Ucf 2 5 proof1

February 13, 2014 | Volume 3, Issue 18 | Orlando, FL

www.theodysseyonline.com | @TheOdyssey_UCF | Facebook.com/TheOdysseyUCF

WHateVer, ValeNtiNeS DaY page 2

GReeK OF tHe WeeK: CHRIS HIXOn page 3 An Ode tO LenO page 6 nO VALentIne? nO PROBLeM page 12

2 editor's note

www.theodysseyonline.com

WHATEVER, VALENTINES DAY Hello lovers! Happy almost Valentines Day! In a relationship or not, you have to admit that Valentines Day is a cool holiday. My parents never fail to forget to send me a card every year reminding me that with or without a boyfriend I’ll always be their Valentine (awww).

When it comes to the “dreaded” February 14th, I refuse to mope around all day cursing out couples under my breath. Instead why not focus on the three Valentines I DO have, my mother, my father, and of course… myself because I’m pretty sure no one will ever love me as much as I love myself, sorry past boyfriends.

With that being said, there’s no need to be bitter and hiss at every couple you see holding hands. Why should you focus all your energy on something you don’t have? Why not focus all your energy into you having THE BEST DAY EVER. Grab some wine with your friends, get a mani/pedi, or if you’re a

dude well… play video games because 2/14 is just another day in your masculine bubble.

CASSIE WILKINSON Zeta Tau Alpha

I also find it necessary to Editor-in-Chief not get swept up in all the Cassie is a junior studying Englishromance. Just because creative writing. You may contact her at cwilk92@knights.ucf.edu. today is about love and kisses and fat babies in diapers, that doesn’t mean you can text your ex “I miss you.” I’m guilty of this horrible decision. I tend to forgive and forget all issues and tension just because love is somewhat in the air. REMEMBER… Valentines Day is not a time to make irrational movie decisions. DO NOT have three glasses of wine and start thinking about the person who stabbed your heart into bite sized cubes.

DO NOT show up at your ex’s door in the rain singing “I’ll be your crying shoulder!!” It’s creepy and will not be appreciated. Valentines Day is not a movie or a free pass to rekindle old and broken relationships. There are 24 hours in this day, just like every other day history has every recognized. You’ll be fine.

Besides for February 14th we have plenty more events to ogle over. The perfect way to beat the Valentines Day blues is to see an amazing DJ. Okay, maybe that’s not the perfect way but it’ll get you out of the house. On Saturday February 15th, Trap DJ RL Grime will be gracing Orlando with his presence. The 23 year old LA native is famous for his trap remixes of Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction” and Kanye West’s “Mercy.” He’s insanely talented, so if you care to cheer up after V-Day purchase a ticket to his show. I’ll see ya there!

tHe OdYSSeY At FLORIdA EXECUTIVE TEAM President

Matthew Gruda, Sigma Nu

CREATIVE TEAM Editor-in-Chief

Cassie Wilkinson, Zeta Tau Alpha

OLYMPIA MEDIA GROUP 888.272.2595 | OlympiaMediaGroup.com Will McGuinness, Managing Editor Grant Hohulin, Designer

We want a representative from every house!

To apply for a writing, photography or sales position, TheOdysseyOnline.com/creative © 2014 Olympia Media Group, LLC All Rights Reserved.

The Odyssey is a private entity not associated or governed by the University of Central Florida or UCF Greek life office. The views and opinions shared in The Odyssey are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Odyssey and Olympia Media Group.

campus connections

www.theodysseyonline.com

GREEK OF THE WEEK:

3

CHRIS HIXON STEPHANIE GOENAGA Zeta Tau Alpha

Stephanie is a senior studying human communication. You may contact her at smgoenaga@knights. ucf.edu.

On April 5th, 2014, UCF students and much of the Orlando community will spend 12 hours dancing “for the kids” at Knight-Thon, UCF’s annual dance marathon that hopes to raise $365,000 for The Children’s Miracle Network.

One of the Greeks helping to make this event possible is Theta Chi brother Christopher Hixon.

discovered his passion in the annual dance marathon.

