With VHS prom coming up this week, discussion of  “promposals” are popping up all over.  So what exactly is a promposal?

“It’s when someone will ask in a unique or cute way and catch you by surprise, like a marriage proposal, but for prom,” junior Amanda Albelin explains, smiling. She sent her promposal , which featured hockey sticks and pucks, via text to a hockey fanatic friend, and by no surprise, it popped up on most of VHS’s student’s Instagram feeds.

Do all girls want a promposal?  According to multiple girls of different grades and social groups, the general consensus is: YES.

“Every girl secretly wants to feel special like that even if they say they don’t,” junior Emily Keane said matter-of-factly.

“Every girl wants it to be like in the movies—but then there are people like Quinn who asks a girl over text,” said junior  Madison Misuro, as she rolled her eyes and smiled.  She was referring to her prom date, junior Quinn Cummings.   But there are exceptions to Emily’s and Madison’s belief.  Junior Eliza Sniatkowski thinks a text is enough. “I don’t like making a big show of things; even when I get actually proposed to he better just do it at dinner or something.”

Promposals are usually targeted towards couples, with the guy asking the girl. Is it a competition? Paul Scully, junior, says: “Well, yes. Girls nowadays are expecting their boyfriends to go above and beyond for them so I feel like you have to ask in a unique way to show you’re better than the other guys.” And the girls have definitely picked up on it.

“I think it’s a legit competition of who can ask a girl better,” said junior Brielle Cummings who was asked by a fellow basketball player who wrote ‘Prom?’ on a basketball.

“Obviously you want to outshine your friends, but I think pleasing your significant other is the most important thing,” thinks junior Matt Braschi.  Matt waited for his girlfriend in his garage and surprised her with flowers and a sign that said ‘Will You Go To Prom With Me.’ Her reaction? “She was honestly scared at first because she wasn’t expecting it, but after she saw what I was doing she laughed and said yes.” Matt’s favorite promposal of VHS 2k13? “Jack Yauch, he killed it.”

Yes, that’s ‘Prom?’ written on his dog in the photo accompanying this article.   Jack said he didn’t feel the pressure of VHS’s new trend and just wanted to do something nice for his girlfriend.

Living up to the stereotype of our generation  that we post everything to the Internet,  some girls upload a picture to Instagram. “I kinda feel like everyone is just trying to brag about how they got asked, but then again maybe I’m just bitter cause I didn’t get asked in a cute way.” Madison said.

“I’m obviously going to like it if I think it’s cute. I mean we follow people to see what’s going on in their lives, so yeah I’ll throw a like to a promposal,” says Colleen Farrell, contradicting the negative response some have to those who Instagram their promposals.

And how was Colleen asked?  A friend was driving her to track, and when she opened his trunk there was a stuffed animal, candy, and signs that said ‘Prom?’

Take note boys, because next year’s prom season is going to be a lot to live up to.