As prom quickly approaches, the junior class enters a frenzy. The juniors have been finding dates, booking appointments, and shopping for the big night. Although it is a fun tradition, there is so much stress, time, and money spent for one night at a high school dance. Is all of this stress worth the hype? 

There is a common stereotype that prom night has to be perfect. Hills students have many traditions centered around prom, and it is considered a fun night spent with the whole grade. Many students find the preparation stressful, as junior Jessica Longo explains. She also states that senior prom is more likely to be remembered in the long run. This is because seniors have more privileges and traditions along with their prom.

“Junior Prom takes up a lot of time and effort from students during the most stressful year, and prom adds to this stress as they are trying to learn academics and prepare for college,” she said.

This topic was brought up in a recent Board of Education meeting. They questioned why seniors only have to stay in school until one o’clock in the afternoon while juniors must be present the entire school day. This adds an extra element of stress for juniors. 

Also, there is social pressure with attending the prom. Many students are worried about finding a date because they are scared about the judgment of attending solo. They are worried about what they are wearing and how it compares to those around them. It can be easy to get caught up in the crowd and become stressed by something that is supposed to be fun.  It is important to be yourself and remember to enjoy the process. 

Prom is seen in the movies as a perfect night where you attend the dance with your love interest in a beautiful long gown. Since this is not the reality for most, students must have another perspective about prom. It can be viewed as a night to hang out with friends, have fun, eat, dance, and talk to other classmates. Because of these movies, there is a common stereotype that prom has to be absolutely perfect and magical. Having these expectations can cause disappointment when faced with reality. Stop believing what is shown in movies and TV shows, and have your own kind of fun. 

Aside from all of this pressure and stress, attending junior prom is a milestone before senior year that gives you a chance to make memories with your friends and bond with classmates whom you might not usually hang out with. These full-grade events rarely happen, especially in high school with cliques and drama. Prom should be an experience that is drama-free and memorable. Junior year is extremely stressful with tests, homework, and extracurricular activities. 

Overall, junior prom is an important event that should be enjoyed by everyone despite the stress or nerves leading up to the event. There is no need to be perfect; relax and have a good time with your classmates before senior year!