As prom gets closer, all of those who are attending begin to get into the prom frenzy of finding a dress, a date, a table to sit at, and what they’re going to do after the big event. Today, most girls wear the newest and most blinged out dress they can find and get asked to prom with banners and flowers.  Looking at all the hype around prom today makes one wonder if prom was the same when our parents and teachers were in school.

“The way people ask each other to prom is so different from when I was in school,” said English teacher Stacey Smith. “We just asked each other casually and if you had a boyfriend or girlfriend you knew you were going to go with that person. Everyone had a date, no one went alone,” she says.

Dr. Smith talked about how her high school had separate proms for juniors and seniors, unlike how we have a combined prom here at VHS. The day of prom she left school early to get her nails done and tan, like most girls do today. Afterwards she went out with her friends, went home later, and then took off for Seaside the next morning.

“My oldest sister’s husband was kind enough to lend me his one year old Oldsmobile Cutlass; as a 17-year old I thought driving that to the prom was the coolest thing ever,” said English teacher Tom White.  “Such an upgrade from the ’74 Pinto I owned at the time and had bought for $800.  I drove my date and another couple – no limo, no money for one” said Mr. White.  “That probably says a lot about the different times.  I guess that would be unthinkable now,” he said.
Business teacher Pam Burke also kept her prom preparations simple and sweet. Having prom on the other side of the country, in Northern California, she went home after school to get ready and got her hair done.

“Before the prom we would rent a hotel room and all get ready together there,” he exclaimed while thinking about her prom days “Prom was more low key for us. We all went with dates, though,” said Mrs. Burke.

Mrs. Burke also talked about how there weren’t any “promposals” like there are today and how prom seems to have become a much bigger event with the amount of money most girls spend to get ready for the big night.

Today, prom seems to have become a lot more work and more expensive with the cost of hair, makeup, tanning, nails, dresses, shoes and whatever else is needed for that night. Not everyone goes with a date; sometimes people just go as a group of friends. Promposals have become a major thing the past few years. As the years go on prom, like most things in our culture, seems to become more flashy and hyped than it used to be.