Feb 12, 2023

MADORIN: Prom — behind the scenes

Posted Feb 12, 2023 11:05 AM

​By KAREN MADORIN

February arrives, bringing with it Valentines, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, and tax prep time. Some recollect it’s also down-to-the-wire time for junior classes and prom sponsors. Yes, for that memory-making night to occur as scheduled, it’s time to spend money juniors raised their previous two-and-a-half years of high school while mining the depths of teenage energy and teaching life lessons.

​Anyone who attended western Kansas schools will read this and take a nostalgic journey.Remember hours spent scouring thick catalogues to pick themes and decor, selecting a logo unique to the class, ordering logo-embossed glasses and napkins, and considering menus. Proms require time, analysis, effort, budgeting, mediation, and strong interpersonal skills. A highlight of 11th grade is this effort toward a common goal.

Karen Madorin
Karen Madorin

​While prom night lasts approximately six hours, excluding after-prom activities, hosting a successful event requires juniors, parents, administrators, janitors, cooks, and sponsors to commit 1000s of hours beginning with fund-raising throughout freshman and sophomore years.In small schools, already-busy kids sign up for everything; otherwise, prom won’t happen. 

​During planning 101, the class selects a theme. Simple, right? Keep in mind males and females do not think alike. To complicate matters, some individuals like fancy and others plain. Toss in video game and movie special effect concepts kids admire, and throw in veteran sponsors who know how long it actually takes to decorate and tear down decorations. It triggers new appreciation for crepe paper streamer and balloon décor days. Granted it takes a while to cut and hang enough crepe to form a big top over the dining and dancing area, but. . ..

​After picking a theme, planners review their budget again. Sponsors assisted by sophomore leaders scheduled a DJ the year before, a known expense, to guarantee this year’s music. While one group selects styles and logos for glassware and napkins, another consults the head cook for menu options. Others pour through catalogues, choosing decoration choices to share with classmates. Budget drives all decision-making. The class can only spend what it earned.

Organizing a function of this size challenges everyone involved. Factor in interpersonal issues and stress multiplies when juniors gather to vote. Everyone values individualism until a class must decide NOW. Good mediators or uneven enrollment numbers to prevent ties make for faster decisions.

​By February’s end, juniors have ordered supplies, established menus, and set up before and after school and weekend decorating schedules around academics, music, athletics, plays, forensics, jobs, friends, and family. Oh, and guys order tuxes while gals search for perfect prom dresses. Far-sighted juniors make corsage and boutonniere, hair, tanning, and nail appointments as well.  

​One night in late April or early May, this well-dressed group of teens who graduate in another year hosts an event that becomes a life-long memory for them, families and friends, and the seniors they honor. Their efforts taught them to budget, plan, organize, work hard, deal with adversity, and collaborate with others. Best school lesson ever.

Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.