Teens who have prom coming up soon probably have a lot on their minds. It’s a big night, as they have a chance to socialize with friends and possibly get closer to that person on whom they’ve had their eye.
If you’re a teen in this situation, there’s reason for excitement, as you’ll probably look back on this event fondly for many years to come. This is likely going to be one of your defining early life moments, and it’s the kind of thing that never comes around again.
There are a few factors that you should consider as you get ready for prom, and we’ll cover each of them right now.
The Health Situation
As you’re preparing for prom night, the pandemic has to be the most critical factor for you to consider. If your school is allowing you to have prom, then presumably, the educators and medical professionals in your area have decided that it’s safe to do so. Also, perhaps you’ve had one of the vaccines already, in which case you and your parents or guardians have decided that you’re reasonably safe.
Even if you have had the vaccine, though, you don’t know if everyone else around you has received it. You probably never thought that you’d attend prom with a mask on, but that might be what the situation requires. You might also need to keep your distance from your date, so slow dancing probably won’t be happening.
Alcohol and Drug Use
You also might feel like now is the time for a little alcohol use or drug experimentation. Maybe one of your friends has a fake ID and has bought some beer or liquor for the occasion, or perhaps someone raided their parents’ liquor cabinet.
It’s also possible that someone has some marijuana or other drugs. Even if you’ve never done them before, you might feel like this is the moment to try them since it’s a special occasion. If your friends are doing it, then you could feel peer pressure.
It’s best not to experiment. You don’t know how you’re going to react to the substance you try, and if you can’t handle it, you’re not going to enjoy yourself as much as you would otherwise. Also, if the police or your parents figure out that you’re intoxicated, that’s likely going to ruin your evening in a hurry.
Consent
You might have a date with a special someone. Maybe you plucked up your courage and invited them to the prom, and this is the first time you’ve ever interacted with them in this sort of setting. Perhaps you two are already together, and this is just another fun evening you can share.
Either way, you might feel like you want to get closer to them physically. Maybe they feel the same way, but you won’t be sure until you make a move.
If you’re thinking about this sort of thing, remember that you should only go as far as the other person agrees to go with you. That means making completely sure that they consent to anything physical that happens between you. If you’re sexually active, use protection, but always be sure that the other person is okay with what’s happening.
Arrange Transportation
You should also have transportation set up. Maybe you’re taking an Uber or a Lyft, or perhaps you’ve arranged a limo. It could be that one of your parents has agreed to play chauffeur for the evening.
You also might have a vehicle, and you’re driving you and your date to the school or wherever else prom is taking place. Any of those are fine, provided that you have your rides to and from the event set up beforehand. That’s one detail that you don’t want to leave till the last minute.
Have Your Phone with You
You should also have your smartphone with you, assuming you have one. You will likely want to take some pictures of your date, and you might grab a friend who can take some pictures of you two together as well. You’ll want to look back on those pictures later when you remember this night, and maybe you’ll want to post some on various social media platforms.
You also want your phone in case anything goes wrong, like your limo stranding you or if your car gets a flat tire. If the unexpected happens, you can call AAA or your parents so they can help you out.