Dream OR Nightmare?

Promenade Down Memory Lane

If your school turns into Rydell High before every prom, you may feel like you've all seen Grease one time too many. Are your students frantic about finding a date? Worried about what they're going to wear? Too stunned by what it's going to cost to concentrate on algebra? Teach them that x (ex-prom date) plus y (why did I spend a fortune on my dress/tux?) doesn't have to equal a disastrous prom night. NEA members courageously share their own prom stories as living proof that there is a morning after.

A One-Act Tragedy, 1989

Couple stands in line for pictures. It's his school's prom on a Friday night. Her prom is Saturday, but she's decided to go to only one: Saturday morning's track meet and two dances might be too much. Her friend enters and excitedly approaches the couple.

Friend (to girl): Hi! Wow, that dress is beautiful! Is that the same one you're wearing tomorrow night for our prom?

Cut to shot of boy who suddenly realizes his date is going to two proms, but only one with him. Cut to shot of girl whose face strangely matches the emerald green of her dress. Fade out as oblivious friend walks away.

John Hayward
Communications Art Teacher
Naperville Central High School, Naperville, Illinois

Ooops! 1991

White dress, white shoes, white gloves, white stockings, and RED punch! Luckily, I was cheap and didn't spend a lot of money on my dress.

Stacy Paleen
Math Teacher
Park High School, Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Who Are You? 1967

The week before my prom, I showed my long, pink gown to long-haired Paul. He showed me his black tux. When Paul came to take me to the prom, I literally fell down the stairs when I saw he was not only bald, but wearing a red tuxedo!

Barbara Rice
Japanese Language Teacher
Clarkston High School, Clarkston, Michigan

A Date Is a Date, 1976

Spring 1976. U.S. government class. As we wait for class to start, I complain to a friend that no one has asked me to my junior prom. Suddenly, the nice, but slightly geeky, guy who sits in front of me asks if I'd like to go with him. I pause for only a minute before accepting; a date is a date.

Fast-forward to another spring day when out of the blue the same boy calls the same girl to see how life has treated her. They haven't spoken in 19 years. This time the magic happens. In December, I will have been married to my junior prom date for six years.

Vicky Rossander
Computer Science Teacher
Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa

Happy at Home, 1972

Mine was the prom that wasn't. Back when you needed a date to fit in, I asked two girls and was turned down by both, the second laughing heartily in my face at the fact I'd asked her in the first place. It turned out my best friend had landed in the soup, too, and we both spent the night eating a deluxe pizza, watching our favorite NBA team, and saving hundreds of dollars apiece! Epilogue: We both survived to marry, have children, and lead normal, healthy, productive lives. I often tell this story to stressed-out teenagers who are trying to find boutonnieres and corsages, rushing to appointments at the beauty parlor, and wondering how they're going to look to their friends.

Thomas M. Sobottke
World/U.S. History
Mukwonago High School, Mukwonago, Wisconsin

Prom 101 Shelly Fryer's "Economics of Prom" class has become a big hit with the students at South High School in Torrance, California. Students look forward to the spring project all year long, when they learn how to prepare prom budgets that cover attire, transportation, tickets, accessories, and any other expenses that might come up on the big night. "Depending on what region of the country you're from," says Fryer, "proms can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars." Fryer decided to teach the class when she realized how many of her students were being "taken for a ride" around prom time, like renting unlicensed limos that took the kids' money but didn't show up. Fryer also gives an electronic slide presentation on prom etiquette, safety, sobriety, and safe sex. Students say the lessons they learn in the class help them make better decisions at prom time. Looking for prom advice to share with your students? Check out Fryer's Web site. You can also visit www.promadvice.com.

Fool for Love, 1966

I spent the entire night of my prom sitting at my girlfriend's kitchen table drinking coffee with her mother while in the back bedroom all my girlfriend could do was scream and cry about her hair. It was after midnight before she came out of the bedroom!

James Bauernfeind
Criminal Justice Teacher
Mt. Juliet High School, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

A Night To Remember, 2003

With the help of teachers, parents, chaperones, and other benefactors, all 13 students from my life skills support class were able to attend their senior prom last year. Many of my students come from "financially challenged" homes, and attending the prom was a once in a lifetime opportunity. With $1,000 from a mini-grant, we arranged for limousines through a connection with a local business, received a big discount on tuxedo rentals, and either purchased gowns or used gowns donated by volunteers. The kids absolutely loved the prom. For everyone involved, it was a night to remember.

Eileen Karwaski
Life Skills Support Teacher
Marple Newtown High School, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Hopelessly Devoted, 1959

The cutie in blue is his date We in white friends
Who’d wished him our mate.
Lust and love had divided us
But this night united
One prom picture
could we create.

Joan Strasser
Resource specialist Grant Elementary School,
Richmond, California

All's Well that Ends Well, 1970

I was a "nerd." I didn't know you were supposed to plan where to sit before the prom or make dinner reservations for afterward. Luckily, my date and I found a table at the prom and a restaurant with an available table afterwards. In the car while driving home, he said, "Here!" and threw me his high school ring. Thirty-four years later, he's a bit more romantic; I get flowers weekly. But, more important, he cleans dishes and bathrooms!

Sue Ptak
Kindergarten teacher
Bryant School, Harvey, Illinois

Carrie: The Sequel, 1966

It wasn't quite Carrie, but it was a fear-filled night. I didn't know anyone at my date's school--with one exception: her former boyfriend. He had previously indicated his displeasure when he arranged for his brother to drive me home one night with a thinly veiled threat to my health. I spent the entire prom looking over my shoulder, totally convince that night would be my last. Fortunately, I was saved, and some years later, she and I were married.

Maurice J. Moran, Jr.
English/Theater Arts/Video Teacher
Verona High School, Verona, New Jersey

Get Shorty, 1986

My date was shorter than me--and sensitive about it. His first words on prom night were, "You're too tall." On HIS feet, however, were scruffy sneakers. His formal shoes hurt, he explained. I spent the prom slouching, trying to look shorter, while my date danced comfortably in sneakers!

Diana Gano
Chemistry Teacher
CB West High School, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Better Late Than Never 1980

"What!" my sister screamed the morning of my prom. She was upset because my date had the nerve to wait until the day of the prom to ask me to go and I accepted. I wore a borrowed bridesmaid's dress (my sister's) and had a wonderful evening. To this day, my sister can't quite forgive her brother-in-law.

Mary Barron-Traut
Language Arts/English Teacher
Apollo High School, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Prom Fiasco, 1988

My junior prom was a disaster even before it started. One week before the prom, my boyfriend asked another girl to go as his date, so I asked a coworker, whose girlfriend was not pleased and spied on us from outside (I didn't even know he had one!) As I dressed, I found a mysterious, large stain on the front of my dress. Flowers from my corsage left an even bigger stain on my borrowed dress. There was no room at my friends' table, so we sat with strangers, who were unsympathetic when I broke a heel during the only song I danced to. Afterwards, I broke two toes playing miniature golf barefoot, in my second-hand frock with my back-up date.

Jill Ocone
English Teacher
Manchester Township High School, Manchester, New Jersey