From the time I was a little girl, I’ve thought about the time that I could put on a big, poofy dress and walk around like a princess.

In schools across the country, high school prom is a big deal in our culture. And, in a way, it should be. Dances like prom and homecoming give students a chance to dress up and go out with their friends. However, prom has become excessive and expensive.

Nowadays prom seems to be much more about the show: the flashiest clothes you can buy, the biggest location and huge moments for the prom queen and king. People have lost the meaning of prom which is to hangout with friends, dance and just have a good time. Now it’s all about trying to compete to be the best looking and most popular.

Prom is also obscenely expensive, according to a study done by VISA. In the Midwest, the average one spends on each prom is $733 while in the northeast the average is $1169, and this data is from 2015. Because the cost is so high, it creates a barrier between students who can’t afford nicer dresses or can’t afford to go at all. Students who can’t afford prom often feel left out as it is such a big part of our culture, so we have managed to turn it into somewhat of an elitist popularity contest. 

Despite the changes I think need to be made, I am still looking forward to my prom and spending time with my friends, I also wish all those going to prom a happy and fun-filled dance.