Valentine’s Day is a holiday during which many people in romantic relationships celebrate romantic love, passion and regard it as a prominent day all over the world.
Partners often shower each other with gifts, flowers or other displays of affection — and devote a meaningful amount of time with people they love.
But what does this holiday mean for people in long-distance relationships — especially for students at Morgan State University?
Many students experience the challenge of loving someone who lives far away. Knyalah Campbell, a junior in business administration and a New York native, said she and her partner met in March 2022 and have “been official” since May 28, 2022.
“She’s from my hometown, New York, so that’s how the long distance came into [play],” said Campbell. “She [has] sent flowers for the last 3 years to my dorm. We send each other little paragraphs through messages. This year we are going to actually celebrate in New York and exchange gifts — and eat out of course.”
Campbell said maintaining relationships, especially a long distance relationship, isn’t easy, but it can be worth the struggle.
“Don’t give up and remember that everything takes time. Communication is key … if you really want that person, try your hardest to make it work despite the obstacles,” said Campbell.
Destiny Bocas is a junior in fine arts and met her girlfriend, Serena Edwards, during her freshman year. However, their attachment didn’t blossom until they reconnected last year and have been together since October 2023.
“This is our first Valentine’s together so we will be celebrating,” said Bocas. “We’re going to watch a movie and send each other flowers and gifts. We will also be hanging out during Valentine’s Day weekend.”
Edwards goes to school in New York while Bocas attends classes at Morgan — making the distance between them approximately 190 miles. According to Bocas, trust is paramount in relationships — especially if the couple is long distance. She said, “I feel like if you don’t have trust, you have no relationship.”
Kiyea Lasha’s story is a bit different and began on the sixth floor of Blount Towers. Lasha graduated in 2023 with a degree in liberal arts, concentrating in sociology. She met her partner as a freshman, began dating them as a sophomore and “three and a half years flew by.”
Lasha and her partner have been together for about four years — and together, they still celebrate Valentine’s day but said the added distance means it looks different for them.
“Rather than going all out, we just prioritize intimacy and spend the time on that day just by talking about whatever or whoever we watch on television,” said Lasha. “It’s really hard in the physical aspect, but when you know that this is a period in your life that includes this person to see if you can make it to the next level.
While Campbell, Lasha and Bocas all traverse their long distance relationships differently — they all echoed important aspects to cultivate in any relationship: trust, perseverance and a thorough understanding of why a person wants to be with their partner.
“Years of a love for someone [can] teach you so much — not only about them but for yourself,” said Lasha. “My only advice is to see why you love that person — outside of how they make you feel and what they do for you … what keeps you around and committed is the most important thing.”
