Dear all those feeling relieved after the stress of prom planning,

Are you glad the night everyone has been talking about for months is finally over? Or are you a little disappointed that the fun couldn’t continue? Prom is a simple four letter word but students put a huge meaning behind it. For seniors, prom is the last time to get all dressed up for a school dance and to dance the night away with friends. Senior prom is the last chance to be with your whole class and appreciate the fact that you made it through high school. It’s the last hurrah before your lives change and you graduate. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Prom is a stepping stone and it’s important to understand its important qualities.

The perfect dress, the best prom proposal and those classy photos are just some of the reasons students stress over prom. Who to sit with at dinner and where to go to take photos are all discussed and before you know it you are in a full out war with your best friend. We feel as though prom is the only thing that matters. Everything has to be perfect. A year from now you will look back and laugh over the tears you cried because of the stress of prom planning. You will realize prom is not as complicated as it seems.

You may spend hours getting getting ready and making sure the color of the boutonniere and corsage match the dress. You might barely eat because you’re too afraid to get stains on your expensive outfit. Even with these efforts, perfection is overrated and impossible.

One of my best friends got in a car accident on her way to take photos for prom. When I saw people running towards her, I got out of my boyfriend’s car and ran in my 5 inch heels to comfort her. In that moment I realized all the planning and dress searching didn’t matter. None of it mattered. Life is precious and my great friend could have been seriously hurt on what was suppose to be “the perfect night.” She was unharmed and was able to dance with me and our friends at prom. That night could have ended a lot differently.

Don’t stress over the pictures that didn’t turn out the way you wanted. Take time to consider what prom truly stands for.

P is for the promise of a new journey to come. Graduation is near and a lot of students will be attending college in the fall. College is a completely new world and new experiences are sure to come your way.

R is for remembering your class and your high school experience. Self discovery started here and you had your best and worst moments during these four years. Don’t forget where you came from and how you made it to this moment. It’s an important aspect of who you are. Remember your friends and how you felt when it seemed like you were walking down the red carpet on that night.

O is for keeping an open mind. Who knows what will happen after graduation. There is some hope in the unknown.

M is for the moments you will cherish. Some of your classmates became your best friends, teammates and significant others. Your teachers were either your worst nightmare or a friend you could confide in.

Take in all the moments of high school while you can. Your closest friends will move to a new city and you wont see each other for months on end. You have created a life in high school that will carry you through the rest of your life. Prom is the perfect way to say that bitter sweet goodbye.