This year’s prom is bigger and better than ever as all 400 attendees are cruising out on the Spirit of Chicago yacht to enjoy a scenic view of the Chicago skyline and the city’s dazzling landmarks. The cruise features a gourmet desert buffet, live DJ, and a romantic, candlelit dinner. It’s the perfect setting for romance, and one incredible night.
So why won’t some seniors not be in attendance on the greatest night of their high school lives?
As alluring as this event may sound, many seniors and juniors may not be in attendance due to conflicting schedules. Many will have important sporting events that if missed would render all the athletes’ hard work wasted. On the 15th of May, boy’s track and field, boy’s volleyball, and girl’s softball all have major tournaments, girl’s track has an ISHA sectionals meet, and badminton has an IHSA state meet.
Thus, many seniors and juniors have a dilemma: Either skip Prom, the best night of your high school career, or ruin your season’s potential. Many seniors refuse to miss their senior Prom, and who can blame them? But, for team sports, abandoning the game means abandoning teammates as well, and everyone is impacted.
Senior track and field player Kiera Mallett said, “I’m really bummed out that I can’t make it to my senior Prom. It’s so unfair that I have to choose between track and Prom because I value both deeply.”
Senior volleyball captain Matt Gehrke said, “I’m upset that I’m missing my tournament. I really wish I could go to both, but there’s no way I’m missing my senior Prom.”
Because there will be upperclassmen attending both Prom and sporting events on the 15th, both events are likely to suffer. The real tragedy is that the set date of Prom cannot be changed. There are conflicts everywhere, and the date of Prom remains the same every year, so there are no hard feelings towards any specific group.
--Submitted by Pete Jansen, Staff Reporter |
