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The Empowered Valentine

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bucknell chapter.

Once again, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner; and, once again, we’re probably still single. Just like last Valentine’s Day, and the year before that one… and the year before that one, too. But instead of celebrating this Hallmark holiday in ‘Single Awareness Day’ style, it’s important to realize how you don’t have to be with a guy to flaunt your security. In fact, just the opposite, because feeling lonely is key to finding who you really are. Before going out there into the world to find a boyfriend to send you a dozen roses and a box of chocolates, you need to learn how to love yourself before loving another. 

It’s completely normal to want to be constantly surrounded by all kinds of people at all hours of the day. Especially in today’s day and age, with social media constantly reminding us of the fact that we should hold ourselves to ‘higher’ standards like the famous people or bloggers we follow. But hold up. Stop. Stop looking at other people’s seemingly perfect lives and check out your own to remind yourself of how awesome your life has been. Don’t dwell on other peoples’ lives when they aren’t even relevant to your own.

Unfortunately, girls have a tendency to base their self-image on their popularity, or according to how well liked and accepted they are by their peers. By focusing on improving your overall person and mentality, you’re doing so much more for yourself than fretting over that one extra like on your latest insta. Once you’ve become your very best self, you’ll become more confident and comfortable with whom you’ve become. 

Elizabeth is a senior at Bucknell University, majoring in English and Spanish. She was born and raised in Northern New Jersey, always with hopes of one day pursuing a career as a journalist. She worked for her high school paper and continues to work on Bucknell’s The Bucknellian as a senior writer. She has fervor for frosting, creamy delights, and all things baking, an affinity for classic rock music, is a collector of bumper stickers and postcards, and is addicted to Zoey Deschanel in New Girl. Elizabeth loves anything coffee flavored, the Spanish language, and the perfect snowfall. Her weakness? Brunch. See more of her work at www.elizabethbacharach.wordpress.com