The prom was created for seniors to celebrate themselves as well as their peers. Promenade – the traditional walk was made between the late 1800s and the 1920s, and it has become a tradition upheld primarily in high schools in the springtime close to graduation season ever since its birth. Prom was originally meant to be the night seniors -and now juniors- get dressed up and enjoy a night carefree from the stress of graduation, one of the most significant shifts of their lives from childhood to adulthood. It serves as a celebration of the undeniable right of passage for our graduates as they dance and drink punch with their closest friends and peers while dressed to impress as if they were going to a gala. While this special occasion is entitled to enjoyment- or supposed to be -only a few get to experience it without the stresses of trying to find a prom date.

Prom is surrounded by the toxicity of the social “requirement” of dates, which produces unnecessary stress on top of the expected and undeniable stressors. The big event already accommodates itself with strains such as budgeting for your attire, which could be pricey because most dresses are at least $200. Suits are costly, too, along with the little things prom-goers care about. Another essential accessory that society has added to the list is your date. The big prom date ensures you are not alone and that you have a pleasant evening at the least, but does it? Prom dates create the assumption that you are staying with them the entire time. Your date could see their friends, get distracted, and practically leave you stranded alone, dancing the night away, trying to find your groove all by yourself.

You don’t need a date to make sure you have a great time. Honestly, you can go with friends and take pictures to capture the moment and not feel as if you are made to stay with your date or have to cater to them the entire night. The ideal prom date is unnecessarily prized too highly. You can go with friends and not feel expected to be glued to someone’s hip throughout the night, which is meant for you to celebrate the next chapter of your life right before graduation. Before your next prom, ask yourself if you sincerely need a date, want one, or if it’s really worth going through the hassle of altering your plans and accommodating them.