Chris Hixon states that, “Knight-Thon unites more than 1,000 Greeks and non-Greeks in the fight to help local hospitals help so many kids get the same opportunities we all have been blessed with- to grow up without being sick, to go to college and do the things we take for granted, like going Greek and being a part of something bigger than ourselves.” Each day until the event, he, along with the rest of the Knight-Thon team, is working to get to that $365,000 fundraising goal. The event goes even further than raising money. “What’s so great about Knight-Thon is that you aren’t just fundraising to help kids in local hospitals, you’re connecting with the families whose lives you impact,” he says. “Giving back and Hixon credits joining Greek life with his helping make more miracles happen in the Orlando area is the best thing I could involvement in Knight-Thon. He rushed Theta Chi in have done on this campus.”

Spring 2011, and after holding several positions

“

within his fraternity, he eventually discovered his passion in the annual dance marathon.

Most students get involved with Knight-Thon because they want to raise money to save children diagnosed with serious diseases. For Hixon, the cause hits very close to home- he was one of those kids. Fifteen years ago this month, at the age of 6, he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic Leukemia.

Hixon credits joining Greek life with his involvement in Knight-Thon. He rushed Theta Chi in Spring 2011, and after holding several positions within his fraternity, he eventually

While currently serving as the Special Projects Director for Knight-Thon and as Chaplain on his fraternity’s Executive Board, Hixon is finding the time to prepare for grad school applications. “My future has a lot of prospects as of right now. My end goal would be a political speechwriter in Washington, D.C. but I’d love to work as a lobbyist or for a non-profit organization,” he says. As for how Greek life has prepared him, Hixon says he doesn’t know where he’d be without it. “You definitely get what you put into it and even more. Even though the letters are different, every organization represents values that stay with us far beyond our collegiate years. Being Greek means being the best version of yourself and constantly staying surrounded by people who motivate you to accomplish everything you could every dream of.”

“

4

special occasions: Valentine’s Day

www.theodysseyonline.com

A LONG DISTANCE VALENTINE STEPHANIE ISAAC Zeta Tau Alpha

Stephanie is a sophomore studying journalism. You may contact her at singinstar935@aol.com.

any relationship but must be even stronger in order for a long distance relationship to work. Many people often judge others who are involved in this kind of relationship.

Individuals often feel that long distance relationships, especially in college, are virtually pointless because college is a time when you should be having fun and exploring.

What happens though when you can’t picture yourself with anyone else and only want to be with the person you are crazy about? Even if they are miles and miles away?

This is where long distance relationships occur. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great being able to go out and flirt with guys just to let loose and have fun. Nothing compares to being told that you are loved and treats you like you are their treasure. If you know in your heart that there is a person who loves you for you and doesn’t judge you then long distance is worth it.

Valentine’s day is often seen as a commercial holiday,which it definitely is for most

Now how does Valentine’s Day work when two people

people. However, if you find yourself in a serious relationship Valentine’s Day can be

are in a long distance relationship? In the event that two people are in a long distance

seen as so much more. When thinking about Valentine’s Day, scrumptious chocolates,

relationship and are able to be with one another on Valentine’s Day then there is nothing

breathtaking jewelry, and oversized teddy bears often come to mind. Valentine’s Day

to worry about. However, if a couple is in a long distance relationship and cannot

can mean so much more to couples that are deeply in love. Through the 365 days a

be together for this holiday there are a few things they can do. The first thing I feel

year couples will often say “I love you.” However, I feel that Valentine’s Day offers an

is necessary is to send one another gifts to show how you feel. Whether it be a card,

individual a true declaration of his or her love. Valentine’s Day can be an emotional

chocolates, jewelry, pjs, etc., a Valentine’s Day gift always lets the person you love know

holiday for individuals that have recently suffered a breakup or are single and just wish

you care. Send gifts that will make your loved one smile and even include something

they had that special someone to share the holiday of love with. What I’d like to touch

so they have a reminder of you. Spritzing your perfume on their gift or sending them

upon is how couples in long distance relationships celebrate Valentine’s Day.

baked goods are excellent options. If you have the means to see one another through the internet then that is definitely a must. If you are able to Skype that is a great way to see

I happen to be currently involved in a long distance relationship. Let me tell you now, it is not easy by any means. It takes two very determined and loving people to make a long distance relationship work. There are always fears on both ends as to what their loved one is doing and if they actually miss their partner. Trust is the ultimate key in

the person you love on Valentine’s Day. I would even suggest opening one another’s gifts while Skyping to make it even sweeter! Valentine’s Day knows no bounds when two people are in love; even from miles and miles away.

