Cupid, conversation hearts, and cliche cards—oh my! These symbols appear once a year to commemorate the holiday for lovers: Valentine’s Day. In honor of this celebration, the peer-mentorship program—Teens Nurturing Teens—participated in their annual tradition of selling sugar cookies and carnations.

During the first full week of February, various TNT members sat in the lunchroom to sell these items. There, students could buy $2 sugar cookies or carnations in either white, pink, or red. Based on the organization’s own definition, the white carnations symbolize friendship, the pink symbolize one’s crush, and the red symbolize love. Whether this has any bearing on which color people purchase, the flowers are undoubtedly in competition with the sugar cookies, which seem to be a universal favorite around the school.

Sales lasted for a week with the final day on Friday, February 10th. Cookies and carnations were then sorted by a few TNT members themselves on Valentine’s Day before handing them out as a treat during second hour.

Though the statistics from previous years are not on a master spreadsheet, this year’s sales were very successful. In total, over 200 cookies and 20 carnations were sold! According to the memory of the organization’s advisor, this year’s sales set records for the amount of cookies purchased; this could partially be contributed to The Sweet Stop and Sandwich Shoppe, which bakes the heart-shaped cookies perfectly each year! Also, thanks to Harmony Gardens and Floral for providing the beautiful carnations year after year. Without those local businesses, this act of love within the school would not be possible.

For the student body, having something to look forward to—such as receiving a tasty treat during class—is much appreciated during this time of year as winter seems to drag on. Here is to all the lovers, friends, and kind souls who purchased cookies and carnations for someone they appreciate!