Prom is supposed to be one of the most memorable evenings of a student’s life. It’s festive with lights, music, fashion attire, and enjoyment. But do all students need to provide a date in order to attend? No. Asking students to bring a date to prom would take away from the experience for many individuals and make unnecessary burdens.
To begin with, there are some students who just want to attend prom with friends. They don’t want to have to stress about choosing a date or concern themselves with whom to invite. Attending in groups can be just as enjoyable, if not more so, than going with one individual. Having a rule that expects dates would make many students feel excluded just because they didn’t have that special someone to go with them.
Also, not every student is at ease with dating in high school. Some just do not want anything to do with romantic relationships at all, and that is okay. Others do not have someone they are close enough to invite on a date. To make a date obligatory could make them feel uneasy or even left out. Prom night should be one where everyone can relax and have fun, not stress about adhering to a rule. I asked Bryan Jean what he thinks about the topic and he said, “Prom dates are a good idea because it’s good for the king and queen and people will know who you are there with.”
In addition, requiring students to seek dates may result in forced or humiliating experiences. Others will invite someone out of obligation and not because they actually want to. This could be a humiliating or disappointing experience for both. Without the extra pressure of needing to find a date, students will be able to appreciate the event for what it truly is a celebration of their academic achievements.
In the end, who you go with to prom does not matter much, but what happens. Laughing with friends, dancing to favorite songs, and celebrating the fact that high school is over is what will be remembered. If someone goes by themselves, with friends, or with a date, the night should not matter any less. I asked Romell Cambell, a senior at Coral Glades if he thinks prom dates should be mandatory. He said, “I do not think it should be mandatory because you can go and just have fun with their friends.”
In short, prom is supposed to be about having fun and being free, not restricting rules on whom you can or cannot date. All individuals should be allowed to decide for themselves how they want to enjoy their prom evening. Having a requirement for dates would only be depriving students of that freedom and causing unwanted stress. Allowing students to go as they please will enhance the celebratory nature of the event for everyone.
