After four years, much has changed since this year’s seniors experienced their first high school dance at freshman homecoming. Day-long activities, rented flashy cars and cheesy promposals now take center stage as the memories of parents chauffeuring and awkward slow dances fade to the past.
Senior Haley Allen remembers her freshman homecoming revolving around the dance itself, quite different from prom today.
“The entire evening was spent just going to the dance and being awkward for like four hours, I remember we showed up before the gates even opened,” Allen said.
“It’s different than freshman homecoming because no one goes to the actual dance for more than 20 minutes,” agreed senior Caitlyn Bonine. This shift from the day being composed of only the dance itself, to now being a day to celebrate these years with friends and say goodbye too high school is a big part of what makes prom such a monumental occasion.
“We plan day-dates and dinner and after-parties which makes up the bulk of my excitement and enjoyment,” Allen said. Popular day dates include bowling, going to Top Golf, paintballing, and other exciting group activities. After this, groups typically split up to get ready.
“My favorite part is getting ready with all my friends and taking cute pictures,” Bonine said. Many groups set apart a few hours dedicated to getting ready, which most girls agree is half the fun and a special time to foster friendships and make lasting memories.
“We always turn on a cheesy movie or reality tv show and eat a veggie spread and hot Cheetos, so it’s pretty awesome,” Allen said.
This year, she is going to prom with a group of her close girl friends, which is a great way to keep prom exciting but less stressful.
“My favorite part of prom is really just being with my friends and hanging out with them,” Allen said. “It’s so fun to be in the mosh pit and just be dancing with people who are as crazy as you are. Especially being a senior, I think I would just want to have fun and not be so worried about how I’m being perceived.”
For those going with dates, part of the excitement before the dance is getting asked. Known as a “promposal”, a guy will ask a female friend or significant other with a personalized sign and even a matching gift on occasion. Some will also follow the prom theme.
The dance this year is “Mamma Mia” themed, focusing on a blue and white color scheme with an upbeat spirit. It will be located at Treefort Music Hall in Boise, the best new concert venue in the city, according to treefortmusichall.com.
“Honestly it’s kind of surreal that this is my last time participating in a school dance ever,” Allen said. She’s not alone in this, as many seniors find this last dance to be an emotional finale to their high school career.
“It’s bittersweet that this is my last high school dance,” Bonine said. I’m super excited to graduate but now that it’s my senior prom it feels like these last four years went by way too fast.”
While this event evokes many different feelings for each senior, the participating students are ready to dance the night away with friends and celebrate all the memories made over these past four years.
