their spouses. 

“I did the whole making the shoebox mailbox, and getting all their Valentine’s, and writing all their classmate’s names.” Mrs. Lindsay said. “It was always a big deal what Valentine’s they were going to get for their friends because they wanted it to match their own personality.”

Other traditions are more personal.

“When my son was younger, I would take my son out on date night, and their dad would take our daughter out on date night, and teach them basically how to go on a date properly,” said math teacher Mrs. Kimberly Johnson.

Señora Stewart says, “We basically do a family breakfast. I make breakfast for my daughter of heart-shaped waffles, bacon, and juice. And we give her gifts as far as a new book, and then some of her favorite candies, this year it’s Kit-Kats.”

Whether, like Rahul, you’ll be “doing homework because [you’re] taking…too many classes” or, like Katherine and Josiah, you’ll be going out to eat, take Señora Stewart’s advice, and view the holiday and following break as “an opportunity to just kind of reset. And once you get in the groove for the new semester, it’s kind of nice.”

Valentine's Day is a day of love, and the overall message that Harrison students and staff have for each other can be summed up, by Rahul, to: “I hope people spend Valentine’s Day with the people they love, doing things they love, when they love it, and how they love it.”