By Fiona Finchem, Opinions Editor
Prom can be the most magical night of high school: the night juniors have been waiting for since watching prom night in the movies; the night that seniors will remember as one of their favorite high school memories even long after they graduate.
For the first time since 2019, First Flight will finally host an on-campus junior and senior prom after COVID-19 complications in 2020 and 2021. This year’s prom will take place on April 2 from 8 to 11 p.m. and will be held in the rotunda.
“We have a really nice school and a beautiful open area that can hold us all. The biggest challenge to trying to host it off campus is that there are no venues that can accommodate the 450 to 500 attendees that we normally have,” Principal Chuck Lansing said. “The prom area is always decorated really well, and past proms that were here were very successful.”
Like every year, Lansing hopes that students can look back on prom and have a positive high school memory.
“I want them to have fun while being safe, and I hope that they can appreciate that night as a part of their high school experience,” Lansing said.
Lindsay Austin, Student Engagement Coordinator at First Flight, is in charge of the prom committee this year and hopes to create a magical night with the help of the Student Government Association (SGA) and parents.
“I don’t want to give too much away, but this will be more than a dance; it will be a truly spectacular event,” Austin said. “I am looking forward to doing something that hasn’t been done here before.”
A student prom committee is helping to put everything together and is responsible for what they think will look best. Senior Emily Byrum is on SGA and is excited to attend the prom and help put it into action.
“It will be so special to me because it’s our senior prom, and it’s the first normal prom we have had since we were freshmen, and we couldn’t even go. I’m really excited that I get to help plan and put it on,” Byrum said. “Since this will be my only prom on-campus, I’m looking forward to creating something that a lot of people will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Tickets will be on sale starting Wednesday, March 9, during lunch and will be $20 per person (must be cash or check made out to FFHS). In order to attend prom, class dues must be paid, and students must be in good academic standing (not failing a class with more than five absences).
Outside guests must complete a form with a copy of the license, student ID, or some form of picture identification. It is due to the front office by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 29.
The return of After Prom, which has featured prize giveaways to students and fun outings such as bowling, laser tag and putt-putt, will be held from 11 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. at the YMCA. After Prom was canceled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, so students were on their own following the outside prom at the Wright Brothers’ Memorial.
With April right around the corner, it’s about that time to start matching ties to dresses and making plans with friends for dinner before the dance. And on April 2, as Justin Timberlake said, “As long as I’ve got my suit and tie I’ma leave it all on the floor tonight.”
Senior Fiona Finchem can be reached at 22finchemfi99@daretolearn.org.