6 feature story

www.theodysseyonline.com

An Ode to Leno

Before I even begin my ode to Jay Leno, I normally like to cover sports every week

With so much time now not spent writing jokes and preparing for his nightly show,

and with the Super Bowl last week I feel obligated to say something. Here it goes…The

Leno prepares to hit the road doing what he loves best, stand up comedy. He hit the road

Super Bowl was terrible. Terrible commercials, terrible performance, Broncos should’ve

right after his last show aired Thursday Feb. 6 and is currently traveling through Florida.

won, but I’m not bitter… That’s all I got to say about that.

Moving on, I wanted to take this time to make somewhat of a toast to someone who I’ve grown up with watching on all of those late, sleepless nights. He’s been my favorite talk show host, I’m going to miss him greatly, but at least he’s not going out in vain.

Jay Leno’s relationship with the Tonight Show started in 1987 when he became somewhat of a regular substitute for Johnny Carson, who just so happened to be a huge influence in Leno’s life. In 1992, the announcement was made and Leno replaced the most famous host in talk show history.

Following someone like that would be very intimidating, but Leno was up for the challenge. After 22 years of the Leno era, Jay has been on top and has never looked back. When interviewed about why he’s leaving, Leno responds by saying “I was always a road comic, this was just my day job.”

When asked about his Saturday Night Live alum successor, Jimmy Fallon, and what he’ll bring to the show, Leno starts by saying “I mean there really is a true generation gap, when I see him do a dance number with Justin Timberlake well … I can’t do that. I get it.”

www.theodysseyonline.com

feature story

7

BAILEY GLESSNER Sigma Nu

Bailey is a sophomore studying hospitality. You may contact him at baileyglessner@aim.com.

Leno’s life has been more than just comedy though. Leno, who reportedly makes $32 million a year has been very charitable with his money. His most recent charitable donation came when Jay put his Fiat 500 up for auction. The Fiat auctioned off for $385,000 all of which went straight to the Wounded Warriors Project, which helps veterans recover by providing them with temporary housing.

Although Leno has had an incredible impact for both television and the community, Jay has been a target for hate from a few fellow talk show hosts. The biggest hater of Leno would have to be Jimmy Kimmel, who has taken shots at Jay in multiple interviews.

Kimmel grew up a huge fan of David Letterman, who spent a good portion of his career coming on after Johnny Carson in the time slot. When Carson retired, many believed Letterman would take over the Tonight Show. Instead Leno took over which left many bitter feeling like Jay took the job right out from under David. Since then, Kimmel has made it no secret about how he feels about Jay. With Jay leaving and Fallon coming in to take his place, a new era of talk show will roll in. Fallon has already been host for his talk show, which has proven to have been a huge success, so we can only assume this trend will continue as he started his new journey. Unfortunately, the show has been relocated from California to NYC, and forcing NBCUniversal to lay off 164 employees. In 2012, a smaller round of layoffs occurred, but Leno took a pay cut to preserve jobs. Sadly, nothing like that can be done.

Jay Leno has proven to be one of the best in talk show history. He will forever be considered one of the greats, along with Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, and many more. His values and characters have shown through both on and off camera.

After 4,614 episodes with Leno, many memorable nights have came and gone. I wish him the best of luck on the road, and even more to Fallon; you’ve got some big shoes to fill. So here’s my toast to you Jay, you will forever be missed.

8

special occasions: Valentine’s Day

www.theodysseyonline.com

ROSeS ARe Red, V-dAY SeeMS BLUe, CeLeBRAte YOU.

It started mid January. A little bit of pink here, some hearts there. I brushed it off by thinking to myself “you’ve got this girl. Remember how fun New Years was? Girls in relationships didn’t have as much fun as you did.” As the isles of Publix, Walgreens and CVS started to explode with chocolate, Valentine’s Day cards, and all the weird things people like to dye pink for you to buy for your sweetheart, I still kept my cool. I even stared that 6 ft. tall teddy bear holding an “I Love You” pillow in the eyes as I purchased my Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food pint. Bring it on V-Day, you’re not getting to me this year.

It wasn’t until the Victoria’s Secret Valentine’s Day photos came out that I completely lost it. Gorgeous, half naked girls with their hair blowing in the wind taunted me with their arrows, rose petals and kissy faces. Their lace lingerie complete with bows, sparkles, and trap doors fit their size double zero bodies perfectly. It’s like they’re saying to me “not only do you have no reason to buy these expensive tiny pieces of cloth covered in sequins, but you’ll never look like me. You could try though.” Then I started imagining Orlando Bloom giving Miranda Kerr a rose for every moment he thought about her and it was all downhill from there.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I hate Valentine’s Day. I mean, what’s not to love?

