By Michael Lin, Staff Writer
As soon as the last snow thaws comes the warm breeze of spring. Spring – the joyous awakening of life that offers a new hope and renewal. However, for us mere high school students, spring signals finals; with that, comes the cumbersome tasks that crush our dreams. For Juniors, it is time to shape up and prepare for the monumental responsibilities ahead in the following year. For Seniors, it is awaiting the results of their college applications through cheers or tears. And then comes prom– a brief moment in high school that is cherished and talked about for years to come amongst family and friends. It is– as students call it– a night to remember. Unfortunately, due to unforeseeable circumstances, the location of prom may not be as memorable for some students and may turn this party into little more than an average social gathering.
Last year’s prom was memorable for sure. Coming from the long slumber of quarantine and home “studying,” everyone cherished the opportunity to finally get together. And alas, we all did, and we all got COVID together. I guess what happens at prom doesn’t stay at prom. What I mean to say is that last year’s prom was fun. First of all, it had the novelty of being on a boat, a floating castle. The San Francisco Belle, the largest dining vessel in the West Coast, with wrap-around decks, and plenty of space to enjoy the panorama of San Francisco in style. Also, the music was better, the DJ played recognizable songs that everyone could sing along and dance. Everyone enjoyed their dinner with the diverse options of sides. There were more options for desserts as well.
Fast forward to this year’s prom. It was a MONTH earlier. WHY? Most people didn’t even know it was prom until it was prom. The beginning was promising as the entrance to the Fox Theater was good: grandiose and elegant. The lighting on the dance floor actually looked like a party. There were fancier drinks such as Shirley Temples, there was also boba milk tea. However, there were many negatives. Not only was the music obscure, but also the sound system was substandard. The bass was way too loud and thumping, but not in a good way. It was so loud that it distorted the music. Whoever equalized the soundsystem did not do a good job, or maybe the sound system was just bad. Also, it was very, very crowded. While there were four floors on the ship, there were only two floors at the Fox Theater. On the ship, there was also a lounge on the top floor, where students could take a breather in the cooling breeze. We could not exit the theater unless we were ready to leave for the night. Frankly, I preferred the Winter Formal at Devil’s Canyon to this party.
While asking around the opinions of students regarding this party, I heard the following from an anonymous junior: “I enjoyed prom because there was free food and drinks, and I could hang out with friends. It also provided me opportunities to dress up nicely. However, I think the bass in the music was too much; my ears were ringing afterwards.” Prom is a unique occasion that encourages attendants to dress as stunningly as their heart’s content. In addition to extravagant attire comes fancy food and drinks.
However, the latter was a disappointment.
Not all found prom to be a mundane moment. “To me, prom was this momentous occasion to enjoy the closing of our high school journey. It was our time to chill or go crazy with people, new and old, who’ve stuck with you from beginning to end. At the moment. You could feel that the worries and stresses of the world couldn’t touch you: all you had to do was lay back and cherish the experiences with those close to you.” Justin Li (12) provides an optimistic perspective. Perhaps what makes prom special isn’t simply just some colossal dance floor with glaring lights, but a moment to celebrate our educational journey with new and old friends.
It is important to consider the hardship that the Mills leadership go through in selecting a location to host prom. “We try to make the event financially possible so it would not be challenging for students who might have financial burdens. We’d also like to have the right amount of amenities to accommodate our needs. And a place that is accessible for students both financially and also physically (location easy to get to, facilities that students can access), for me pricing is the biggest concern, I would hope the price is manageable for students to go.” The savage blow of inflation is a deprecating factor that burdens many. In addition to budget management, the convenience for transportation must also be considered for student safety.
Regardless of the success of the proms, it heralds the end of a school year while ushering a brand new chapter for upcoming seniors. As for the graduating seniors, this simple time may very well be the last shred of our memories where we are not burdened with adult responsibilities. In this small moment congregates pieces from the past and makes prom both a social gathering and a night to remember.
