Students attend prom because it’s considered a core high school memory, since it is meant for only juniors and seniors, along with other people who are invited. This year, prom is being held at the American Swedish Institute on May 13. However, tickets for prom are quite expensive at $45 and Park should make Prom more affordable. 

The prices of preparing and day of prom can be expensive because there are various costs that go into the preparation. The tickets are $45, a dress or tuxedo can range from $100-300. If you go out to dinner it is about $40 and if you don’t have shoes it can be another $20-50. Additionally, the person driving needs money for gas since the venue is not a short drive as well as needing to drive to photo locations for photos before the event. It can range up to about $500depending on what you want, although even the minimum amount to spend would be about $150.

With many of park’s students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, as well as not having a car or job. Ticket pricing can hold students back from being able to experience a once in a lifetime thing, where everyone should be able to attend.

Students are also allowed to bring dates, whether they are underclassmen or they go to another school. If a student decides to bring someone then that same student also has to pay for another ticket.

Prom could do fundraising for prom since many highschoolers want prom to be memorable and nice with food, drinks and a photobooth, as well as affordable. So instead of getting the money to cover expenses from just tickets, the money could be from tickets and fundraising, so that tickets would be more affordable. The money that comes from the homecoming and snodaze dance could also go towards prom.

Last year’s prom was at the Depot in St. Paul, the tickets were a little less than this year. There was some food and drinks, along with a small photo booth. There were only a few plates of various cookies, fruit snacks and little bottles of water for at least 100 students. So, I hope that with the extra money that we pay there are better and more food options. 

As a senior now, I went to last year’s prom when I was a junior and I had thought that prom would be just like the movies. It was not, so this year my expectations aren’t high. But with the price I’m paying for a ticket I want this year to be better.

I am very grateful that I am able to buy a nice dress, go out to dinner with friends, buy my ticket and have an experience some people might not be able to afford.