Point/Counterpoint: Is prom overrated or worth the trouble?

April 12, 2010 • written by Jessica Ferrell and Laura Sledge  
Filed under Opinions

Prom equals the bomb.com

by Jessica Ferrell

Many people scoff at the idea of going to prom. Some think it is too expensive, overrated, and just down right pointless.

But if dances are not a big deal, why did Cinderella go to all that trouble?

There is little difference between her ball and a high school prom. Girls still try on dresses until one fits like magic. They still dance with their Prince Charming until the 12 o’clock curfew. And for the unfortunate few, they still lose their shoes.

Prom is huge.

Sure, prom will be expensive. After shoes, boutonnieres, corsages, pictures, tickets, tuxedos, dresses, hair, and limousines, people can look at spending up to $600.

But no matter what the cost for the individual is, prom is the opportunity to come closer to friends and make memories.

And after 10 plus years of schooling, it is a relief to know that the school wants to do something nice for its students.

Prom is a luxury that many students take for granted. Many of the faculty members put a lot of time and effort into planning this night, as well as students.

Chaperones disregard their Saturday evening plans in order to watch a bunch of teenagers get jiggy with it. That’s love, people.

Plus, months ahead of the big night, students on the Prom Committee stay after school in order to start planning all of the decorations, music, and food.

Prom is a chance for those who do not party every weekend to have fun. Many believe that prom is the highlight of the school year.

Yes, prom only lasts four hours, but the memories (and the pictures) last forever.

Illustration by Margaret Cross

Prom wastes time, money, effort

by Laura Sledge

“What dress will I wear?” “How will I do my hair?” “What if some other girl shows up in same exact dress as me?” “What kind of jewelry should I wear?” “Who is riding in my limo?” “But, eww, I don’t like her!”

All of these questions and thoughts tire those of us who do not care all that much, and frankly, after some time, annoy us. The hype currently circulating due to the ever-anticipated prom has already exhausted itself, and the big day is still a week away.

Girls, and even some guys, never seem to tire of the incessant planning, stressing and idealizing over prom, which will last all of four hours and then be over for a year, or for seniors, forever.

So why all the drama?

For many people, a dance is a big event. Sure, they are fun and attending one can make for an exciting evening, but are they really worth all the trouble girls go through to make the one night “perfect?” Not really.

If girls could be more like the guys, prom would commence much more smoothly. Boys generally remain laid-back and passive throughout the prom-planning process, and if girls would lighten up just a little, the whole ordeal would go more smoothly, with much less stress.

Girls continually worry whether they will show up in a dress that matches some other girl’s, and who really cares? Will one’s choice of attire have the ability to throw off a whole night of potential fun? For some, the answer is yes.

The point is, prom can be an exciting, exhilarating, enchanting, enthralling affair, if only girls would let it be. The Prom Committee goes to too much trouble to make the night special for girls to let it be ruined by trivial things like matching dresses, jewelry, bad photos, undesirable limo arrangements, and other girls.

Basically, too many girls fret over the details of the evening too much, and end up spending anywhere from $100 to $800 or more on what will amount to 6 to 8 hours of dressing up. All that effort to create a flawless appearance will simply melt after a few hours of vigorous dancing anyway.

So girls, have fun choosing dresses, dining facilities, and dates, but don’t stress too much. If one spends the entirety of her time worrying over small things, the night will end up being no fun at all. Prom is a time for boys and girls to dress up and go out, let loose and have fun, to get a break from the never-ending piles of homework and other duties.

So try to do just that. Let yourselves have some fun and “just dance!”