The beginning of April fills quickly with dress shopping, appointment setting, planning and the many festivities to gear up for prom.
Overall attitudes and feelings towards prom differs for juniors and seniors a lot more than people think, though.
Excitement for juniors, given that they would be experiencing prom for the first time. And possibly more bittersweet feelings for the seniors, given that this is their final prom, a sort of farewell to high school.
Senior Roguen Pricer shared that prom doesn’t hold any bittersweetness to it, deeming the overall end of senior year to be a positive time as she eagerly awaits her time at Virginia Tech starting next year.
“This is just another fun thing I get to do before college,” Pricer said.
Senior Diana Ogutogullari, a foreign exchange student from Germany, was very excited to attend her first prom in America.
“I’ve never been to a prom in Germany either, but it’s not that big of a deal there,” Ogutogullari said. She shared how the general state of prom in Germany is quite underwhelming, as only a few actually attend and many wear very similar dresses.
“I’m so excited for prom here, I went prom dress shopping and did all the things, and there’s such a cool theme here as well,” Ogutogullari said.“I’m so excited to see all the pretty dresses everyone will wear.”
For juniors, prom tends to be a much more anticipated event, given that it’s the first time they as upperclassmen get to experience this grand marker of the high school experience, grander than the likes of homecoming that they’re used to.
“Everything about prom was very exciting, especially because it was my first,” junior Grace Kestler said.
Kestler found all the different components that go into getting ready for prom — dress shopping, hair and nail appointments and planning with friends — to really drive up the excitement, but they caused her to feel overwhelmed at the same time.
“I think next year I will probably be more casual about it because I will know what to expect, but still excited,” Kestler said.
Senior Bridget McNally also found her senior year prom to be pretty stress-free, mostly due to the musical “Once Upon a Mattress,” which held its last show on April 14, consuming most of her attention.
“Prom has been put on the back burner for me, so it’s become a casual event in my case,” McNally said. “Nonetheless, I am excited to see everyone dressed up and dancing.”
Junior Mahek Nayyar predicted the potential feelings her senior prom will bring.
“I would feel a bit sad since it would be my last, but I think I’ll have more energy and be more hyped for my senior prom because I’d want to make it count,” she said.
With the night of prom having now passed, the season of shopping and getting ready for the big day comes to an end, leaving both the juniors and seniors who attended with memories that will last forever, regardless of whether it was their first or last.
