3 minute read
High School Prom, Still One of the Most Anticipated Nights for Students
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By Shelby Falahat, Junior Reporter, Class of 2020
On March 16th, San Ramon Valley High School students gathered at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland to experience a “Midnight in Paris.” Students arrived at the center looking picture perfect, ready to embark on a new adventure. For decades, Prom has been considered a magical night for high school students, and SRVHS lived up to that reputation. Although I had never been to Prom before, tv shows and movies gave me a taste of what was coming. As the final countdown to Prom began, I started to imagine what the night would bring for my best friends and me. It was, however, the events leading up to Prom that would become the memories that would last with me forever.
Prom itself was a magical time, but I didn’t expect to enjoy the process of getting ready for the dance as much as I did. Before that week, I thought the actual event would be the most thrilling, joyful aspect; however, the quality time I spent with my friends was far more special. In hopes to get as glamorous as we could, our prep started on Tuesday, with a trip to the nail salon. While selecting our nail colors, we eagerly chatted about how thrilled we were for the weekend ahead. We laughed and drank boba tea for the next hour, and it was at that time that I realized that these moments were important too! When my friends and I parted ways for the evening, we were filled with excitement and anticipation.
Shelby all dolled up in her Prom attire
After countless amounts of tests and projects due, the Friday before Prom finally arrived. On Saturday morning, I sat in the hair salon with my friends, where we recognized many other Juniors participating in the same pre-dance rituals. The place was packed with girls with various hair styles, such as curls, braids, and up-do’s. Once our hair was done, my friends and I returned to my house to add the final touches. We began to apply makeup, laughing away our mistakes and attempts to fix our creations. Powder, eye shadow, and foundation stains covered the floor, but we continued to laugh and let our inner “beauty gurus” take the wheel. When we reached a place where we felt confident and beautiful, we slipped into our dresses. It was hot outside when we gathered to take group photos, but it gave us a wonderful chance to admire one another.
Since the dance was off-campus, we loaded onto buses at SRVHS to take us to the Scottish Rite Center. Once there, we were surrounded by our Junior class. The outfits we saw were so vibrant, original, and showcased everyone’s different personalities. It was a sea of colors. I was shocked at how large the Center was. I never thought that there would be activities other than what’s shown on tv - the usual dance floor surrounded by scattered tables. There was a large casino floor, chocolate fountain, photo booth, as well as a grand ballroom. My friends and I rotated between each room, trying to absorb as much as we could. I admit, we spent the majority of our time on the dance floor. We loved the variety of music the DJ showcased, as well as the electric lights that lit up the floor. Although I expected prom to be a little chaotic, I found it to be far more relaxed than other dances, allowing for easy conversations to be made amongst all my friends.
Now, after attending my first prom, I can say that it’s truly a night to remember. From getting ready with friends to the dance itself, it’s clear that the “real deal” quickly overrides the ideas that you get in films. Personally, the event was more of a social gathering filled with laughter, joy, and dancing, than a night of competition and stress. In some cases, the reputation of Prom has been a more of a popularity contest. However, at SRVHS, the event unites the Junior class and allows us to de-stress and enjoy one another’s company. In high school, all students should experience their Junior Prom, it’s not just a night, but a whole experience filled with endless laughter as well as possibilities.
