As the Winter Ball grinds its way to a halt at the end of January, students begin to anticipate the up-and-coming dance of the year: prom. Of all the students, mainly girls seem to be ahead of the game. They start dress shopping around January up until the end of April and, despite the prom being “strictly” for the junior and senior classes, even the underclassmen start to wonder if and when they’ll get asked.
Freedom Area Senior High School prom rules state that only a student in the junior or senior classes may go without being asked, but, if accompanied by someone of either grade level, anyone from freshmen to graduates under the age of 21 may attend. Some students use these rules to their advantage, taking graduated significant others or even just someone younger that they might be close with. The rule also allows students to take high schoolers from different districts.
Almost every girl frantically begins to look for dresses after the Winter Ball, whether it be through dress shops, magazines, Pinterest or other media platforms. Pinterest, being one of the largest platforms, allows girls to search anything and everything prom-related. Other websites like Etsy allow custom ordered dresses if you have your own precise measurements. The only downfall to online shopping is that, depending on where and how you order it, there is no guarantee someone else won’t purchase it. Shopping at stores will allow them to markdown your district so no one else from there can buy the same one.
But, when is early prom preparation too early? Even before the Winter Formal has begun, girls of any grade level can be heard in hallways, classrooms and the cafeteria talking about prom. They pin all their favorite dresses, hoping that they’ll get asked by that special someone or a secret crush. Are some anticipating too much too early?
It’s very possible for some girls, though it seems to be more rare, to not get asked, especially if they’re an underclassmen. Despite it being completely acceptable to go alone, this seems to be a huge devastation, since everyone has dreamed since a young age that it would be the night of all nights. But is it okay to begin prepping before you’re sure if you have a date and you’re an underclassmen?
Freedom prom has always seemed to contain several students and graduates outside the allowed class structures, but some aren’t pleased with underclassmen couples. This doesn’t change the idea of underclassmen getting ready too early. Prom is designated specifically for the junior and senior classes, so think twice before you, as a freshman or sophomore, begin to prepare yourself for May 6. As the much-anticipated day approaches, preparation is necessary, but remember the importance of having Prom be a carefree and stressless night.