Staff Writers

Valentine\’s Day is coming up! Baron Banner caught up with a few students to check out what they have planned for the occasion.

Baron Banner: “Are you looking forward to Valentine\’s Day?”

“No. Love doesn\’t exist. I hate people. Everyone should just go die. (Laughs) Just kidding.” – Silvia Tran (‘12)

“Yes, yes I am. (Smiles)” – Jacqueline Nguyen (‘12)

“I liked it better when my whole class was my Valentine” – Kimberly Do (‘12)

“Yeah, I\’ll have something [else] to look forward to.” – Alan M. (‘11)

“Kind of, because I might have a Valentine. And if I do, then yes, definitely!” – Paige Kukios (‘12)

“I\’m waiting for all the candy I get!” – Ashley Hua (‘13)

“LANY DAO is my VALENTINE!” – Kyle Le (‘12)

“Of course, but not because of Alex Nguyen… I don\’t love you!” – Tiffany Tran (‘13)

“Nothing, I\’ll be at home playing Call of Duty.” – Frank Nguyen (‘11)

“No, because there is point to Valentine\’s Day. If you really love someone, you wouldn\’t have to spend a lot of money just for one day to show the public. Basically, you don\’t have to make your relationship public just for one day.” – Aileen Nava (‘11)

“I am going to put a bunch of candles at my girlfriend\’s house.” Daniel Park (’11)

“I\’m not really looking forward to it, because it\’s a day before my birthday. Valentine\’s Day always overshadows my birthday!” – Justine Nguyen (‘11)

“I\’m looking forward to it because I have a hot date with Chace Crawford.” – Becky Nguyen (‘11)

Ladies, I know what some of you are thinking in this dreadful month. “I\’m so amazing and everything, but why am I still single?” Yes, it\’s very depressing, but I\’m here to tell you it\’s not your fault! All you need is a little love advice. I bet you\’re thinking, “Who are you to give advice?” But I don\’t really care about your opinion, so here goes.

Warning: Results may vary.

#1: Be willing to take risks!

Some guys might be a little scared to talk to you because, maybe your time of the month is every second, or perhaps you\’re just too pretty to talk to. But if you really like a guy, you should be more outgoing with him and he\’ll soon open up to you! Guys like girls who are outgoing!

#2: Start picking up on interests guys like.

Guys love videogames and food, so when a girl likes these things too, the results can be rather spectacular. Because when I can sit down and play Call of Duty and a girl picks up a controller and plays with me (after making a grilled cheese sandwich with sun-dried tomatoes), then I know there must be something good going on here.

#3: Make a lad feel special.

At all costs, avoid the “friend zone”! It is an awkward place where both parties feel the other isn\’t going to commit , and therefore never end up getting any further than “just friends.” Girls, make sure the feelings are mutual or else he will lose interest and leave. Trust me, you don\’t want that. You don\’t have to be confrontational, but make it somewhat obvious since guys don\’t usually pick up on these cues, or they don\’t want to assume it.

#4: Change up the current strategy.

If your current method isn\’t formulating positive results, don\’t just continue doing it. If you\’re a clingy mess, then stop. If you play hard to get all the time, everyday, every second, then stop! It is a simple fact that if you’re not playing the game right, you\’re just going to end up heartbroken. So maybe be a little flirtier; or perhaps, give him some breathing room, and he just might start liking you!

Okay, so you must be thinking, “Like, oh em gee, I can\’t even find a guy good enough for me!” There are a lot of guys out there, so get over yourself. I\’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but love hurts, so deal with it. I\’m trying to help here.

#5 Looking for a guy: School

There are plenty of guys here at FVHS for you to pick! (If you\’re Asian, teehee.) Don\’t just assume you\’ve seen them all and none are actually your type. Particularly, don\’t set your bar so high if you don\’t even have a guy. You just haven\’t met him yet. Watch, if you take a different path to your next class, you\’ll see people you\’ve never met at this school before. But realize that you still have hope. Just look harder.

#6 Looking for a guy: Online

I don\’t recommend this because it’s kind of sad.

#7 Looking for a guy: Dances

Dances are a great way to meet new people. If you aren\’t good at dancing, it\’s okay. You\’re a girl, and it won\’t matter too much since you\’re with your girlfriends. But if you\’re a guy, please don\’t. Guys may approach you and if the feelings are mutual, go for it. But if you don\’t cue your group with some predetermined sign that I assume you girls have, then move away from him. You can even go up to guys if you\’re in the mood to dance and that\’s essentially it.

Ok girls, seriously, love isn\’t hard. You\’re just making it hard with your constant whining, mood swings, and high standards. Guys aren\’t hard to impress. If you can dazzle us with your culinary skills and athletic interests, you\’ll get there in no time. Oh yeah, if you\’re not cute, then none of this will work.

Graphic Created by: Michelle Doan ('11)

Baron Banner is selling their annual Love Grams.

Send your special someone a lovely message through our Valentine’s Day print issue, due to be released on Friday, February 11, 2011.

Each Love Gram will be sold for $2 up to twenty words per gram.

The Love Grams center-spread will be printed in color.

Please see a Baron Banner representative or Mr. Ziebarth in room 306 for more information and/or to purchase your love grams.

All grams are due by Friday, February 4, 2011.

Not even one week until the  highly dreaded and equally anticipated holiday of the year- Valentines Day. Men across the country fear it. Women across the nation adore it. But this year, make the holiday mean more. Adopt some innovative green techniques into the way you show your love.

Now these suggestions are only for Valentine\’s Day- you can use them for any date,ut what greater day for experiment than February 14?

