**The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools**
Without fail, conversation post-winter break among juniors and seniors is filled with talk of prom, that quintessential American high school tradition. Everything from who is wearing what dress, who is going with whom, and where everyone is getting their nails done is covered in the months and weeks leading up to the big dance. This conversation topic is accompanied by overwhelming amounts of stress as people figure out which group they are going to be in, where their afterparty will be, when the best time to start self-tanning is, and how much money is too much money to be spending on a dress. This stress brings up a controversial yet critical question: is prom worth the hype?
On the one hand, no. The aforementioned stress seems ludicrous when situated in the context that it is all for a school dance. Preparations for prom require weeks of planning and immense sums of money—this time and money are resources that could be devoted to some better, more impactful and longer-lasting cause.
On the other hand, yes. In an ironic sense, this stress is what makes the night so exciting: it is a culmination of weeks of planning, the moment where all the different pieces of one’s outfit come together. It is the moment where students can let loose for one final school dance of the year, and for seniors, one final school dance overall.
To fully unpack this question, one must revisit the occurrences of the evening.
For many, the night began with the customary photo shoot that proceeds every dance. The majority of the junior class gathered at the Vestavia Country Club for their pictures, and most of the seniors congregated at Samford for theirs. At each of these venues, parents mingled with one another, girls showed off their dresses and matching bouquets, and boys posed in what they likely deemed as too many pictures. From there, students broke off into smaller groups to have dinner.
The well-fed students in their overly-documented outfits then flocked to Iron City Bham, a concert venue located in Downtown, for the main event. Upon arriving, they were greeted by teachers who volunteered their Friday nights to help with the event and received a blue light-up wristband. They then had the option to go snap a picture or two at a photo station decorated with silver streamers and balloons that perfectly embodied the dance’s theme, which was “disco.”
After making their way through the lobby, students moved to the dance floor, which had disco balls hanging overhead that lit up the room. The band Az-IzZ took the stage to kick the night off once the floor filled up. This band has played VHHS’s prom for several years, and they perform covers of throwbacks like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “All Star,” as well as some current hits. Students danced the night away to the music, and while they did so, Darnell Thomas, the school’s photographer, floated around taking candid pictures of people enjoying the event.
For those who needed a break from all the dancing, tables were available in a loft above the dance floor. Complimentary food as well as free root beer and Coke floats were available for students to enjoy.
The dance officially ended at 10:30 pm, but students could leave whenever they wanted to; many then went to an afterparty.
It is evident that the evening of March 10 was certainly a night to remember for all who attended. The gowns and tuxedos made students feel like they were walking the red carpet, yet they also had the opportunity to party with their friends on the dance floor.
In the context of the memories made that night, prom is worth the hype; however, the event would have been just as fun—possibly even more fun—if there was not so much pressure to spend a vast sum of money on one’s appearance. The appearance aspect of the dance should be regarded as an exciting opportunity to express oneself, not as a source of anxiety. So, to put it neatly, the stress and financial commitment is a bit excessive and unnecessary, but the hype is well-deserved. It makes sense why Americans young and old regard their prom experience as one of their most treasured memories.
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