Chocolates, hearts, flowers and everything is my favorite color: pink! It’s just not as fun for all of us that don’t have a significant other, but that’s no reason that we shouldn’t be able to celebrate this day of love as well. You could sit in your room and watch The Notebook, The Vow, and Dear John while crying, feeling sorry for yourself and inhaling a box of chocolates. Or you could swipe on fire engine red lipstick, slip on your highest heels and go out to celebrate your one true

love. The person that has always been there for you no matter what, through thick and thin, the good and the bad. Yourself.

Who was the person that saw you at your absolute worst during that terrible break up?

Who was the one that was the Zeta Tau Alpha proudest of you when you finally finished that 10-page Alexa is a senior studying broadcast research paper? You. You’ve journalism. You may contact her at rodriguez.alexa@knights.ucf.edu. actually seen yourself at your best, worst, and everything in between. Sure there’s that best friend who has seen the majority of your ups and downs, but let’s be honest, there were some times when you texted him and didn’t tell her.

ALEXA RODRIGUEZ

Valentine’s Day is a day about celebrating love, crazy unconditional love. Just because you don’t have a significant other, doesn’t mean you should sit on the sidelines. So go out and celebrate your amazing self. Why? Because you rock, it’s fun and it will save you the millions of calories you were going to eat in pizza and ice cream. Buy yourself that really expensive bangle you’ve been eyeing. Treat yourself to Godiva instead of Hershey’s. Buy that 6 ft. tall teddy bear I mentioned earlier and rip it apart if that’s what’s going to make you happy because you deserve to be just as happy on this day as anybody in a relationship. Don’t ever spend another Valentine’s Day feeling sorry for yourself and crying. Celebrate how fabulous you are and know that one day someone is going to see that too. You’re awesome and if you ever need a reminder, just listen to the new Beyoncé album. You’re welcome.

10

debate & discuss

www.theodysseyonline.com

SUPeR BOWL And HUMAn tRAFFICKInG: MYtH OR FACt? When you think of the Super Bowl, you usually think of great food, lots of beer, and a day where you actually enjoy watching commercials.

However, this national sport “holiday” is claimed to create a surge in human trafficking.

Surprised? So was I.

same Google search in 6 months from now wouldn’t have nearly as many results.

MELISSA PROCKO Zeta Tau Alpha

Melissa is a freshman studying anthropology. You may contact her at mprocko@knights.ucf.edu.

Human trafficking is still the second-largest criminal industry in the world, (after drug dealing) according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. However, there is no evidence to support a link between the Super Bowl and trafficking. Despite initially considering the business opportunity for those involved in human trafficking because of the rise of individuals traveling to one location for such a large event, the lack of evidence is just the medias way of creating a quick PR campaign. The Super Bowl may not actually increase human trafficking, but it sure does increase public awareness.

However; after further research into the issue, I only discovered that this was a myth started about 10 years ago. So why is Facebook being overloaded with articles about human trafficking? According to Anna Merlan, author of “The Myth of Sex Trafficking and the Super Bowl Returns,” the myth has been prolonged by factors such as politicians looking for headlines or anti-trafficking organizations looking for donations. Christopher Smith, co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking even stated that statistics on the issue are difficult to collect. Yet, he still claimed that “we know this is happening.”

Jan. 19 marked the squad’s ninth top five appearance, in a row, at the College Cheerleading National Championships. If that wasn’t unbelievable enough, the Knights finished second overall for the second year in a row. It was a proud moment, especially being in the Knight’s home turf at the Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports Complex here in Orlando, Florida.

This trend of creating myths is a media technique called “false equivalence.” The issue is presented in the media and debated from both sides, when, in fact, one of the sides has zero evidence to support their false argument. Another example of this is global warming.

While Googling “Super Bowl and sex trafficking myths” may provide you with many results from “credible” news sources on the eve of the biggest NFL game of the year, the

The success of UCF’s cheer squad has been astronomical. They’re a hidden diamond in the rough of this young school, but they’ve proven, year in and year out, that they’re one of the most prestigious programs not only on campus, but nationwide. Go check them out, support them, these guys and girls are the real deal and continue to be one of the top performing programs we have here in Knight nation.

