Every spring, juniors are treated to a long-awaited break from their school stresses with the highlight of the spring season—prom! This event becomes more and more thrilling as it marks the first prom that most of these students attend, offering them a chance to enjoy a unique evening to dress up, dine with dates and friends, and make lasting memories. 

The dance began with round tables scattered throughout Burns gym, students filling the seats, and their chatter echoing throughout the room. Table numbers were called to prevent chaotic lines, making for a smooth dining experience. The main meal featured pasta, but students were also treated to a variety of drinks and desserts. When asked about the food, Pia Agarwal (’26) remarked, “I liked that there were dessert bars and a variety of drinks! You could go for whatever you liked, and didn’t feel restricted to one option.” While pasta wasn’t the favorite choice—many expressed their wishes for food from an outside caterer—students appreciated the effort. Camille Muth (’26) expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped out, saying: “the staff were super accommodating and sweet.”

After the food, students had the option to take fun photos in the two pop-up photo booths or head to the dance floor. Coco Rothenberg (’26) commented, “The photo booths were so fun! My friends and I took so many photos and I loved all the props, especially the colorful boas.” As for the music, the majority of people reacted positively. Jasmine Salgado (’26) appreciated that the “music was a lot of 2010s, which a lot of us knew and could easily dance to.” This made the experience on the dance floor much more enjoyable and exciting.

The behind-the-scenes of prom planning was just as memorable as the event itself. The Junior Student Council began the process in January, brainstorming ideas to make sure everything would be ready for the big night. They considered three themes, including “Princess and the Frog,” which had some strong supporters, as well as “Springlight,” but the vote ultimately went to “La La Land.” This theme came to life through elegant table settings, with golden chargers and Eiffel Tower vases as centerpieces, all designed by Junior Student Council member Christian Chifan (’26). These were paired with twinkling fairy lights to create a formal, yet magical atmosphere. Christian shared the council’s vision: “Our goal was to blend the binaries of modern and 20s jazz.” Though some attendees mistook the theme for more of a galaxy vibe, the council emphasized that they wanted to focus on the feeling of the event, rather than just the visuals. Christian explained, “Other councils focus on themes; we focus on community-based aspects. We knew prom was a great time for our class to come together and celebrate each other. Everyone just kept walking up to each other, like people I hadn’t talked to in three years.” This sense of community began during the planning phase and ended as the students headed to clean up after, with Junior Council member Sophia Jison (’26) remarking how they were “laughing the entire time.”