Dear Reader,
It’s that time of the month when red and pink hearts invade our retail spaces (and wallets). There’s no ignoring the spectacle that is Valentine’s Day. Hopefully you have a wonderful day ahead of you, whether that time is spent with someone special or enjoying the serenity of your personal space.
Here at The Uproar, we celebrated Valentine’s Day by crafting newspaper roses to give back to our community on campus. We all felt like little kids again as we played with paper and watercolors, giving old newspaper issues a new life. Each rose is one of a kind, cut from the pages of our history as The Saber.
To those who received one: I hope the joy of our creations found a place in your heart.
Yesterday, I handed out newspaper roses to people on campus and talked to them about their Valentine’s Day plans. It made me so happy, watching their faces light up as each person picked out their rose with glee. Then I asked them, “What does love mean to you?”
“Understanding, acceptance, and patience,” said Madison Forsberg. She’s a freshman majoring in Film Productions and is looking forward to some time alone. “Your partner is a human too. Everybody is their own human. Not everybody is going to be revolving around you. So, love is basically understanding that everyone is their own person and that they have their own life. Patience is a mandatory thing for a lot of people in relationships.”
Friday was a busy day for Jamie Neal, a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education. I found her diligently working her way through signing a stack of holiday cards to give to her old daycare. “It’s about caring for other people even if you don’t really know them that well,” she said. Love for Jamie Neal means caring for all people.
Gregory Woulard, a senior majoring in Psychology, was waiting a few seats over. From the moment he spoke, it was clear that he had a sunny spirit. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, he planned a quiet evening with his sweetheart: cooking dinner, drinking fine wine, and watching a movie together.
“Alright, now for the big question,” I told him. “What does love mean to you?”
“It means the world,” Woulard said. “When you have someone that loves you just as much as you love them, your days can go from a grumpy one in the morning to—when you hear their voices, see them—it turns into a great day. So, I think love is the world, and it’s profound.”
“The way I hear it,” I told him. “You find sanctuary in another soul.”
“I haven’t thought about it like that,” he said. “I’m gonna keep that one for myself.”
I’m also holding onto his words.
For me, love is sacrifice. The more you love someone, the more willing you are to give them your time, your energy, your presence. You give those you love part of your soul, and in return, open yourself up to greater growth. These are the sacrifices that matter, that connect us to the world beyond self. When we love each other, we want to become better people. We want a kinder world for those we love.
Finally, I’ve always thought of love as the only thing in this world that you gain by giving.
Lead with Love,
Ashton Johnson
