Prom Issues

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Prom is nearing, and I'm having a few issues. Can you please offer some advice?</p>

<p>Issue #1: No Date and Alternate Groups
I hate that whole "YOU NEED A DATE FOR PROM OR YOU'LL LOOK LIKE A LOSER" unspoken rule. My friends comfort me by saying it's not true and that I can still have fun, but we all know that's unlikely especially if it seems as if everyone else were to have dates. No one has asked me this year (boy do I feel sad), and truth is, I don't really want to go with anyone from my school. Then I'm left with the poor stag choice.</p>

<p>Issue #2: Group Choice
I have two choices of group participation. One group is with a more organized small group of friends, but it's small and they all have dates. They say that they won't leave me alone, but I know them too well that they'll want to be with their dates alone. Also, some of them don't like the idea of dancing, and I love to dance. I don't find it fun to spend so much money to have to choose between dancing by myself or being with people who aren't enjoying the night. Also, I'm predicating that there will be a couple joining the group, and unfortunately, I don't get along too well with them.</p>

<p>The other group is all girls, stag, which is a great alternative since I'm likely to be stag. They, however, have plans of joining a bigger group for the heck of party buses and the "30 people group" picture (even though they're strangers). This bigger group can only talk of their plans but eventually, they fail. </p>

<p>Not to mention, I'm friends with both of these groups, but the people of the groups aren't friends to each other so no combination happening here. I would feel guilty leaving and joining either group.</p>

<p>Issue #3: Money!
My family's thrifty so they would never hear of it to get a dress or other clothing items for the purpose of only one occasion and they're ethical so no returns the next day either. We're also in a bad financial situation due to college issues. Both groups want to rent a limo which is even more additional fees. </p>

<p>I'm a senior, but all these issues make me not want to go to an event I've spent years anticipating.</p>

2

<p>It seems to me that you do want to go to prom. The dress money issue is not too big a deal, as you can go down to Ross, Target, etc. and get an under $50 dress (also, the Internet, although it might not fit right). </p>

<p>Do you think you can convince your parents to cough up some money for a limo? You might make it sound like its a group effort to make it cheap, hence a deal…</p>

<p>Also, I think it’s probably best to join the big group. Or, find another friend you can just double stag it with.</p>

3

<p>My mom told me out of the blue that “I’ve decided that you’re not going to prom unless you have a date.” </p>

<p>I told her otherwise. It’s the principle of it, even if I do end up finding a date. Seriously, it’s fine if you go alone, that way, you’re not committed to one person the whole night anyways ;)</p>

4

<p>I say go with the big group. You’re more likely to have fun and less likely to be on your lonesome.</p>

<p>I also say be thrifty and find a cheap dress! I spent $30 on mine last year and the closer you get to the end of the year, the cheaper dresses are. I went dress shopping on Saturday and bought my prom dress for $80 (which was ungodly expensive in my opinion), but I also bought a graduation dress for $35 that was originally $70 and I bought another nice dress for less than $20 that was originally $60. I think that two of my dresses were from JC Penny’s and the other from Dillards. You can find great deals if you’re willing to look.</p>

<p>Sophomore year I only spent $15 on my prom dress. xD</p>

<p>If you go with the large group, then the limo should be less expensive. You’re splitting the cost between a large amount of people.</p>

<p>Anyways, you only get one senior prom. I’d say talk to your parents about it and see what you can do.</p>

5

<p>I went stag as a guy to my senior prom. At first I did have the stigma of being alone (especially considering I got turned down by my high school crush, but that’s a whole other story!). But once you loosen up and stop caring about what other people think, it all works out for the best.</p>

<p>There’s nothing wrong with a girl going stag. Some of the prettiest girls at my school go alone, to the chagrin of many boys too. In fact, I would say the prettiest and most popular girls at my school went alone. And if you’re worried about your dress, don’t be. Take it from a guy: If you’re truly beautiful, you could show up in sweats and tennis shoes and still turn heads.</p>

<p>I didn’t even go with a group. Everyone at my high school is so close with each other that the moment I walked onto the dance floor I knew where my friends were at. Just go alone if that’s what suits you.</p>

6

<p>Most of my friends are going without dates. Its not bad at all. But I wouldn’t go with the group that is all dates because, like you said, you will get left out and you will feel bad. </p>

<p>Our limmo is costing about $40 a person, so that could be a bit of an expense for you, but the dress should be cheap if you start looking soon. Try thrift stores in addition to department stores. My friend found the most gorgeous dress at a thrift store for $15. Also, search online to see if your city has a program to help girls that cannot afford prom dresses (a lot of places organize drives to give disadvantaged girls free dresses). And if your parents are upset about using a dress for only one night, you could argue that you can donate it so a girl can use it next year OR you can get a dress that is elegant enough to be used for formal events that you may have in the future.</p>