Single

I always pictured going to the prom with a date. Stopping to take pictures for my grandmother before we left for a romantic dinner, just the two of us. Then making our entrance together, dancing to a few slow songs and having a good time at the post prom party. I've been looking forward to prom since I was a freshman.

Alas, though no date. Sure I have a boyfriend right now, but we just started dating and it's a little late to sign him up for prom (besides he's a little bit older than me and I don't think he'd be interested in a high school dance). I'm going to be going to prom single. I've decided to go out to eat before with a group of friends. Sure, it's not the prom I pictured but I'm sure it will be a good time.

I bought a tie that matched the color in my dress. It's been sitting on my floor for weeks. I should mention that I did have a date to the prom. But I can almost guarentee you I wouldn't have had a good time with him. I found that one of the only reasons I was prolonging our dreadful relationship was to have a man on my arm when I walked onto the dance floor. That's an awful reason to stay in a relationship.

When I broke up with him, he begged for just one more chance. He said that he'd actually take me out on a real date for once and be a gentleman if I'd give him that last chance to be my date to the prom. I could've taken him up on his offer. But the whole time I would've been thinking about my new boyfriend and he would've been goggling all of the other girls at the prom. He probably would have wanted to go to his favorite restaurant before prom and still would've made me pay for my half. He'd probably have his mom drive us to dinner or take the bus - does that sound like a romantic night or a chance for redemption?

I apologize for my rant. That's a little off of the subject. I guess I'm sending a shout-out to anyone else who is going to the prom without a date: don't let it bring you down. I have a friend who is thinking about skipping prom just because she doesn't have a date. Prom is one of the last fun things we get to do before we graduate. Why would you want to skip that? It's part of the fun of senior year. Even if you don't have a date, you owe yourself a chance to go and at least check it out. Someday, if/when you have kids they may be going to their prom and ask you about yours. You might not think you'll feel any regret now but maybe you will then.

So go with a group of friends, maybe even throw a sleepover or something for the night of prom. Make it into your night. I placed way too much importance on having a guy to slow dance with or grand march with me. But what is really important is just having a good time. There is too much pressure on students to have dates to every dance, especially the prom.