BY RICHARD TEO
Staff writer
You already know what this is going to be about. It’s about Halloween! Just kidding… we’re not that cool. Nobody would dare wear a Michael Myers mask and have as much fun dancing with it while keeping a neighborhood in fear on Prom day. Prom is one of those traditional, “once in a lifetime experiences” you encounter in high school. It’s a highly publicized event. Everybody, even the ones who don’t even go to school would know about it and for whatever reason will also glorify it the same way as those who’ve tasted the experience. Not everybody is an extrovert. Not everybody is a dancer; neither do they like being fancy or having extensive makeup on their face. Let’s start with our reasons as to why….
Dancing
Let me just stop you right there… I hate to generalize but does anybody actually dance on Prom day? I may be biased in my perspective here but jumping up and down continuously while screaming along to the loud music while the disco lights run wild isn’t dancing. It’s just jumping up and down. Rarely do people dance. Who cares though… It’s going to be a fun night and whatever unorthodox hand movements you can come up with on the dance floor is a thrill rather than to be rejected. No one’s going to judge you underneath some disco lights. Take your time and decide whether it’s for you or not.
Dressing up
This one is for those who have confidence in themselves. Maybe once you start dressing up, you finally will have confidence. “I look so good in this” while furiously staring at the mirror and wondering if people are going to vote for you for “best dressed” in a hypothetical and upcoming fashion show. Anybody in a fancy suit or dress with glitters is going to look amazing. But the cost doesn’t look too good… So you’re having trouble finding a tuxedo and then you find out that the rental itself is worth probably $100-200, even worse when you decide you want to have your own. Each piece of the suit, especially the coat is worth $300 and multiply that estimate by 4. $300-$500 for a dress, maybe even more for makeup enough to make your face heavier and get your hair and nails done. Did I forget the shoes? That’s right, I did because they’re so expensive that some prefer to wear Vans to a dance. Did I also forget food expenses and the cost of the ticket? If you’re rich, don’t worry about it. If you aren’t, I can see why people say it only happens once.
Going out with friends
Don’t have any friends? Good. Don’t go. You’ll have trouble enjoying a dance without a group unless you’re a decently individualistic person. A lot of people are introverts anyways. But let’s say you do go and you do have a friend group. It’s definitely a lot of fun, especially with someone you cuddle, kiss, and watch movies with. Prom can be one of your most romantic experiences because young love is a dream for many and a privilege for those who’ve seen it. When the light shines, you’re all dressed fancy and the look you exchange with the one you dance with matches yours so slowly… For the rest of the night, trust me, that’s all you’re ever going to think about. That’s the climax of this story. The only question remains… Do you find that cheesy or beautiful?
It only happens once, maybe twice
It’s true that only a number of people are going to Prom… In my school, only Juniors and Seniors are allowed. Probably every Senior is going to it whether they like dances or not. That’s probably why it’s so different from any other dance. Others say it’s tradition, some would say it’s the music, and few might even say they like the taste of Punch. There’s not really much of a difference except it’s the last dance of the year. I guess that’s the best part? Leave your year with a spin.
It becomes a wonderful memory
There is no doubt that Prom is a beautiful memory. So much so that even my own parents would look back during their Prom days and give a cheer to those who’ve never had it but want it so badly. I hope in your next life, you’ll slow dance with someone special when you’re young. You might miss out on a good chance. Got work that day? You got the rest of your life to work… don’t miss out on one day when you got every day doing the same thing. Like many said, Time is money. You’ll only realize the value of something once you’ve lost it.