As prom season approaches, upperclassmen begin to prepare for one of the most renowned nights of the year that symbolizes the passage from childhood to adulthood. Although most prom attendees are juniors and seniors, there is typically a small percentage that are underclassmen. In order for underclassmen to attend prom, they have to be invited by an upperclassmen. These students, although only a few, have other attendees in disagreement with this policy and believe that underclassmen should not be allowed to attend prom.

Prom is meant to be a special event for upperclassmen because it marks the end of their high school journey. With homecoming being open to every grade level, many people like junior Joseph Castillo believe that attending two dances is enough. However, underclassmen think that prom should be open to them without having to be invited by upperclassmen.

“I feel like it would be also memorable for, like, the freshman and the sophomores, and just a chance to experience everything that juniors and seniors are experiencing…prom would be more because it’s somewhere else,” sophomore Nicole Amaya said.

With the dance mainly being for juniors and seniors, many people believe the reason why is because underclassmen tend to be more immature compared to the older students.

“…They think we’re immature and we’re not really mature enough to be there…some sophomores and freshmen are really immature and there’s also some that are mature enough to be there,” Amaya said. 

Contrary to Amaya’s beliefs, Castillo believes that underclassmen should not be allowed to attend prom because it’s a more unique dance that marks the end of high school, and underclassmen aren’t prepared to attend a dance like that. 

“I feel most of the underclassmen can be immature but they also have two years of being able to attend prom…I think it’ll hold more moral value to some people especially during their senior year,” Castillo said. 

The policy that underclassmen can’t go to prom unless invited by upperclassmen led Castillo to believe it is because an upperclassman will serve as a good example for the underclassman.

“I think underclassmen can’t go unless invited by an upperclassmen just because some can be immature and upperclassmen should obviously lead them and be a role model,” Castillo said. 

Along with the unique purpose of prom, some believe that it majorly differs from other dances like homecoming because of the setting and the intended safety precautions. 

“Since it’s a different location you have to basically drive there and everything and for homecoming it’s safer since its at the school, and I feel like the difference is that since juniors and seniors can drive or they have their rides and everything, I feel like it’s different for freshmans and sophomores since some of them don’t have their permit,” Amaya said. 

Although there are opposing sides to the idea of underclassmen attending a formal dance like prom, prom is ultimately a dance that should be the most memorable for juniors and seniors as it represents the close end to their four high school years. Therefore, underclassmen should not go to prom.