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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at DESU chapter.

“Bah Humbug” are the words I muttered to myself as I got out of my bed on the morning of Valentine’s Day. For the past 19 years, I’ve never received a Valentine from a significant other, a secret admirer, or even Cupid, for that matter. I started the day thinking it would be like every other Valentine’s Day experience in the years prior. 

However, I did not realize that this day would not be like the others. In fact, it would change my outlook on how I viewed and received love. Growing up, I’ve always received Valentine’s Day presents from family, but, at times, they would pale in comparison to the gift I truly desired.

The gift in question? A box of chocolates and flowers hand delivered by the one and only Corbin Bleu. This, of course, is what my younger self imagined when dreaming of “The Perfect Valentine’s.” Although the overall point is still there, 13 years later, I still hoped for a box of chocolates and flowers from a special admirer. Instead, in a twist of events, I surprisingly received a phone call from my aunt to meet her at the entrance of my University. Upon arriving, she handed me beautiful balloons, candy, and a heartfelt card. The thought behind this gesture was better than any gift my younger self could have received from Corbin Bleu.  

On the night of Valentine’s Day, one of my close friends and I went to the movies, and it was then that I realized the love I sought after was all around me. That night, we drove to the movies, listening to music and talking on the way there. This interaction that I once might have overlooked as the joys of friendship turned into me truly appreciating this moment. It wasn’t until I was riding in a car with a friend on Valentine’s Day that I realized the love I was in search of was all around me in my friends and family.

While we sat in the movies, focusing on the screen, I couldn’t help but be thankful for this outing because it was a surprise turn of events for my evening. It was then that I realized these moments of joy are just as important as any moment shared with a significant other. I guess you can say that evening was the gateway to me fully appreciating the love around me. 

The following day, the Her Campus DESU chapter held an Open House/Interest meeting. Here, we created bookmarks for a nearby school and spoke about the values of our chapter. At that moment, it felt as though I was at the epicenter of girlhood. Sitting there with friends laughing and talking brought me so much joy. 

The moments that I’ve experienced this week caused me to think back to the other joyful memories experienced with friends. Whether it was seeing them in passing, going to a basketball game, or FaceTime calls, they were all filled with love and joy. 

For years, I’ve sat on the sidelines, waiting for my chance at love. Finally, at the age of 19, I’ve realized that I don’t have to run out in search of love, nor do I have to sit on the sidelines awaiting its arrival. I now know that I can leave the sidelines knowing that I’m in good hands, and when love does find me, I’ll be ready for it because I’ve been taught how to love from the best in the business. This Valentine’s Day I received more than I ever asked for.

Anaya Balkcom is a current sophomore attending Delaware State University, and pursuing a degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Convergence Journalism. Prior to attending Delaware State University, Anaya graduated from The Ursuline High School where she was a member of the Female Empowering Voices Program. During this time Anaya was selected to represent her school in a CBS news special on the topic of New Rochelle Students inspired by Vice President Kamala Harris. It was at this time Anaya discovered her true passion found in the area of Mass Communications. From there, in Anaya’s senior year of high school, she explored different avenues in Mass Communication through an internship BronxNet Open 2.0 with BronxNet TV Station. During this internship Anaya created, hosted, edited, and programmed feature segments. Through this she gained exposure to the world of television and film. Upon entry into DSU, Anaya became a member of the campus radio station and composed articles for the campus newspaper. You can also find Anaya’s latest work in the media on Spotify, under the podcast titled “All in With Anaya Morgan.”