March 1st. It’s officially lacrosse season. Tryouts are underway and important discussions have begun. One in particular is more important than the rest: prom.
Talk during lacrosse season revolves around prom. The air is abuzz with questions. During March they are about who the first person to get asked is, who is asking who and who is asked in the most extravagant, public way.
Come April, talk involves the gossip about who has not been asked yet and the important process of proper matchmaking. Many prom dates are last minute set-ups determined by friends. Who ends up going with who is always juicy gossip.
The only thing that outranks matchmaking gossip is the promposal. In recent years, it has become more important for people to get asked in elaborate ways that require forethought and preparation.
It is best if the promposal is extremely public. It has become a contest. Guys are competing for the best promposal. Girls are comparing how they are asked.
Twitter has a multitude of accounts dedicated to pictures and explanations of the best promposals. Expectations are set unrealistically high and guys are held to impossible standards.
Once May comes knocking on the door, girls are frantic to make last minute appointments. Hair updos, manicures, pedicures, and tannings must be scheduled. One week into May, the big night arrives. Months of plans have finally come to fruition.
Starting immediately after, the latest gossip takes over. The big scandals, the let-downs, the disasters, and the couples to envy are all made public within the first 24 hours.
Everyone glorifies their big night, convincing themselves it is a wonderful night to remember. In reality, it is often a disappointment compared to the night people dream up in their imaginations.
By mid to late May, the season is winding down and so is prom talk. By the end of the season, the rumormill has other stories to pass around. Senior week takes over for the best gossip and prom is forgotten – for the moment.
But like clockwork next March, the next season starts and prom once again takes its place as the most important topic of discussion.
