Why The Hell Don't I Have a Date? Sometimes, as I lay in my bed thinking and over thinking and racking my brain for possible answers to all the unanswerable questions I have, my brain slows to one single thought. Today, upon stepping out of the shower, I was hit with that thought: prom. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about who I was going with. Me, Myself, and I ? Beyonce couldn’t have said it any better with her fourth consecutive US top five single. Did you know it remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 24 weeks? Me neither. Thanks, Wikipedia . I have my dress already. It’s pink and it has lace and I love it dearly. So at least I've figured out one piece of the puzzle. However, I’ve grown weary of the race to find a prom date. Actually, I’ve been tired of it since the beginning of the junior year. As all my friends gathered ‘round to express their sorrows about whether someone would ask them, I sat and thought really hard to about the possibility. Will someone ask me? As quickly as the interest took hold of me, I found myself equally uninterested, and ultimately stopped caring until March came around, aka, prom season. And now, with prom being in less than a week, I am taking a stand against the belief that girls (and guys) must go to prom with a date. Perhaps it is easier for a girl to go with girlfriends than a guy to go with a bunch of guys (social norms and all, but we’ll save that discussion for another day). However, this idea that prom is the end-all of high school and not having a date will leave you ultimately screwed or some sort of “loser” absolutely boggles my mind. It’s like all the talk of feminism and individualism and being able to do things on your own have fallen completely down the drain. Girls (and guys, although I’m pretty sure no guys read this,) I urge you to look at yourself in the mirror, or do what I do and just stare at the ceiling. Either way, do something that makes you reflect upon your own self, not some version of yourself. Really think about whether having a date to prom will, in the end, make your life any better than it already is now. Because if you do get yourself a date, you’ll have the pictures to show off to your friends, right? (#instagramnation?) Or, because in 20 years, you'll stand next to the person you love the most and say boy, I’m so glad I went to prom with what’s-his-face even though it has absolutely nothing to do with you. It. Doesn’t. Matter. Prom to me is a time to celebrate high school and the years we have before we enter the adult world filled with jobs and drama and real life consequences. Right now, we are teenagers in some of the best years of our lives. I know it isn't easy, so don't think this is all coming from a place of ignorance. We work hard and we get stressed and it sucks a lot of the time, but why sulk at something that is being thrown to celebrate all the bridges we've built and crossed? Who we go or don’t go to prom with doesn’t really impact that. So to all my single ladies, put your hands up. Get ready to dance. Get ready to have a great time, and stop thinking about what people expect you to do and start thinking about what you expect of yourself. And keep in mind that as pro-dateless as I am, I am not anti-date. However you will be attending prom, just surround yourself with people you like and have fun. Stop stressing. The end. Stay Classy Valley,
3 Comments
Patrice
3/3/2015 09:00:35 pm
Arghhhhhh Prom! You couldn't have said it better. The description of your dress and prom reminds me of one of my fav movies --- Pretty in Pink. Yes, the movie is totally dated but in a fun way (stuck in the 80s with brat pack actors). I felt all the same stresses about going to prom and come senior year even though I had a boyfriend (yea!), neither of us had the funds to attend prom (boo!). The only lasting scar I can determine is that I'm sometime drawn to poofy, pink dresses (mostly of the Betsey Johnson variety). Have a great time at the prom Rachel!
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4/26/2015 03:55:36 pm
Today, upon stepping out of the shower, I was hit with that thought: prom.
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10/8/2015 04:15:43 am
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