Ah, prom. A very special night when high schoolers can be high schoolers…unless a pandemic gets in the way of that. Not too long ago, OMHS announced that in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, they were canceling Prom this year. Now, I know that there are people like me that are unfazed by the news; however, I also know there were people who were looking forward to this very special moment in their high school life. Maybe they want to use the event to celebrate and close out childhood. So, for those wanting to fill their prom void, I got you covered. 

Remedy #1 – Watching Prom Movies

My first suggestion in filling that prom void is to maybe watch a movie about a prom. According to Ranker.com, the top three prom movies are She’s All That (1999, Robert Iscove, Miramax Films, PG-13), Teen Wolf (1985, Rod Daniel, Atlantic Releasing Corporation, PG), and Never Been Kissed (1999, Raja Gosnell, 20th Century Fox, PG-13). Of course, Hollywood isn’t for everyone, so if that’s the case, maybe you can look up prom videos on the Internet. You can even ask friends and family if they own home movies of a prom they or someone close to them went to. If you want to take a more simple approach, looking at prom pictures may be just as effective as watching one on TV.

Remedy #2 – Attending Mock Proms

Of course, there are also people who want to be at an actual prom to get the full experience. If you’re one of those people, maybe you can put on a prom of your own! You could either have one at home or maybe you can rent out a venue. Invite your friends, order decorations and refreshments, do what you need to do to get the full experience! You can also ask around to see if anyone knows of any mock proms being put on. I heard about a group of parents on the other side of the county who are organizing a prom to replace the school’s. I don’t know all the details, but you can ask your friends about it. Must you attend, be careful. Since the school did not initiate this event, they are not responsible for any incidents that come out of it.

Remedy #3 – Volunteering at a Future Prom

And then there are the seniors who want to experience a prom put on by the school (or maybe you want to be cautious during the pandemic and are afraid to try Remedy #2). Have you looked into ways you can volunteer at a future prom? And before you tell me that you have to be a teacher to participate in prom, maybe try looking for ways you can be a part of prom without being one. You can DJ the event, you can prepare the refreshments, you can take the pictures. You can even ask around to see if they’ll let you be a part of the prom planning committee, most of these events depend on volunteers.

All people are different, and these tips might not work for you, so if that’s the case, maybe research more prom remedy tips online. I can’t put prom back on, but I can help you fill the void while keeping safe. And on that note, make sure you take care during the pandemic and I’ll see you around soon.