prom

What did you do for your prom?








I didn't go to my junior prom (due to an untimely move down South), but did go to two senior proms, one with my oldest girlfriends and one with my high school beau. I remember surprisingly little about each prom, minus what I wore and how I did my hair. Prom is one of those ridiculous rites of passage that is such a big deal when it happens but in retrospect is completely absurd.

I have gone to the senior prom every year since I started teaching high school. I dress up, wear a bit more make-up than I'd wear to work, and go take photos of my students. To see the students all dressed up--our school is very much a jean, hoodie, tshirt, sneaker-type place--makes me well up with pride. And, surprisingly, they are so nice to each other for this one night. No girl fights, no gang crap, no nothing. The biggest debacle is usually the Hispanic kids wanting more Reggaeton music played and the Black kids wanting less Hispanic music played. But even that gets sorted out quickly with some good pop hits.

This year's killer song was by Soulja Boy. Even though it's popularity peaked last summer, the entire prom population screamed and raced onto the dance floor for it. While I had taught it to myself using Soulja Boy's youtube video, I refrained. After all, it was their prom. And, as much as I feel I can cut a rug in my bathroom, when you put me with a group of 18 year old students I am whiter than Santa's bare bum.

Here are my fave pictures from the prom. You can click here to see the whole album, replete with comments!