Broad Run High School has been around and active since 1969, with some people calling it ‘Cornfield High’ because of its surroundings at the time. Since that time, our school has been celebrating prom annually sometime in May. As students graduate and new freshmen join the school, the student energy and school spirit shifts like trends.
The Past
In the early 2000s, the students would prepare for prom months in advance. Girls would worry if they had a date and the guys would make their moms help them come up with a good promposal. Back then, prom was more of a date scene where you usually go in a group but everyone was there with one other person. Broad Run 2019 alumni Anna Cummings remembers prom being huge, stating, “My friends and I would talk about it a lot and would never miss it. It was one of the highlights of the year, especially senior year.” She then goes on to say, “Socially, it was more embarrassing not to go.” Some girls would spend the weeks leading up to prom campaigning and trying to convince their classmates to vote for them for prom queen while others help their friends campaign or debate who to vote for. Yet, every girl would be spending hours on the weekends searching for their perfect prom dress. One not too flashy, but also one that no one else would be wearing. Wherever prom was held would be decorated to the nines with music blaring and food sprawled out on big tables. The students would scream the songs as they danced the night away.
Prom now
However, the trends shift and 25 years have passed since proms peak. While other schools’ proms may still be like the early 2000s, Broad Runs’ are definitely not. Take prom of 2024 for example. Seniors and Juniors barely bought enough tickets, so much so that the school would be losing money that they didn’t raise for prom. One day, the morning announcements opened prom to our sophomore class as well, in order to not lose funding. The same happened for this year’s prom.
How Students Feel Now in 2025
Talking to students around our school who aren’t attending prom, I learned what could be done in order to boost our prom spirit and attendance. There needs to be more media surrounding prom! Announcements are barely made and emails for tickets are the only things reminding us it exists. What we need to do is create spirit days the week of prom! Not the boring ones, like wearing maroon, but the fun ones we do during homecoming season! Also, making instagram posts and different morning announcements would definitely have an impact as well. As long as they’re done in a fun and entertaining way that’ll catch students’ attention!
Planning for Prom
Part of the issue may be the planning that goes into prom. If prom seems boring and underwhelming or just like a ballroom with a few streamers, our students won’t be as interested in buying the $60 tickets.
Attending Prom
First of all, there’s no wrong way to do prom as long as you attend and have fun. If you have no idea how to prepare or what the usual things people do is, I’ve compiled a checklist for you. Before you buy a ticket, you definitely want to make sure you find out how to get a permission slip. The admin usually sends out emails on where to find them. It has to be filled out before the day of prom, they usually have a set due date. More off, you still have to sign it if you’re 18 or over. As for tickets, you can buy them on the schools website, but are also often sent to you via the Remind app or email. Once again, this has a set due date. Dressing up is arguably one of the most important parts of prom. I highly recommend bringing socks or a change of shoes if you’re wearing heels. Your feet may ache at the end of the night if you don’t. The most common stores to find formal clothes for prom have been Macy’s and JCPenney. However, those clothes can be very expensive. You can also go to the local thrift stores in hopes of finding an outfit, or you can go to the library and get an outfit for free during Broad Runs’ charity prom store, where people put clothes they don’t want anymore, up for sale. Most people go out for dinner with friends before going to prom, but you can really do anything beforehand. Though, unlike the early 2000s, Broad Runs’ prom is more often attended with a large group of friends instead of dates (unless you want one or are in a relationship).
Even so, prom is still widely enjoyed around the county. It’s not embarrassing or weird to have fun and dress up, so don’t judge people for doing spirit days and having fun when you could just join them!
