Prom is and has always been one of the most anticipated events for students throughout their entire high school experience. Even younger children fantasize about prom, as its grandeur is often displayed on the big screen or through stories from older siblings, portraying it as a spectacular event. Ultimately, prom is a high school rite of passage for many. As such, several schools offer both a junior and senior year prom; however, Lynbrook is not one of them.
Whilst prom can be expensive, it is most certainly an amusing and thrilling event. It not only offers students a break from their schoolwork and other worries, but also celebrates the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. This is precisely why juniors should be able to participate in this celebration. Arguably, the junior class has more reason for celebration; it is commonly known as the toughest year, and for good reason. The year is often filled to the brim with schoolwork, researching and touring colleges, preparing for and taking the SAT or ACT exams, and, for many, learning how to drive – a fundamental skill that takes considerable practice. If that were not enough, many Lynbrook juniors take several AP classes and participate in sports teams, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. Altogether, junior year is crammed with arduous work and concerns about students’ features. With all of these duties, students rarely have a moment to dedicate to fun throughout the stressful year. However, a junior prom would allow for the recognition of all the hard work and dedication students put in throughout the school year, while also commemorating the end of the previous anxiety-ridden year.
Yet, releasing stress is not the only function of a junior prom. Senior prom is normally considered the “big celebration” as it marks the end of high school and the preparation for college and adulthood. Therefore, juniors could hold a sort of practice prom; students will now know what to expect for the main occasion, how they should adequately prepare, and how they should behave. It can help work out all the kinks and get rid of any jitters that would normally pop up for such an awaited event. Hence why senior prom should go wonderfully once a “practice” one is held. Still, it is essential to approach this topic with an open mind and take note of differing opinions in order for the proms to be the memorable experience they were meant to be. Chairperson of Fine Art, Technology, and Family Consumer Science Vincent Lentini, who is helping to plan the Class of 2025’s prom, felt that, “The prom should be a special event held only for seniors. Having a junior prom would only make the senior prom less special.” Considering this perspective, the junior prom would be a smaller event compared to that for seniors. The dance does not necessarily need to take anything away from senior prom; rather, it should simply be a chance for juniors to experience the fun of the event.
The demand for a practice prom is no doubt largely caused by the fact that LHS, unlike many other high schools, does not offer any other dances throughout the four years. There is no homecoming dance, winter or spring formal, or any other event remotely similar to prom, making it the only event of its kind at LHS. This is a significant factor in exactly why Lynbrook should hold a junior prom. Junior Rachel Stein said, “I think it is a great opportunity to have a junior prom. A lot of other schools do it, and the kids seem to have a lot of fun both in junior and senior year. It’s nice to have a different experience for both.”
Furthermore, in television shows, movies, and the media, high schoolers are often shown at school dances, enjoying themselves with friends at various points throughout the span of the year. Several neighboring districts offer a junior prom and other dances too, leaving Lynbrook behind. Students are missing out on social experiences and events that are considered to be a key part of the high school experience. Junior Gabriella Ramirez remarked, “I believe we should implement junior prom into our high school because junior year is stressful, and it would be a great opportunity for us to socialize. Also, many other schools have junior proms in addition to a homecoming dance, and we have neither.”
All in all, juniors deserve the chance to not worry for one night after a year of non-stop hard work and strenuously planning their future. These students that have just completed what is commonly known to be the most arduous year of high school deserve to celebrate their accomplishments with the addition of a junior prom. Due to LHS not providing any other school dances during the year, senior prom is seen as the one and only chance to have a high school dance. Having Junior prom will not only provide students with another opportunity for that experience, but also serve as practice to perfect the main, grand event that is senior prom.
