Prom is more about planning than it is about dancing.
High school juniors and seniors spend hours hunting for the perfect dress or tux and planning hair appointments, limo rentals and flower orders.
Class boards also have to begin planning months ahead of time.
“We decided where to have it, and how much money tickets weregoing to be,” said Chelsea Everett, junior class president at Howard High School, whose prom will be May 11 at Turf Valley Country Club. “We had a lot of fundraising to do, but it?s all working out. Our theme is ?007.? ”
Wilde Lake High School?s May 19 prom venue will be the Maryland Science Center.
“[Wilde Lake has] the most unique and original prom place this year,” senior Ben Jackson said.
Despite the high costs, students say prom is still a worthwhile event.
“Our prom [on April 28] was expensive because our junior board didn?t raise as much money as we?d hoped, but I still think that it?s an important high school experience,” said Adam Russell, a junior at Mount Hebron High School. “It?s still worth it.”
“Prom is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and you might as well go all out,” said Lauren Foley, a senior at Catonsville High School.
Sarah McCoud, also a senior at Catonsville High School, agreed.
“It?s one thing at the end of the year that everyone really looks forward to. It?s like the last thing you get to do with everybody before graduation,” she said.
Benjamin Bochinski, a senior at Oakland Mills High School, had a blast at his school?s prom on April 28.
“It was great seeing my friends all dressed up,” he said. “I definitely had a good time. And they had a pretty good music selection, too.”
Tina Zou is a senior at Centennial High School in Howard County. She is an intern for The Examiner.
