Is love dead? Oftentimes online there is a big discourse on love and more specifically romance being dead, with society shifting from bouquets to Snapchat notifications being delivered. However, a lot of these criticisms come from older generations with their own definition of love, so what do the actual teens think? All students were asked the same two questions: “With Valentine’s Day coming up in a couple of weeks, I want to know, what is love to you?” and “Based on your first response, what is the best way to show love?”
Flattering Freshman
The graceful freshman at Brewster High School start us off with their interpretations of the definition of love. My first interviewee Sky Corado stated: “It’s a feeling when you care about someone so much that you can’t express it.” If she had to pick one though, she says that “spending time or being around them” would be the best way to express it. My second interview with Miguel Suarez focused more on how love makes people feel with him saying, “love is heartfelt and heartwarming” and that it should be expressed “with your words; say the right things.” When asking around, it was clear that many students/teens relate love to their friends, family, and partners instead of just framing love into a romantic context.
Sophomore Sweethearts
Moving on to the sophomores, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sophia Negro for her perspective on love. She remarked on how she simply sees it as “a feeling that people share platonically or romantically” and that there are “no ‘best ways’ because there’s so many ways to express your love for someone.” My second interview with Nathaniel Scott took a more philosophical approach: “I would say it’s the acceptance of others despite their flaws” suggesting that the best way to show that type of love is by “showing appreciation.” Despite the differences in how literal they approached the definition of love, both interviewees shared a sweet sentiment on how love is something meant to be shared.
Joyous Juniors
One of the lovely juniors (and my interviewee) at Brewster High School, Chasiti Bobet-Diaz expressed that pure love to her is “enjoying something regardless of its flaws, giving your energy into something even though you know it’s not perfect.” Along with this idea she stated that something special about love is that “everyone has their different love language on how they like to give and receive love.” My second interview with Samantha Eligio shared a similar sentiment revolving around what love is: “Love is a genuine understanding and sense of caring for another person or thing.” She feels the best way to deliver that understanding is through “thoughtful gifts and acts of service.”
Sincere Seniors
All throughout the school it seems that Brewster agrees that love is alive and well, it simply feels different to everyone and is expressed in different ways. Maeve Looby shared that her definition of love is “having a person that you can go to for anything and your social battery doesn’t go down around them” with her favorite way to show it being “hugs.” For some people, love comes in the form of one person or a small group. Other people like Ava Rodriguez
had a more broad perspective. She stated: “It’s a lot of different things; love can be friendship, love can be with a partner, or even loving yourself, as long as you’re satisfied.”
Cupid’s Corner
So what’s the verdict? The students at Brewster High School all seem to agree that love is not dead: it simply means different things to everyone. For some students, love is hanging out with your friends, while for others, it’s giving gifts to their partners. As most things do, love has simply evolved to fit new times.
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day with your friends, partner, or yourself, and show everyone around you some love.