Decking out a shoe box in stickers and glitter better than the rest of your class, picking out the best cards for your friends, and using class time to celebrate instead of listening to a lesson...those were the good 'ole days...
Anticipation
Elementary School: The weeks and days leading up to Valentine's Day were no joke. Perfection is the only word that comes to mind when reminiscing on the days of scouting for the coolest cards and picking out the best candy.
College: Christmas is hardly over before Target is engulfed in candy hearts and red roses. Everywhere you go you're surrounded by the reminder that another holiday is on the horizon well in advance.
Gift Giving
Elementary School: Back in elementary school you had no choice but to give everyone in your class a valentine.
College: Whether its a boyfriend or girlfriend, or just treating yourself to your favorite box of chocolate, one gift is all it takes.
Parties
Elementary School: It was one of the few times a year that you rejoiced for the fact that teachers weren't scolding you for binging on potato chips and soda. If you were really lucky, your teacher probably let you watch TV or a non-educational movie in school too.
College: Two words: date functions. The daunting task of finding a date and the perfect dress looms overhead, and soda is traded in for a bottle of wine and potato chips have turned into late night pizza.
Priorities
Elementary School: Valentine's cards and candy were staples. No Valentine's Day was complete without picking out the coolest cards that would beat out everyone else's. Having a decorative box to collect them from other people was also up there on the list.
College: The spectrum changes. Priorities range from a dinner on the town with your significant other, to a Galentine's day with your best girlfriends.
Homework
Elementary School: You know it was going to be a good week when your homework packet included a crossword puzzle or word search activity as an assignment instead of the typical math homework.
College: Special homework assignments for a holiday? HA! Good one...
The End Result
Elementary School: At the end of the day going home with a decorated shoe box full of nice messages from all your friends and more candy than you could dream about was more than enough to keep you satisfied.
College: You're reminded that you're surrounded by friends the love you unconditionally no matter what day of the year it is. It doesn't get better than that.
