As the month of February advances, the spirit of love seems to be all around us. With couples gearing up to surprise their loved ones with flowers or teddy bears and as stores stock their shelves with conversation hearts, it is safe to say that “love is in the air.” Whether you choose to be inspired or repulsed by this time of year, this holiday seems particularly difficult to avoid. In honor of Valentine's Day, I spoke with ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ University students about their favorite couples (around campus and otherwise).
“My favorite couple is my friends Zane and Thandi because they are there for each other through thick and thin [and] they support each other. They encourage the people around them to love out loud, to live authentically and to pursue God with all their hearts. They also don't take life too seriously, and they love to have fun together.”
—Jewel Murray (graduate student, physical therapy)
“My favorite couple is my boyfriend and I. I like how [he] and I seem to be in sync a lot. [In] different conversations we’ve been in, our responses tend to line up without us meaning to. Another thing I like is how easy the relationship is; it’s not stressful, not exhausting, it’s almost like a sigh of relief at the end of the day. A moment to shut out worries from life and just embrace the moment.”
—Hannah Sagini (junior, psychology)
“Me and my man because [we] really love each other, and the vibes are just right.”
—Zipporah Petgrave (freshman, psychology)
“Zipporah and her man because they just have a ‘best friend energy.’”
—Naheima Bryan (freshman, speech-language pathology)
“Dean Hunter and her husband [Claval], they are so involved in campus and in ministry. They work well together and really do their best to pour into students and the people around them.”
—Anna Williams (junior, speech-language pathology)
“Joanna and Lucille, because they are really cute.”
—Alyssa Gelin (senior, business administration)
“My favorite couple is Portia and Nik because they are both good friends and are really cool.”
—Joanna Cardenas (junior, social work)
“My favorite couple is my friends Kirsten and Colin, because I admire the way they support each other. They have a great dynamic, individually, they are both kind and genuine people, but together they are even better.”
—Jun Ma (senior, medical laboratory sciences)
“My favorite couple is Natalia and Guilherme because they are super cute and have been friends for a while and they’re like besties. I love how they interact!”
—Angelisse Villamizar (junior, pre-occupational therapy)
“I would have to say Eli and Celeste because it’s a very genuine relationship. They’ve been together for a while, and I just feel like they fit each other.”
—Kato Golooba-Mutebi (junior, finance)
“I would say Jake and Ari because I love how kind they are to those around them. They’re both incredibly engaging and make interactions feel warm and welcoming. I also appreciate that they don’t give off an uncomfortable ‘this is my man’ or ‘this is my girl’ vibe—they’re secure in their relationship without being overbearing. Every time I interact with them, they’re nothing but kind, and I truly appreciate that!”
—Natalie Makumbe (sophomore, speech pathology)
“My favorite couple is my mom and dad because even when they don't agree, they work to solve the problem respectfully. I’ve learned what a real relationship looks like from them. No relationship is perfect but sometimes you have to listen to one another to make it better.”
—Stenia DaGraça (sophomore, business marketing)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.