High School Prom

Many students spend a lot of time, money and effort in planning for the evening’s event. In the past, the prom was more of a couple’s event. Today less emphasis is placed on couples, and students may go alone, with a date or with a group of friends. Girls wear formal dresses, and the boys wear suits or tuxedos. Many students arrive in limousines or party buses. Later, dinner is served, and a professional photographer takes the students’ pictures. Other rituals may involve speeches by the
class president, the announcement of this year’s winners of various awards, and the crowning of king and queen of the prom. The month is June, and high school students across the country are gearing up for their annual school prom. The prom is a formal dance that marks the end of the school year. For many students it is “the” social event of the year. There is a great deal of anticipation and preparation. Schools may have proms for each year’s class; freshman, sophomore, junior and senior, but there is no doubt that the senior prom is the biggest of all. This is their graduating year and their “last hoorah”. To make it a memorable event, many students spend a lot of money, time and effort planning the evening.

In past years, the prom was more of a couple’s event. A boy would ask a girl to be his date, and he would escort her to the prom. This meant buying the girl a flower (a corsage) to wear at the dance and picking her up at her home. It also meant meeting the parents and having lots of pictures taken! Today’s proms have less emphasis on couples. Many students go with a date, but many also go with a friend, in groups of friends or even alone (stag). Whether you have a date or not, the evening is full of laughter and tears of joy.

As the prom is a formal event, many girls wear ball gowns/party dresses and the boys are mostly in suits or tuxedos. Those who can afford to may rent a car, preferably a limousine, so they can arrive in style! Others pool their money with a group of friends and rent a party bus. Dinner is often served, and students/couples can have their picture taken by a professional photographer.

In the course of the evening, the class president has a welcoming speech and, along with the student council, they announce the winners of various awards. At some schools they crown a king and queen, which for many is the highlight of the evening. Regardless of the various rituals, there is always music, dancing and a spirit of pride and accomplishment which can be felt throughout the evening. The prom is a very important event for many students, and most wouldn’t miss it for the world!