Prom: the stereotypical high school event that’s usually placed toward the beginning of spring. Students are given the opportunity to dress formally, have a nice dinner, and dance with their friends. I asked a few of my friends what comes to mind when I say “high school,” and most of them included prom in their answers. Prom is an event that holds a special place in some student’s hearts. Flint Hill follows the same traditions of what prom typically looks like, except for one thing: the timing. Flint Hill has placed prom after the closing ceremony. It’s placed after exams, and students receive the go-ahead to begin summer. This placement of the event has caused some controversy and opinions to arise regarding why Flint Hill’s prom is so late. I believe that the dance should be placed closer to the month of April because it prevents students from accidentally booking summer plans that would interfere with the June date. 

 I think prom should be held earlier because of the possibility of having students double-book the date. Some students are quick to travel and leave as soon as school ends, leading to them missing out on the late prom date. Students may not be aware of when the prom is, as the date fluctuates each year. This could lead students unfamiliar with Flint Hill’s early timing to schedule to leave right after school ends. Then, come prom time, students are left with difficult decisions regarding whether to cancel a trip or not attend prom. Having an earlier date also allows students who want to bring an outside-of-school friend to provide a more convenient date where it’s more likely the friend will be in town. 

Moreover, by providing an earlier prom date, students will be given a more convenient time to attend the prom and will be guaranteed more attendance. Students can enjoy the dance without the interference of conflicting summer dates.