Prom season is here and along with it comes the stress of finding a dress, buying a corsage, and finding a date. Students have the option to go alone or with friends, but even then, many people still feel pressured to go with a date.

    It’s understandable when you think about why people feel this way. Tabloids and social media constantly harp about finding a date for dances, and it’s difficult not to feel inclined to follow these patterns when everyone talks about them.

    A lot of pop culture that we have grown up with features the idea of the esteemed prom date. “People feel pressured by the stereotype that everybody has a date,” says junior Aadil Makkar, “but you can have just as much fun on your own.”

    We also grow up with teenage-targeted movies focused on a wishful girl trying to find a date for a seemingly life-changing dance. Popular rom-coms such as “Sixteen Candles” and “Ten Things I Hate About You” are just a few of the many movies that perpetuate this theme.

    Prom is a perfect example of this kind of dance: a dance where we feel obliged to conform to illogical standards.

    According to the Odyssey, an American media website, many girls see prom as a wedding pre-trial, which is one of the reasons why so many people think it has such a pivotal influence in their life. They feel the need to do their hair, get their makeup done, and to find a date so it feels like an actual wedding.

    This comparison seems a little extreme, but it’s evident that the underlying themes are there.

    In retrospect, all of his hype for a prom date isn’t necessary. It’s simple: if you want a prom date, go with someone, if you don’t, then don’t bother.

    Don’t let preconceived notions and norms determine how you spend an exciting night of your high school life.

         We should normalize going to prom alone because not everyone wants to go with someone in a romantic way. Meghana Tera, a junior, said that “you can go alone, spend prom with your friends and still have a great time.” A recurring trend at South, she said, is that “most people end up ditching their dates anyways.” Even if they do have a date, they don’t end up spending the night with them.

    There are benefits of going to your prom alone. “You don’t have to pay for someone else,” said junior Megha Senthil, “and when you’re a student, you’re on a budget.”

    In addition, Senthil said that “if you go alone, you’re not obligated to stay with a certain person” and “can wander and spend time with those you choose.”

    It doesn’t make sense for someone to spend time and energy on finding a date when they might not end up spending or enjoying that time with them in the end. Going without a date seems much simpler and much less stress-inducing.

    So when prom season, or even just any regular dance comes along, keep in mind that the most important thing is enjoying yourself. Whether it be alone, with a friend, a group, or a date, there’s no judgement of the way you spend your night.