If you overhear a conversation had by seniors, they all revolve around one thing: prom. It’s so close it feels like it’s tomorrow. Ha ha, just kidding it is tomorrow.
So why am I cutting it close? Why is this the first thing being written about it?
I guess I have a confession to make. Since the beginning of, I don’t know, my freshman year, I heard about these incredible stories at prom, watched countless movies and TV shows that had a prom or two, and was there when both my older sisters were getting ready for their prom, but I never thought of myself going to prom. I mean, yeah, I imagined myself with the perfect dress and a date to match. I pictured us posing in front of the Buckingham fountain, his arms around my waist and me half laughing and half smiling. Then, we would go to the dance, be so engrossed with each other that we would end up dancing through the night. You can tell that it is a very normal teenage girl dream for her prom day.
Here’s the thing: that dream is great for a dream, but I just don’t get it. Why is there such an emphasis on one night where you spend hundreds of dollars on a dress you are only going to wear one night, a limo ride to a dance, and this huge debate about what everyone is going to do after prom?
You’re probably thinking, the only reason this girl is whining is because she couldn’t get a date which makes her a big loser. I could care less whether there is a boy in a tux standing next to me or not. I just think it’s a waste of time and money. Plus, I hate to dance. Let’s break it down.
You want the night to be perfect so let’s say (and I am really giving ballpark figures here) you spend (girls) $200 for a dress, $40 for nails, $30 for tan(optional), $80 for hair and makeup, $30 for shoes, $50 for accessories, $20 for a limo,(or party bus), $20 for whatever your plans are after prom, $10 for corsage, and don’t forget the $80 for your ticket.
That’s a total of $555 give or take. Of course you can be really conservative and not do half the things in the list, but I’ll give you the argument everyone else gives me when I tell them I’m not going to prom. ” But it’s PROM?!”
I don’t know about you, but that made me laugh. Prom is great… for some people. I just don’t think I am one of them, and I know there are others out there who are rowing the same boat as me. It’s not the last senior hoorah, we still have senior send-off, and our pre-graduation breakfast, and then we have graduation.
With that being said, I hope you, my fellow seniors (and some juniors who don’t have patience), have a wonderful time. Dance until you break both your ankles, take enough pictures to permanently have that green dot in your eyes, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Then come back and tell me your favorite memories. Tell me why I’m a big baby. But just know, that when you will be recovering from whatever it is that you do, I will be relaxing and counting my $555 I didn’t waste on one night.
another prom goer • May 24, 2011 at 3:06 PM
like ‘a prom-goer’ i also went to prom. and i think that half of what you said in your article is not true, since you did not go to prom. yes prom can be very stressful…if you make it that way.
and ‘Christina’ is not the only one who barely spent money on prom, i spent $80 on a ticket, $0 on a dress, didn’t even bother to do my nails because it is unnecessary and did my own hair (which my date said looked better than he expected), $30 for accessories, $15 for shoes and $10 for the boutonniere.
so there are plenty of ways to be resourceful.
and even if you do not like to dance, it’s not all about that. it’s not even about having a perfect date. its more about having fun with your senior friends, since that’s mostly who goes.
and if you think the night would be a big let down for you, think about this. if you expect nothing from it, you will never be let down.
dont you think you will regret not going?
Rozy Kanjee • May 24, 2011 at 9:40 PM
There was a time when I was going to prom. I was going to make my sisters and my friends happy. And when I was shopping for prom dresses I just didn’t feel it: that feeling you get in the gut when you know this is the perfect dress for this particular night. I found a dress, but when I imagined the place I would be wearing it, it wasn’t at prom. I never saw myself at prom.
I know there are plenty of ways to be frugal, and truthfully I would be too lazy to those things I said. But to answer your question, I honestly don’t think I’m going to regret it. I know prom is this huge stepping stone for a high school student and I know I can’t say anything about it because I didn’t go, but I feel my decision to be the perfect decision for me.
When I saw pictures of my friends at prom, did I feel like I missed out on something? Only that I didn’t get to see them in person, but I was happy for my friends. No sadness. No jealousy. No regret.
I don’t know if I would have had fun at prom, and I will never know. All I know is, not going was what I wanted.
Cristina • May 24, 2011 at 1:07 PM
I went to prom and I’ve never liked school dances. I’ve never been to any homecoming or spring dance at all. Prom was my first and last dance. I had my doubts of going but at the end of the night you’ll say, I am so glad I went and it was so worth it. I only spent $60 on my dress. Did my own hair, make-up and nails. Seriously you don’t have to worry about money . Just be resourceful. I’m all about being cheap and hating being on a dance floor with a bunch of sweaty people juking each other. But it was worth spending one night with all your friends. Especially if you’ve had such a stressfull senior year, which most of us do. Prom is called prom because it’s one night you want to make the best out of.
