How To Actually Have a Good Time At Prom

4/24/2019

Nia Hendricks

Tips to help you make the most of your last high school hurrah!

Prom, short for promenade, first debuted in Northeastern American colleges in the late 19th century. The co-ed banquets were in débutante fashion, designed to celebrate the end of a school year and introduce young ladies to eligible bachelors. It has since evolved to an American high school tradition, affording teenagers the opportunity to dress to the nines and have a good time with their friends.

“If we don’t provide opportunities for our students to grow socially, they will only learn from the world."

While it’s expected at most high schools, not all private Christian schools will take on the prom. “The dancing, the music, the dresses — most Christian schools don’t want to touch that stuff,” said high school administrator, Laura Quinn. Calvary Christian Academy’s mission is to make disciples of Jesus spiritually, academically, and socially.

The latter objective is what opened the door to adopt a Junior/Senior Formal — a formal banquet and dance to celebrate upperclassmen. “If we don’t provide opportunities for our students to grow socially, they will only learn from the world,” said Quinn.

Surprisingly, there are a lot of social dynamics to navigate when it comes to prom. From dress guidelines to promposals, today’s prom presents teenagers with the potential for a lot of drama. Here is some advice for a few common situations that will help you have the best prom or formal you can have!

How to Say No to a Promposal
Most people will do their homework before they go busting into a potential date’s homeroom with a bouquet of roses. If, perchance, someone puts themselves out there and asks you to prom and you’re not interested, you owe that person the respect to give a direct, honest, and kind answer, face-to-face. Luke 6:31 encourages us to treat others like we would want to be treated.

Don’t make up a fake excuse, don’t say yes and then change your mind later, and don’t have a friend say no for you! Suggest that you speak privately, kindly thank them for the offer and tell them that you have other plans.

This isn’t easy — nobody wants to hurt anyone’s feelings — but being honest with yourself and the other person will be better in the long run for everyone.
Say Yes To The Dress Guidelines
Most high schools have attire guidelines for their formal events. Even if you don’t agree with your school’s guidelines, you are way better off playing it safe and respecting the parameters. Besides, they’re just dress guidelines for the formal, not for your life.

“A formal event is special and different and it’s supposed to be fun,” said Quinn. “You want to look your best. It may be an old fashioned idea, but it’s an idea that comes out of respect. And you also get to express your individuality through your clothes.”

So, you don’t like that you can’t wear jeans, or maybe the dress you really want pushes the guidelines. Is any outfit worth potentially missing out on the event you’ve been looking forward to all year? Probably not. Don’t stress about the dress and pick one that makes you feel awesome but is also unquestionably within the dress code policy.
Live In The Moment, Not the Gram
Social media has taken over how the developed world approaches experiences. In other words, it’s all about the pictures. Taking pictures is fun but make sure you actually take time to live in the moment, you know?

You don’t want to look back on a bunch of awesome pictures without the great memories to match. Set aside some time for photos with your date or your friends, snap a few selfies on the dance floor, and then put your phone away! Enjoy the food, dance, and have a good time.
Manage Your Time Well
This is so important! I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard where kids have almost completely missed prom because they spent too long getting ready, some of their friends didn’t show up on time for pictures, or they wanted to skip the food and eat somewhere else beforehand.

Create a schedule and stick to it! If you’re the one running late, own it and be courteous to your friends or date, because nobody wants to spend this special night just waiting around. Communicate with them and go with the flow if you have to make other arrangements.

Formal events like prom really do provide student with opportunities to exercise they’re social skills and just have fun! That’s why CCA’s Junior/Senior Formal was established in the first place — to give students a fun and God-honoring environment to socialize.

“You can’t always do this perfectly,” said Quinn. “We’ve been on both sides of that line where kids hate it because it’s boring or it goes too far the other way. It’s not easy but it’s worth doing!” As you prepare for prom season, go into it with the right expectations and remember to honor the Lord in all that you say and do.

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