The overall focus for Valentine’s Day is generally accepted as being about love and a little something for that someone special, but for students at Bakersfield College the meaning of the holiday tends to be as diverse as the students themselves.

A BC freshman that only gave her name as Jeni, found it unnecessary to deviate from the formula. “Valentine’s Day is meant for love, to show someone you care about how you feel.”

Jeni’s boyfriend lives in Santa Monica, but still managed to make an appearance last weekend, bearing an offering of flowers. “He did a good job,” she said.

A few students, most of them male, expressed feeling pressure to perform on the holiday and remarked upon the expectations of their significant others. But Angel Martinez has some simple advice, “when it’s coming up, you better be ready, forget and you’ll be minus a valentine.”

While some students are caught up in the pressure and the hype of the holiday, others choose to lay low and go about everyday affairs.

Kat Cruz said that she “usually eats a lot of chocolate, but this year I’ll be working.” Stating her opinion on the amount of hype surround Valentine’s Day, she said, “America is just infatuated with the idea of infatuation.”

Others have opinions about Valentine’s Day that are less than enthusiastic. They question the legitimacy of the holiday.

“It’s a woman-made holiday invented as an excuse to make [men] buy them stuff. Mainly candy, chocolate and diamonds,” said sophomore Matt Mizell. He gestures to the smiling girl beside him. “Now, I got her some chocolate, but tonight I’ll be going to my martial arts class.”

“It’s the one day set aside to tell people you love them, but you should do that everyday,” said Michael Lopez.

Lopez is a sophomore and is intent on keeping the chocolate theme of Valentine’s Day going strong.

“Tonight I’m going to be eating Bon-Bons and watching Days of Our Lives.”