Prom is a special time in your life. Not everyone looks forward to prom, though. Does this mean that you are weird or that you are going to regret not going? Unfortunately, this is a decision that many girls (and guys) have to make on their own. No one can tell you that you do have to go to prom. At the same time, you do not want to make a decision that you will regret the rest of your life. Before you make this decision, keep a few important things in mind.



What does prom mean to you? This is the first question you have to ask yourself. Prom means something different to each person. Do you see prom as a unique moment in time? Or, do you see prom as just another dance? For many girls, prom has special meaning. It is a time of moving from being a girl to being a woman. For others, though, it just means spending a lot of money and time looking good. Explore what prom means to you before you make this decision. Then, after giving it some thought, look at it from the other direction. Does it appeal to you on any level?

The next step in making this decision is all about talking to others. Find a few people that you are close enough to and talk to them about prom. Start with your parents and find out if they went and if they regret their decision. Find out from aunts, even 20 year old family members. You won't know what you will feel about not going to prom, but getting a perspective from those who may not have (and even those who did go) can help you to realize what you may feel later.

Finally, talk to your friends, too. Find out how they feel about prom. What does it mean to them? What are they looking forward to in particular? Most importantly, notice your own feelings as you talk to them about this. Does prom appeal to you now that you know why others are so excited? Perhaps not, but, what you are really doing is making sure that you are exploring your feelings thoroughly. This way, you can make a better decision about going or not.

Should you go to prom? If you feel that it could matter to you at all, even well down the road go. If you feel that it would be a difficult time for you, or a time that you are unhappy, consider your feelings a bit more closely. Prom is not right for everyone. By taking the time to make this decision carefully, though, you can protect the way you will feel later, too.