Missing Out on Memories

FOCO, FOMO, and the importance of the school dance: How much does prom matter?

By Ellianna Cierpiot

School dances are seen by some as a quintessential part of the high school experience. From wearing school colors to homecoming games to choosing a prom dress, most high schoolers get the chance to go to at least one school dance in their four years, if they so choose. This year, though, things have looked a little different.

There are no BVN dances, as prom was canceled officially in March, following the cancellation of homecoming and Sweetheart dances. The idea of not having a prom can be disappointing for many students, but senior class president Ethan Breedlove said that it was necessary.

“I totally understand, and [the cancellation] is the logical decision,” Breedlove said, but added that he was “disappointed” and said he thought there should have been a masked, socially distant prom instead.

Breedlove also thinks that, in reality, prom isn’t as important as people think it is.

“When our parents went to school, it was more important to them, because that was what people did, but now I think that… [prom] has become more of an after-party situation, where people don’t even go to the dance sometimes,” Breedlove said.

According to Breedlove, however, there is an effort from some members of the student council to hold an unofficial prom event, to allow students to still have that experience.

Opinions on the importance of dances are mixed. While some students would consider their time in high school incomplete without going to at least one, other students could take it or leave it. Senior Gladys Bockelman said that she doesn’t see much importance in school dances.

“I’m not big on dressing up and spending money on all that,” Bockelman said. “I think they’re a fun part of the [high school] experience, though.”

The Sweetheart dance is normally held in February, but this year Sweetheart royalty was crowned virtually. Bockelman was chosen as Sweetheart queen.

Overall, Bockelman said she doesn’t feel she’s missed much by not being able to attend the Sweetheart dance and instead said the best parts of a dance don’t happen within the school event.

Senior Kendall Barnes echoed this, saying her favorite parts involved spending time with her friends.

“I do think [dances are] important, but not necessarily the dance itself, I think it’s getting to spend time with your friends, go to dinner, have fun afterwards, laugh at the dancing… getting to go dress shopping — [those are] the parts of the dance that everyone likes.”

Overall, according to Barnes, the school dance is an experience that everyone should have at least once. However, those experiences don’t necessarily have to be tied to an official school dance. Things like dinner and formal wear, Barnes said, can be organized individually.

After the cancellation of the homecoming dance, some BVN students began to have “FOCO” events. Essentially, this meant getting dressed up and going to dinner with their friends — the aspects that Barnes said are the most important. She and her friends had a “fake Sweetheart” in February, which she said was “a really good time.”

Although it’s possible to have a good time without an official prom, Barnes said she’s “frustrated” by the cancellation, because she had seen friends at other schools be able to have their proms.

“It makes me think… why not us, when schools who are bigger than [BVN] are doing it?” Barnes said, adding that she had hoped to have a lasting positive experience with her senior prom.

Are BVN students truly missing out on an integral high school experience? Barnes said, probably not. However, they might be losing school spirit.

“The thing I feel like we’ve missed out most on is the fun things we did before homecoming, like... getting to decorate the halls and have that pride… trying to beat the other grades in competitions,” Barnes said. “The school spirit is what I miss the most, not the actual dance itself.”