“I need a date, it’ll look bad if I don’t.”

This is the phrase that constantly plagues the hallways of Westford Academy when students are chattering about what might seem like the most important nights of their high school careers: Junior Cotillion and Senior Prom.

Although these are the nights of shimmering lights, fancy dresses, stylish suits, and making memories, a growing stigma surrounding dates affects many students. The persistent want of having that movie-like prom experience grows as the special day looms closer.

Many girls, like myself, grew up watching movies such as To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and 10 Things I Hate About You and have seen the iconic prom scenes, usually featuring the main female character having the most magical night with a nice boy by her side. These scenes are engraved into the minds of young girls and create certain perceptions of what the “perfect” prom night will be. However, these are not reality. You do not need to have a date to have a magical night.

“I think that on one hand, it is nice to have a date for pictures and dinner, but it could be more awkward during the dancing and getting ready parts of the night,” Jane, a WA student who will be attending prom, said.

Nevertheless, if you will be attending cotillion or prom with a date or significant other, this is not to say that you shouldn’t. This is to say you should not feel bound to the idea of needing one. Of course having a date would be fun, it’s someone to take cute pictures with and spend the entire night with. However, attending with only your friends should not diminish the once-in-a-lifetime experience you will be having: the one night to see all of your classmates get dressed up and have fun with no other thoughts of school or assignments tormenting your mind.

“I don’t think having a date will better my experience, I think going with friends can be just as fun, if not more, than going with a date,” Emily, a WA student who will be attending junior cotillion, said.

The night should be about you and your enjoyment, not about appealing to the pressures of the people around you. Don’t let a friend, parent, or anyone else tell you how you should spend your night.

According to a poll conducted by The WA Ghostwriter, 34% of students feel pressured to arrive at cotillion or prom with a date, which translates to approximately three out of every ten people.

According to one voter, she feels pressured to attend with a date because of societal normalities and the knowledge that everyone in her family who attended prom before her went with a date. Many students may also feel excluded as they see many of their peers attending with dates.

“It’s hard seeing a majority of other people bringing dates when you are not,” Jane said.

Students may also have feelings of fear of missing out (FOMO) about not getting promposed to or being able to prompose if they do not attend with a date. This is one of the big excitements around attending cotillion or prom: asking or being asked with a large sign that has a clever question on the front. Although this may seem like an upsetting part to miss out on, this action is only one exciting thing of many that comes along with the events. Nevertheless, attending with a friend does not have to leave you out of this experience. Any student can prompose even if they are not going with a formal date.

Attending cotillion and prom should be a wondrous experience that you should spend with the people who make you the happiest. Whether that be your friends, a date, or your significant other, the memories you will make should be the most important thought in your mind, not the stress or pressures of needing a date.