The reality behind the seemingly whimsical night
The lights are low, someone’s fake eyelash is clinging to the edge of the punch bowl, and teens stand off to the side awkwardly bumping their heads to some overplayed music. For years, prom has been presented to us in an idealized manner, complete with glitzy gowns, grand limo entrances, and the transformational slow dance beneath the stars. Prom seems like a fairytale – up until the heels start to hurt, the drama in the group chat erupts, and your meticulously cultivated Instagram story begins to seem more phony than the rental suit.
Prom is marketed as the pinnacle of the high school experience, but behind the scenes there is a pressure to choose the “right” date and attire to spend hundreds of dollars on tickets, hair, nails, and transportation, there is a mountain of worry hidden under all the glamour. Prom begins to seem less like a celebration and more like a weird unspoken competition when you think of the pressure to appear like you’re having a great time online.
Alison Chun, a senior who attended prom the year prior, described the experience as anxiety-inducing for many students, “It’s not just a night out — it’s a performance,” she said, pointing to the pressure of looking good in pictures and planning content for Instagram.
Selecting a prom date can often feel more like an obligation than an option. Whether it’s from friends, TikTok promposal videos, or simply the anxiety of showing up by yourself, the pressure mounts for weeks. “It didn’t really feel like prom was for me personally, like if I didn’t have a date it’s like ‘what’s the point?’ I would just feel out of place too since I don’t have a big group of people to go with either” said Adriel Camat, a junior who did not attend prom. Prom becomes less about fun and more about proving you’re not alone, even if you would’ve rather just gone with friends.”There was so much stress tied to making it look good for social media, it stopped sounding fun,” Camat noted. Making memories with friends should be the heart of prom – not showing off your relationship status.
Prom should ultimately be a celebration of your final high school moments, not a chance to impress people or live up to inflated expectations. Your night is genuine whether you travel alone, go with friends, or forgo it completely. It’s not worth the stress to have to go on a date, spend a ton of money, and perform the ideal tale shaped by social media. It’s okay if prom doesn’t look like a movie scene or feel like the “best night ever.” The pressure to make it perfect often overshadows the joy of just being present. It’s not necessary to romanticize every custom; sometimes the most delightful decision of all is to do what gives you the most enjoyment.
Caption: Allisone Nguyen (11) takes a picture-perfect photo, however the pressure to capture a flawless moment hides the stress behind the scenes. (Photo Credit: Angelica Guerrero (11))
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