Let\’s begin with the date itself. For a nice romantic dinner, the opportunities are endless. Try a nearby restaurant you both love, preferably small and family-run or organic place. Not only will this reduce your gas expenses, but these restaurants are also more likely to use locally grown, or all-natural foods.

Unique and unusual dates are always a great experience as well. If a meal is what you\’re after, cook dinner at home. You\’re guaranteed a meal you both love, less money on a bill and gas, and a comfortable environment as well. Or, if a nice dinner isn\’t your thing, why not try a free outdoors activity, like biking, or going to the beach a thrift store, or for a picnic? All of these are great ways to share a mutual hobby as well as to take   your part to save mother earth.

Despite common belief, homemade gifts can be just as great, if not better than store bought gifts. Not only will they send the personal, caring message to your significant other, but they are one-of-a-kind and designed just by you. For the artsy, creative types, write a song, paint a picture, or decorate a frame. Baked  treats, homemade cards, and homegrown flowers are all cheap and efficient ways to show your guy or gal your feelings for them and our planet.

The ideas don\’t end there. Take your own unique spin on ideas to show people you care. Try double dating to cut down on expenses. Make your own gift, suitable for what your loved one is interested in. Give back to our planet and one another by volunteering together.

Of course, no matter what you decide to do for Valentine\’s Day this year, it\’s most important to show your love and care for the people around you. And if you can do that while simultaneously demonstrating your respect and appreciation for our earth, resources, and fellow peers, then all the better.

The Baron Banner caught up with students around campus to find out what Barons were doing on Valentine\’s Day.

“My cousin\’s getting married on Valentine\’s Day, which I think is pretty sweet. I\’m going to have to wear a dress and I\’ll probably eat a lot, but I think it\’ll be boring. They chose to have their wedding on Valentine\’s Day because it\’s supposed to be a day of love.” – Cathy Pham (‘12)

“I\’m going to have a How I Met Your Mother marathon on Valentine\’s Day with my friends and my cousin and we\’re going to make ‘funfetti\’ cake.” – Aimee Pham (‘11)

“I\’m going on a horse ride with two girls.” – Charlie Rudolf (‘11)

“On Valentine\’s Day, I have a race for track. Then I\’m going to bake my secret admirer brownies – no wait, I\’m the secret admirer – and I\’ll leave them on his doorstep.”

– Rachel Sunico (‘10)

“I\’m getting a bunch of roses for my girlfriend. I\’ll try to give her a good time. I\’ll take her out to go eat, maybe at Bella Terra. I\’ll get her cookies, chocolates and heart shaped things.” – Tom Dang (‘10)

“I don\’t know. My boyfriend is planning something, but I\’m not sure. We\’re going somewhere after his wrestling tournament. We might see a movie, but I want to go to the beach. I want to go to Seaside and get ham and cheese croissants.” – Cindy Lam (‘09)

“On Valentine\’s Day my girlfriend and I are going to ride on a swan and have a picnic in the park with chocolate covered strawberries. There are flowers coming to her house and that\’s about it.” – Lucas Alexander Maine (‘09)

“I\’m going to a Valentine\’s Day party with movies and dancing.” – Chris Willis (‘12)

February is here, and students at FVHS are preparing to enjoy Valentine\’s Day on February 14. Even though millions of people celebrate the “day of love” with the traditional candy, flowers, and cards, very few know of its origin. 

According to legend, there was a priest named Saint Valentine in the year 1000. The Emperor of Rome, Claudius II, forbade single men from getting married to maintain a large number of potential soldiers. Disgusted by the unfairness of the new law, Valentine continued to secretly bless young lovers\’ marriages. He was soon discovered and sentenced to death. But even prison didn\’t stop Valentine, and he fell in love with his jailer\’s daughter. Before his execution, he left a card for her that read, “From your Valentine,” thus coining the classic phrase. 

Saint Valentine is considered to be the originator of Valentine\’s Day, and is given credit for starting the trend of sending cards to loved ones on February 14. 

Today, there are numerous ways people celebrate Valentine\’s Day. For some, the holiday means having a fun, exchanging cards, giving gifts, and staging special dates. Others prefer a luxurious and romantic day with roses, chocolates, and fancy dinners. 

Speaking of her Valentine\’s Day plans, Rachel Smith (‘11) says, “My boyfriend is planning on taking me to dinner and then a walk on the beach.”

Many couples at FVHS enjoy Valentine\’s Day and see it as a day to celebrate their affection for each other and express their feelings through presents. Many guys at FVHS say that on Valentine\’s Day, it\’s easier to open up to their girlfriends. 

Mike Hillman (‘09) says, “Valentine\’s Day is when we can act all sweet and not be ashamed of it.” 

But for some at FVHS, singles and couples alike, Valentine\’s Day is not a favorite holiday.

“Valentine\’s Day is when you actually realize that you\’re single,” says a sophomore who asked to be anonymous. “It hurts when everyone else is receiving grams, candy, and other stuff, and all you\’re holding are your books, and maybe if you\’re lucky, the lunch your mom packed you.”

The recently, and happily, married English teacher, Mrs. Zeigler, says, “Not to sound like a cynic, but it\’s a total Hallmark holiday. You should show love to the people you care about everyday.”

“Valentine\’s Day is a day for everyone to enjoy – even if you\’re single – because it\’s a day to celebrate love of all kinds,” says Eric Shearer (‘12). 

Whether you spend Valentine\’s Day with a date or decide to spend it like any other day, make sure to at least, to appreciate February 14 and take a second to think about what you\’d be doing without Saint Valentine\’s risky decision to encourage love those thousands of years ago.