The Knights are lead by coach, Linda Gooch, who has lead the squad to national titles in 2003 and 2007. She has also been the backbone of this program’s success, resulting in top 10 appearances 19 times in the past 21 years.

www.theodysseyonline.com

philanthropy & service

THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: UNPLUGGED?

11

CASSIE WILKINSON Zeta Tau Alpha

Cassie is a junior studying Englishcreative writing. You may contact her at cwilk92@knights.ucf.edu.

Meaning your grandmother and thirteen year old cousin will be watching the same performance. Different generations agreeing on the same performer is no easy task, which is why one year The Who played but The Black Eyed Peas took the stage the following year.

However I found this year’s lineup to be quite relevant to my age demographic with pop sensation Bruno Mars being paired up with one of my all time favorite rock bands, The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Bruno Mars has the voice of God himself, while Anthony Kiedis and Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers are two musicians I would sell my soul to have lunch with. Needless to say, I was very very very excited to see these two come together.

Ah yes, Superbowl Sunday.

A classic American tradition that has been worshipped for the past 48 years. The beer, the hotdogs, the oversized jerseys… everything about this “holiday” is completely American. Even if you’re not a football fan, you can enjoy the commercials that marketing teams all across the globe have been slaving over for the past few months. You can also be like me and anxiously await the (drumroll please)…

HALFTIME SHOW! The halftime show of the Superbowl is known for being over the top entertaining. From seeing Janet Jackson’s boob to watching Paul McCartney bring tears of happiness across the country, every single halftime is an epic SHOW. The Superbowl halftime show is a difficult one to book because literally every age demographic is tuned in.

The show was amazing with Bruno Mars opening up and then coming together to play “Give It Away’ with The Red Hot Chili Peppers. There were tons of lights and energy coming from both musicians. The show was great and left me pleasantly satisfied… that is until the morning after when photos starting popping up all over the internet of Red Hot Chili Pepper’s bassist, Flea, not exactly plugged in.

What does it mean for Flea to not be plugged in? It’s the same as if a singer’s microphone was off. It’s lip syncing but for bassists. I first found photos of Flea’s bass guitar unplugged on a pop culture website called Vulture and decided to look a little deeper. Now, I have seen The Red Hot Chili Peppers perform many times before this and never once questioned if they were pre-recorded or if they were actually playing live, so these photos were a bit surprising. As I dug deeper I found that on February 4th, Flea published a letter to the public of over 900 words explaining why he was in fact not plugged in.

The letter can be found at http://redhotchilipeppers.com/news but Flea basically explains that the NFL didn’t want to risk the band having bad sound quality. They only had a few minutes to set up for the halftime show and the NFL knew it would be risky. In my opinion, a completely fair reason to not be plugged in. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a dedicated band who destroy stages everywhere with their live music.

Fans should understand that sound is everything especially when playing in front of 115 million viewers. The letter is heartfelt and real and I honestly suggest reading it before forming any uneducated opinions of the band. Would fans rather give RHCP the unfair advantage of not being set up and playing a show with bad sound quality, or would we rather rock on without asking questions? It’s no doubt a controversial topic, but hey it’s the freaking Red Hot Chili Peppers… this ain’t no Ashley Simpson.

12

special occasions: Valentine’s Day

www.theodysseyonline.com

No Valentine?

No Problem

Do you keep waking up from that reoccurring nightmare where the aisles are quickly filling up with red and pink and the only shape you seem to see is hearts? Well pull yourself together because you’re not dreaming or hallucinating, it’s Valentine’s Day. Why the long face? So many people look forward to this day as one of the most wonderful times of the year. But I know what you’re thinking, “Yeah, if you have a boyfriend that’ll wine and dine you and spoil you with chocolates and flowers.” It’s time to reprogram your brain and see both sides of the holiday. Valentine’s Day might be a celebration of lovey dovey couples but it’s also a celebration of being single and free to do whatever you want.

While all these couples are out and about or doing their romantic night in, you have endless opportunities of things to do with your single friends. So turn that bitter frown upside down and start planning your night of festivities. Here’s ten ways that you can celebrate the holiday you keep thinking you need to dread.

1. Go out to dinner: Take a night off from cooking and go out to dinner with your single gals. Just because you aren’t in a reservation for two doesn’t mean you can’t pick out a restaurant and bring in a reservation of 10. Round up your girlfriends and make plans to go to a unique restaurant you’ve never been too.

