Prom 2017!

Prom is coming up at PACT and people are getting ready! Prom is on Saturday May 6, 2017 on the St. Croix River. This day is often a senior’s last “hoorah” before heading off to their post-secondary future.

For those that have never attended prom, the agenda is pretty straightforward: pictures, dancing, food, dancing, home. Ms. Scholl provided these specifics for PACT: “There is the grand march here at four, then we sail at six, eat, then the dance starts at 7 and goes to 11.” Sounds like a full evening of fun, dancing, and opportunities to hang out with your friends.

They now have lowered the age of who can go. Originally it was only for 11th and 12th graders, but now they have let 10th graders go. Now a little background on the prom. As Times Magazine puts it, first it started at college, but then it moved down for high school seniors and so on. Second, prom is for seniors to go and enjoy a night for them and have fun.

Prom is a formal dress attire. Girls will wear big dresses, and boys wear tuxedos, which for both bright, neutral, or even dark colors are worn. Normally boys and girls will match in color of dress and tuxedo. For this year’s fashion it is still the same as last years’ fashion trends. The dresses are still cut the same, but it is cut at the top so it is kind of a “crop top” (but not to revealing), with a huge skirt. The kids here at PACT are excited for prom, because of dancing, getting to dress up, food, and spending time with friends.

Back in the day prom was held in many places, and people would get there in many different ways. Prom was normally held in school gymnasiums, country clubs, and hotels. For how they would get there is “Normally they would ride in limousine or they would rent a show cars and go in those,” said Mr. Mathews.

“Here at PACT we have, as far back as we can remember, always used a boat for prom” says Mrs. Scholl. She also said, “We keep using it because, it’s unique and special, and we have kept it there, because if we give up the spot on the boat we might lose our spot in the future.” Some may be asking what if I get sick, am I on the boat the whole time? “Yes you are stuck on the boat, so once you are on it you are not able to get off,” says Mrs. Scholl.

To make the night the most meaningful night people take pictures. People take pictures of the prom to savor the moment and to keep it as a memory of what a great night it was at the prom. However, it’s not all fun and games at prom. South Bay’s Neighbor, an East coast newspaper reporting on prom, explained some rules. South Bay’s Neighbor says, “they have requirements for it like any other legal matter. In some cases 21 year olds aren’t allowed in, because that is another way that drinks can get in without anyone knowing.”

Students all have different plans when it comes to how they are spending the night. From Katy Crosby in 11th grade, she is said, “I am going to my friend Bethany's house to get ready. Then we are going to drive to PACT for the Grand March. Then we are going to the prom. We’ll be there the whole time, I mean it is 50 bucks… However, I don’t see myself dancing the whole time, because I’ll get tired and stick to what my friends are doing.”

Sounds like a great plan! Katie brings up a good point – prom is not cheap. Might as well make the most of the evening, and take advantage of everything PACT has planned for prom that evening.

Now from a boy’s perspective on how he is spending the night, I talked with senior Joe Heino. “So I will wake up, probably play video games. Then I will go pick up my date and take pictures, with a location that we don’t know of yet. Then take a van to prom with a bunch of people. I will eat a lot of food, dance some of the night but talk for a lot of it. I’ll probably look out at the river. We will be staying as a whole group the whole night.”

Definitely a different plan, but it still sounds fun in its own way. It is often a “rite of passage” for seniors (boys and girls alike) to attend their senior prom. Usually the joke is that girls take all day to get ready, and the boys simply shower right before they need to leave.

After the big night many people like to go to after parties. Many people go to after parties, to go and relax, and recap what happened with the night. Also just to have a nice peaceful ending to the wonderful and beautiful night at the prom.

There is also some people that don’t want to go for a variety of reasons. Some might not want to go because they think it wouldn’t be fun. Some of the most popular reasons are “Some say it is too expensive, some don’t really care about going to a dance” says Mrs. Scholl. Even though this can be true, it is still a great thing to go to.

So now you know, and it’s your decision to see if you want to go or not. You could have a lot of fun or you don’t even have to go at all, but you could miss out on one of the best nights of your life! The choice is yours, which one are you going to choose.