TOO MANY CHOICES

A-line. Body-con. Ball gown. Italian. Hibachi. Mexican. Go with friends? My date?

How do I decide with so many choices? Do I want to play it safe and get an A-line black dress with thick straps? Do I want to risk spilling salsa on my dress? Do I want to spend the night with a big group and risk my social battery running out by 8 p.m.?

When operating on a budget, abandoning the idea of a “dream” night and finding ways to make it almost affordable is crucial. Sometimes I even wonder if the price of Prom is even worth it. Sure, I’ll be with a date and friends, but is spending $25 on a ticket and over $200 on a dress worth it for one night? That isn’t even counting the cost of After Prom and any other events I might want to attend.

Be honest, have you ever had a date to a dance? Like an actual, bona fide date?

Every year without fail, I hear about my friends getting asked to Homecoming, to Sweetheart, this year, to Prom.

And every year without fail, I would have to be supportive and excited for them.

“OMG, he’s so cute.”

“Tell me everything.”

“How are you not dating already?”

I’ve never been asked to a dance. I’ve never had that moment, my friends all screaming about my date.

Now, I’ll take some responsibility here and say that I’ve never made the first move, but neither has anyone else. I never had anyone in mind, because if I want to make sure they want to go with me too.

It’s also pretty slim pickings when you’re gay. We generally don’t hide at NW, so it may seem like there are a lot of us. But, in reality, nope. At least with us guys.

Getting lost in the details sucks the life out of an important event

While I’m being pessimistic and maybe a little cynical, I have to remember that it’s my last major high school event.

As the end of the year gets closer, I’m realizing I’ll never see the Marching Cougar Pride celebrate winning the Spirit Stick again. I won’t help distribute a newspaper we’ve spent countless hours on. I won’t stress with my Composition II class about our research papers and “1984.”

What’s wrong with going all out and celebrating the last event 400 of us will be together for the rest of our lives? Who knows what I might miss if my cynicism clouds this celebration with the people I’ve grown up with?

I want to enjoy Prom for what it can be, not what my preconceived notions believe it is.

by Veronica Meiss

Honestly, dances have never truly piqued my interest. The idea of going alone —- meh.

Don’t get me wrong, I always end up liking the experience. The music, dancing and laughter with friends is something I think everyone should experience at least once.

Getting myself motivated to go alone is really hard. Everyone had someone to plan with, to be excited with, but not me.

That’s why I’ve been dreading my first Prom ever since the start of high school. I’ve always worried that I would be walking through the doors completely alone.

I finally have someone to go with, and not just a ‘someone,’ my absolute best friend. Homecoming this year, we actually had a good time together. It wasn’t energyzapping, it was just fun.

For once in my life, I’m not scared for my first Prom. I’m not even worried about my date being romantic. Because I know now, I’m not alone.

At least not with her.