As we enter in the prom season, many high school juniors and seniors are planning for their high school proms in this annual rite of passage.
According to History.com, the origin of proms can be traced back to ancient Greece, but the history of prom, short for promenade, is rooted in 18th and 19th century debutante balls, the popular high-society tradition with an introductory parading of guests in formal attire at a co-ed banquet. In the 1920s, proms began transitioning to high schools where they became a much more causal and inclusive event for teenage boys and girls on the brink of graduation.
So, what’s the point? For many teens, it is a chance to attend a social gathering with their friends to celebrate passage to another part of their lives.
Today there are “prom-posals” which almost equal marriage proposals in their presentations as invitations are made to prospective dates.
It is also expensive and over-the-top.
The average family spends at least $1078 dollars on their child’s proms for dresses, tux rentals, makeup, limo rentals, etc.
For me, if I could go back to my younger self, I would tell me not to stress about going to the prom and that it’s not the end of the world if you didn’t even go to the prom. Looking back on it now, it isn’t as important as I made it out to be when I was stressing about securing a date. Going or not going has never affected the outcome of my future.
I remember how stressed I was about going to my senior prom at Tompkins High School in Savannah, Georgia. During my senior year, I did not have a girlfriend and, honestly, no prospects for a date for the prom. I had one or two that I liked but they didn’t like me in the same way. As prom approached, I started getting increasingly anxious about going. My first and second choices turned me down. Fortunately, a girl from our church accepted - perhaps out of pity - but she was sweet to go with me. We went and it was awkward as you can imagine. She didn't know any of my friends and we were both probably secretly wishing we hadn't been there.
It’s funny at that age when you think something is so monumentally important but later in life you look back and see how truly overblown it was. If I could tell any high school junior or senior anything I would assure them that not going to the prom isn't going to be the worst thing that could happen to them. You don't need to put the pressure on yourself. I know the feeling, I went through it.
For some people, being able to look back on their high school days and reminisce about prom and what it meant to them is important. That's fine. I'm just saying that you shouldn't get caught up in the hype over it.
