Dream OR Nightmare?

NEA Today, May 2004

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 inline 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?

Cuf 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 Mend 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

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 minigrant, 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!