2. Potluck at the house: Have each of your friends bring their own dish and have a potluck! What’s better than delicious food, sweet desserts and good company?

3. Night on the town: This is a go to for most single girls. Gather up your group and

plan a fabulous night out. Pick out a club or buy tickets to a concert a head of time.

4. Order-in and movie night: This is so Sex in the City. Order food from your favorite take-out restaurant, which will probably be some form of Asian if you’re anything like me. Then rack up a long list of the best romantic comedies and get lost in some of your favorite love stories.

5. Take a road trip: If you don’t want to sit at home or go out somewhere familiar, hop in your car with your friends and take a spontaneous road trip. There’s nothing like the element of surprise to take your mind off of all the negativity towards being single on this silly day.

6. Cross something off your bucket list: Find your bucket list that’s probably buried under all the papers on your desk from the day you wrote it. Pick the item you’ve been aching to do and don’t stop until you can cross it off your list. Maybe you can cross more than one thing out in one day.

7. Mani/Pedi and spa day: Take a day to love yourself. After all, it is Valentine’s Day and it’s all about love right? Is it selfish to spend it treating yourself to a manicure, pedicure and a day at the spa? The answer to that is no. Take the day to kick back, relax and pamper yourself. Think about it like a second birthday.

8. Shop till you drop: Retail therapy. Also known as the only kind of therapy that most girls understand and actually show results from. If you’re feeling down because you’re single, first slap yourself for letting the pink and red hearts get to your head,

www.theodysseyonline.com

and then take a trip to the mall. Nothing makes a girl happier than buying new clothes, shoes, handbags… need I go on?

special occasions: Valentine’s Day

KAILEE SMITH Zeta Tau Alpha

Kailee is a senior studying

interpersonal organizational 9. Family weekend: If you communications. You may contact her at kaileesmith21@aol.com. think that you aren’t loved on Valentine’s Day than you are really becoming delusional. Hello! You have a family that loves and supports you so go home and spend the weekend with the people who love you most. Nothing screams comfort than home-cooked meals and mom and dad’s hugs.

10. Go to a theme park: People, we live in Orlando! We have endless theme parks are our finger tips! Okay so maybe not endless, but I can guarantee you can’t visit them all in a day. Or can you? There’s your Valentine’s Day challenge.

With all of these options, you’ll probably end up doing more than one of them. And when this holiday approaches remember, being single is fabulous and you have to own it! You have no one to answer to, no significant other to feel responsible for and most of all you get to spend money on your favorite person, you! So soak in all those chocolate covered candies and heart shaped balloons because you get an entire day to do something crazy.

13

14 4 reaSoNS GaleNtiNe’S DaY trUmPS ValeNtiNe’S DaY

special occasions: Valentine’s Day

www.theodysseyonline.com

We all know that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, but a far more important holiday is looming in the distance: Chi Omega Galentine’s Day! What is Christina is a sophomore studying Galentine’s Day? ONLY THE advertising and public relations.

BEST DAY OF THE YEAR! Every You may contact her at christinamonroe@live.com.

February 13th, you’re supposed to gather your lady friends together, ditch your boytoys, and just “kick it breakfast style”. It’s all about ladies celebrating ladies.

CHRISTINA MONROE

Here are 4 reasons why Galentine’s beat Valetine’s every time: 1. Your best friend has seen you at your worst and they still love you Besties don’t care if you’re rocking a shower cap and an avocado mask –– heck, they’ll even join you in your in-home spa activites! Your BFFs don’t care if you’re not dolled up or put together; they love you for YOU! You don’t have to impress your best friend. You can be yourself.

2. Your best friend has dropped everything to come and rescue you from multiple dire situations Best friends are reliable, loyal, and they will not judge you. Gal pals understand; you talk to them and everything magically feels okay in this big, crazy world.

3. Your best friend isn’t trying to get in your pants You can cuddle up and binge on Netflix together for hours with no pressure to do anything but that. Sorry, horndogs.

4. Your best friend has probably done so much for you and they deserve the appreciation Your best friend will never let you down, forget to give you a call, or break those date night plans you’ve had all week. A bestie is there after every break up and through every ex. They know when to show up at your door with a tub of ice cream and a shoulder to cry on.

While, yes, having a significant other can be wonderful –– boyfriends come and go, but friends are forever. Show your ladies how much you love ‘em this Galentine’s Day!

PAGE 15