Prom is something we hear about from a very young age. We see it in movies and television shows growing up. We grew up thinking that prom was going to be a life-changing event, the pinnacle of one’s high school experience. We would dream about prom: the sleek tuxedos, the beautiful dresses, the fancy decorations and the romantic moment with that special someone. However, as I grew older, the idea of prom sounded less and less appealing to me.  It is an event that I have chosen to avoid, and boy does that cause a ruckus.  Family and friends alike are equally offended by my choice.

“Are you going to prom?” Beginning in early March, at any family function, every well-meaning family member asks me this question. Every “No” is met with a look of shock followed by “What about your senior year? Are you going to go then?” Every “Probably not” is met by a lecture: “You are going to regret not going for the rest of your life.”  Whatever.

If that isn’t bad enough, by late March it totally consumes a large portion of my classmates.  Many girls lose total focus in class as they google pictures of prom dresses all day long.  They constantly shove cell phones in each other’s faces, showing off pictures of their dress or try to claw each other’s eyes out to show a manicure. All conversation is turned to who is going with whom, where are we meeting for pictures, where are we eating, what are we doing after the dance?  I just do not understand why a three hour dance is getting all this hype, and I think my skepticism is warranted, at least for me and others like me.

For starters, it is not my cup of tea. No offense  to my classmates, but dancing in a stuffy room with music turned up too loud sounds like an awful time. As a proud introvert, I am already exhausted from the social interactions during the school week, so my weekend is set aside for people-free time. Also, prom is very expensive. The attire, the accessories, the tickets—that adds up quickly.  I don’t need a floor length sequin dress for anything else, so why would I drop hundreds of dollars for one?

So, why don’t we agree to disagree on this whole prom thing. If you are excited for prom, be excited then. Party responsibly and have the time of your life. But understand that there are some people who just do not want to go, so stop feeling sorry for them and stop trying to pressure them into going. And, while you’re at it, tell those well-meaning aunts of mine to do the same.