Prom: A Rite of Passage

Prom brings nothing but trouble. Girls stress about it, and then stress even more when their guy dates don't stress enough about it. The guys' turn to stress comes and goes by the time they find a date, since nothing's worse than asking somebody to prom and having that person saying no. Meanwhile, everybody has to go shopping, visit a tailor and ultimately spend way too much money.

Not only that, prom-goers are assaulted by a broad spectrum of prom related drama. Whose pre-prom party are you going to? How are you getting to prom—by limo or bus (since driving has been deemed socially unacceptable for the night)? And of course, which post-prom house are you staying in for the weekend down the shore?

 It even puts stress on relationships. There are couples who are putting off talking about the status of their relationship until after prom. Or there are other instances where prom dates haven't spoken to each other since they asked one another to go.

After it's all said and done and prom night has finally arrived (dates found, dresses and tuxedos bought, travel and party arrangements worked out) people tend to get there late and leave early. If all prom seems to do is cause problems, and if we cut our time there in half anyway, why does anyone bother going at all?

We go to prom because it is a night, or entire weekend, to enjoy ourselves with our classmates with whom we have grown close to over the last 12 years, and many of whom we will not see again. It is a celebration of growing up and experiencing everything childhood has to offer before being sent out into the world. As the year winds down, prom is the last time we will all be in the public school system together—in Westfield together.

I am going to prom because it is every high schooler's right to go to prom, to make the entrance they want, the exit they want, wearing what they want, while surrounded by their adolescent peers. Prom is wrapped in tradition, and while I think many traditions are ancient and irrelevant, the creators of prom surely came up with an idea that will last as long as kids are graduating from high school.

The negatives mentioned earlier just contribute to the hype that makes prom so special a time. All of prom's validity comes from us and the weight we seniors put on it. Otherwise, it would just be another school dance. There's a reason I had no interest in going to my 8th grade dance, yet I can't wait for prom.

It is a once in a lifetime experience, and because of that I invite everyone going to prom this year and in the coming years to get as wrapped up in it as you can. Go crazy; visit to every store in the state searching for the perfect outfit and hire a stretch Escalade. With that being said, I must go get ready!