I never went to prom. There, I said it. This isn't some big secret I keep from the world, it is just a fact. The high school I attended from Freshman to Junior year had a rule, no student's besides Seniors unless you were asked by one. By the time I was a Senior, I was no longer at the school and didn't feel comfortable attending my high school's prom where I knew absolutely no one.
My "prom-less" experience isn't supposed to be some sob story. I never felt like I missed out on anything. Maybe this is because of my involvement in pageantry. For me, putting on makeup and wearing a pretty dress wasn't anything new. It would just have been another day where I towered over everybody in my heels.
Our society seems to view Prom as a coming of age experience high school students need to have, a rite of passage if you will. Teens spend sometimes hundreds of dollars on a dress they may wear only once in their life Movies like F*&% the Prom, Blockers, and American Pie glorify the prom experience, one where you are pressured to find a date often in some elaborate prom-posal, spike the punch, and attend an afterparty (I'll admit to going to that last.)
I've been seeing plenty of prom pictures on my newsfeed and Instagram, all filled with happy and smiling teenagers ready for "their big night." There are the typical group shots, couple shots where the guy puts the corsage of the girl's wrist and those are filled with sweet memories that can last a while. But one night where you dance with your friends and get all dressed up won't alter your high-school experience.
Some people argue proms are a thing of a past, a concept which further emphasizes traditional gender roles. Although those opinions are true, pop-culture is trying to alleviate the typical norms with musicals like The Prom, or even the movie Mean Girls which points out the fatal flaws of prom night.
Looking back, I don't feel like I missed out on some magical night. I've heard plenty of my lament about their experience claiming it was nothing special. I might not have attended my high school prom, but I've been involved in planning proms for teens battling cancer, and this is an experience I find much more fulfilling.
To the teens preparing for their Prom experience, enjoy the night. Enjoy the experience, get all dressed up, take amazing photos which will make their way to social media, dance with your friends or date, maybe attend an after part. Some people may argue it will be the best night of your life, one you'll never forget. Just remember, this one night won't make or break your life. There is so much more out there to enjoy.
