When Olivia Calcerano was in elementary school, Valentine's Day was never about romance.
Instead, she made cards for her classmates and teachers, focusing more on friendship and the love she had around her.
Calcerano, now a senior studying physics, aims to bring this mindset back. She is the vice president of The Association of Women in Physics at ASU, which is hosting a Valentine's Day event to write notes of encouragement to local girls interested in STEM.
Other organizations across campus have been preparing to host holiday events of their own this week — all focused on community outreach and friendship, not necessarily romance.
According to a 2024 Bread Financial survey, this is a national trend. Gen Z is the generation most likely to enjoy Valentine's Day, as well as to buy gifts for parents or friends. Through new traditions like the ones across ASU, they have changed the holiday to be about having connections with others and celebrating all kinds of love.
"(Valentine's Day) was really about friendship and being kind and being grateful for the relationships you have," Calcerano said. "It's easy, when you see it through that light, to be able to say 'I am grateful for science, and I want to incorporate that into the day.'"
Naomi Carl, a senior studying astrophysics and physics and the president of the Association of Women in Physics, said it was important for their event to emphasize that people could find fun and community through science.
Both Carl and Calcerano agreed that holiday-themed arts and crafts were a good way for students to have fun and be creative while still promoting STEM.
"Especially as we're trying to build a stronger community of women in our department, and gender minorities, it's important that we show love to our community and to our friends within our department, as well as doing outreach for kids and our community," Carl said.
For Carl, the club's Valentine's Day event is about being inclusive and welcoming to everyone, giving students the chance to express themselves and socialize.
"When I was younger, I struggled a lot with being social and outgoing," Carl said. "In that way, Valentine's Day is important because it gives you the opportunity to show people you care about them."
Sophia Kemling, a sophomore studying nursing, is doing the same thing on the Downtown campus. She is part of the Resident Hall Association and Changemaker Central, both organizations that are hosting Valentine's Day events this week.
Kemling said RHA is more focused on reaching out to ASU students — for example, they are hosting a speed friendship event for this holiday — while Changemaker is more focused on reaching out to the greater Phoenix community.
"Both of those aspects are really good, because we have to make sure we're loving both ourselves and our community as well as our whole neighborhood," Kemling said.
For Kemling, these events have been about spreading kindness, which has helped change her view on Valentine's Day.
"Just like back in elementary school, when we used to give out chocolates to our friends, it's like bringing that back," Kemling said. "You don't have to have a date for Valentine's, but if you have a friend for it, it just makes it all the better."
Alex Yelverton, a junior in medical studies, also found that her view of Valentine's Day has changed after helping with events for Changemaker this week.
"These events allow us to expand, and it also allows us to meet new people that we learn to love, whether that's platonic or romantic," Yelverton said. "It causes us to interact with people we wouldn't have interacted with otherwise."
Yelverton said whether or not she is in a relationship around Valentine's Day, spreading kindness and love throughout her community is always something she will value.
"There's never too much love in this world, and so being able to find small ways of kindness, small ways to show little tidbits of love in someone's life, is really, really important," she said.
Finding friends and community at ASU has especially impacted Yelverton as an out of state student.
"I have built my own little makeshift family down here," Yelverton said. "And so (Valentine's Day is) another way to celebrate them."
Calcerano said the meaning of this holiday has changed over time for her as well, leading her to celebrate people from all different walks of life.
"Now that I do have a romantic partner, (Valentine's Day) is a bit more personal. It's progressed into what adult society believes it should be," Calcerano said. "But I still do value the friendship part of it."
Students at ASU often buy gifts or treats for their loved ones to celebrate this holiday.
Kara Vance, the assistant general manager at Voodoo Donuts, said Valentine's Day is one of their busiest times of the year.
Voodoo Donuts is a donut shop near the Tempe campus that often caters and hosts events for ASU students. One of their most popular items in February are conversation heart donuts.
"We haven't released the conversation hearts yet, but a lot of people get them for their parents, significant others, friends, teachers," Vance said.
Vance's goal for Voodoo Donuts is to celebrate friendship and connect with others.
"Even within the past couple years and outside of Voodoo, a lot of people have expanded the meaning of Valentine's Day to love and friendship in general, and not necessarily just celebrating the romantic relationships that you have," Vance said. "That's a lot of fun. I'm glad we (Voodoo Donuts) can play a part in that."
As Valentine's Day weekend approaches, students around ASU are celebrating love and care of all kinds through their friends, families and the greater community.
For Carl, the new meaning and approach to this holiday is a positive thing.
"It's important to remember you are loved and you belong, and it's nice to get together with the community and appreciate that," Carl said.
Edited by Abigail Beck, Sophia Ramirez, and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporter at pkfung@asu.edu and follow @FungPippa on X.
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Pippa is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication with minors in political science and German. This is her third semester with The State Press. She has also worked at Blaze Radio and the Los Alamos National Lab.