A Prom-goer • May 21, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Well… Obviously, I’m going to prom.
Put realistically, prom is not life or death; it’s not the end of the world if you don’t go. It’s a school dance. I get that.
But on the other side, it’s an iconic school dance. You said it yourself, movies, books, stories, memories; people make a fuss over prom. It really is a once in a lifetime thing. And it does not have to be so expensive. One of my friends in my prom group spent just $200 for prom this year. We spend a lot of time worrying about money and being frugal but every now and then there are events that come up when it’s fun to go all out, spend more than we want to all for that one night. Ultimately, I understand money being an issue, but I don’t think it’s a determining factor (although it can be if you really are strapped for money).
I think this article could have been really interesting. You could have started a mature discussion about the frivolity of prom and made people really think about why we all care about it so much. You could have presented it in a way that wasn’t so off-putting. As it is, I found your article really self-righteous. Very “look at me, ’cause I’m cool for not going to prom.” That’s the tone it took. I can respect someone for not wanting to go to prom, for wanting to save their money. But I can’t respect an article as high and mighty sounding as this one. A tip for the future: don’t be so condescending to your readers.
Rozy Kanjee • May 21, 2011 at 3:32 PM
I know this may sound self-righteous, but I laughed whet I read that I was sounding so condescending. I guess I may have come off that way, thinking it’s all bout me, but that wasn’t my point. Or maybe it was and I’m a narcissist. I’m not sure.
I guess reading my article back to myself it does seem like I care too much about the money. That is a factor but not the main reason. Yeah it baffles me on why it costs so much but the main thing is that I don’t find a reason for people to put so much on this one day. I think it’s been hyped up too much and the point of prom has really been stretched too thin. What if I went and it didn’t live up to my expectations? The money comes in on that. People pay so much to make their dreams come true when it’s an unnecessary evil. If I sounded self-righteous I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m cool for not going to prom. I just think there are more important things in life. And it’s not like I’m telling everyone that is going to prom that they are annoying drones following that lame expectation of going to prom, I want all of my friends and classmates to have the time of their lives and I hope that their dreams come true for this one night. That’s all I can say.
Thank you for the advice.
A Prom-goer • May 22, 2011 at 4:29 PM
First of all, thank you for the mature response. When I heard you had replied to my comment I was expecting something immature and petty, y’know, the typical reply someone gives when they’ve been critisized online. (The internet really does bring out the worst in people sometimes) But your reply is very mature and understanding, and again, I thank you for that.
“the main thing is that I don’t find a reason for people to put so much on this one day”
“the point of prom has really been stretched too thin”
“People pay so much to make their dreams come true when it’s an unnecessary evil”
Those are all really good points, and the kind of things I would have preferred to see in the article. They strike the right tone and make people stop and think about why they’re really going to prom. Do they have a real reason, or are they just following a common teenage standard? I think that’s an important question to ask.
For instance, I’m not big on dances, and I don’t enjoy spending such large amounts of money. But I went to prom. Why? I think prom is a big part of the culmination of one’s high school career. I wanted to see my peers all dressed up, together in one room; in a way, I think it represents who we’ve all grown into over these four years. I wanted to share that experience with the close friends in my prom group. And most of all, I wanted to have that special night with my boyfriend. To try to validate the money issue here, I’d also like to think that spending all that money on the night sort of signifies how much the people you spend the night with mean to you. You invest time and energy (and money) to make the experience as memorable as possible.
I know what my reasons were for going to prom, but not everyone does. I think your article could have really made people stop and think about that. Ask themselves, why? Knowing your reasons for being there make the night that much more special.
And on a final note, prom was amazing!
TheProcrastinator • May 20, 2011 at 6:16 PM
If you only focus on the $$$, then you have a good chance of missing the point. I will admit that yes, it is expensive, but…don’t think of it as wasting a bunch of money, think of it as investing in a once-in-a-lifetime (or more for some) experience.
I think that it’s worse for the boys who are expected to pay for both their own ticket, and their date’s ticket, but again, it’s investing in the experience~
Of course, the subject of prom is very subjective. One person may think it’s a total waste of time, while the next has been waiting 4 years for this one night.
All I can say is…if you do go, have fun, take pictures, and just take it all in. Don’t focus on the money you spent, and if you can’t help it…then it’s more motivation! You’ll want to make your money worth it in laughs, smiles, and fun!
To all you prom goers,
have fun, but most of all, be safe and be smart!