Prom is a formal dance in the
last semester of high school for juniors and seniors. Beneath this, it is a rite of passage for every kid who has dreamed of the night for years.
Growing up, it seemed like romcoms romanticized the dance in every way. Today, however, the excitement comes from digging through Pinterest for inspiration, finding a flawless dress,
creating TikToks with your best friends, and gliding through the entrance with the ideal date. The chaos, however, of getting to this level of perfection takes a few scares and tears, but always a bundle of laughs.
Prom Night Prep
Each year of high school brings you one inch closer to prom. While some people get to tag along for the first two years with upperclassmen, some wait two years to get the opportunity to go. It’s the first taste of freedom
before graduation.
There is a special sort of rush that comes with this opportunity. What will you wear? Who will you go with? Where will you take pictures? Get a glimpse into the prep (or panic) of prom through a teen girl’s eyes in this article.
Glitter & Sequins
Glitter and sequins are like sprinkles on cupcakes. They just make everything better. The first few years before prom you probably wanted something extravagant. Something that would make you stand out in the crowd, like when Bianca got revenge on Joey in
10 Things I Hate About You, except a little less violent.
As you got older, the flare might have died down a bit. Now
searching through Pinterest you can find anything you wish, even if you still want a dress that has a million sequins.
Dream Planning
Prom planning is intense to say the least. But before you get there, who will be your date? Whoever it is, you must be
hoping for a promposal. Of course, the only options are:
• A guy showing up at your front door with a gift and a poster.
• A guy gets a mariachi band to run up to you and then they bring in the poster.
• A guy gets their friend group together to make an elaborate dance to ask you.
• A guy shows up outside your window with a boombox.
The ideas may vary over the years in your dreams, but the idea is the same. Obviously, you won't want to know if it is happening, but let's be honest, after all of this prep, who can get past you? Besides that, you have lots of planning to do about where to eat and take pictures. The hardest part of prom may be agreeing with your group about a place to eat.
Cat Fight
Imagine Black Friday shopping, but for dresses, in slow motion. It is a cat fight in those dress stores. Most places won't allow you to hold dresses or get the same dress as someone else from your school. You may not want to look at the price tag either…yikes!
Finding a color may be hard too, there's just too many options! Finding heels is a whole other issue, you always thought it would be a walk in the park to put them on and wear them the whole night. Taking them off not even halfway through the dance is definitely not something you dreamed of happening freshman year.
This is what makes it fun, though! It is worth it to feel even more beautiful than you thought possible for a night. Your dress will be unique and so you. Plus, dancing is much easier once you can’t feel the blisters.
Getting Ready for Prom
The day of prom should be a fairytale–assuming you sleep in, eat whatever you want,
listen to the right playlist, have a bouquet matching your dress, your date gasps as they see you for the first time, and you have the right amount of confidence throughout the night.
Last Chance
As this may be the last semester of high school, you should make the most of every moment. The article "
Your Final High School Semester: Making It Count," written by Shagun Srivastava, provides advice for having fun while experiencing “lasts”. These moments won't last forever, but you can still live in the moment, take pictures, and spend time with the people who mean the most to you.
This means making the most of every second, especially things like your last dance. Take advantage of this first look at freedom and your last look of high school.
Because it is your
last two years of high school, don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Don't choose a dress just because that is what is expected. Be over the top!
The last few years of prom people have been having fun making a statement. Wear the bold colors, bows, glitter, get the fun cutouts, and mix it up with your hair. Confidence is what matters in the end.
Picture Perfect Memories
Is it possible to have a perfect prom night without the panic that comes with it? I suppose not. It is part of the prom’s charm to throw even the strangest obstacles in your path.
Despite any mishaps, do what makes you happy throughout the night and be confident. No matter the ups and downs you face getting to that night, the memories will be unforgettable.
