Just by looking at the title, I’m sure you rolled your eyes, groaned, and said, “really? Another cliche prom article?” Well, this one isn’t going to be like that, or at least I hope it’s not, because I don’t know if it’s ever been written about before.

We all have preconceptions about prom- we think it’s going to be the best night of our teenage lives, and a once in a lifetime experience- if not the best high school memory. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait for the time to come when I got asked to prom by a hot boy in a creative way- writing it on a pizza, writing it across the sky (ambitious, I’m aware), or come to my class in a suit and tie with flowers. My dress would stand out from the social norm, and I would feel like a princess.

Fast forward to my junior year, when my senior best friends reached their time of fun. I expected them to be excited. Although they got beautiful dresses and had cool dates, it seemed that all they did was stress.

Oh my God, I have to lose ten pounds before I fit into this dress. 

Do I really have to pay that much for the cabin, dress, heels, makeup, hair, and transportation?

WHO AM I GOING TO GO WITH!?!?!? WHY HASN’T HE ASKED ME YET??!?!?!

I can’t find a dress, I just can’t.

She has the same dress as me, I can’t believe she bought it after I put it on the Facebook group.

The chaos overwhelmed me and made me realize that my childhood dream was NOT realistic. Even though my friends looked gorgeous on their night and had a pretty good time, I still wasn’t convinced prom was going to be my thing by the time it rolled around. So, I waited patiently for the spring to come, and I still wasn’t motivated. It’s not like I don’t have a super awesome friend group to take pictures and party with after, or take a friend with me as a date, but in my opinion, I just didn’t see why prom was worth all the stress for one night.

While I’m busy slaving away reading Mrs. Dalloway, learning stats in Calc, and working after school, I absolutely cannot fathom organizing my prom night in any way- it’s just too much for me.

Now, I’m really not one of those girls to bash prom and be all negative, because the majority of my friends are going and are going to have a fabulous time. But for me, I know that I’m confident in myself to know that if I don’t go to one “big” school event, my life is still going to be totally okay. It won’t make or break my high school experience because things like Poms, Orchesis, and meeting awesome mentors amongst my four years here are what matters to me, not a day in which I wear a long, glittery dress. There’s formals I’ll go to in college and I still have my wedding day, right? (future husband please say yes).

Besides, it’s not like I’m going to be at home on April 26th scrolling through my Instagram feed with a big bag of chocolate wishing I had a hot date and a pretty dress crying. I’m going to be at the Drake Hotel with three of my dope friends and enjoying a night on the town. So, if prom isn’t for you, you always have alternatives! Plan something for yourself so it can be a special night for you, too.

But if you are going to prom, make sure you live it up and be safe. Show everyone what all the hype is about, and make it a night you won’t forget. After all, YOLO!