Prom. The word alone makes millions of high school students laugh and laugh. It seems to be a source of hope or a light at the end of the tunnel, many fantasize endlessly about how and with whom they will spend this magical night. But just the thought of it makes me gag. Why is he so esteemed? I mean, sure it's a great and fun way to spend the night, but spending a hundred bucks or so just on a dress (and being generous) seems to be a colossal waste of money. Only schools throw away thousands of dollars, just to make this evening spectacular, while only a few students actually attend. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At Heritage Academy, our Council of Scholars earns through our “Dollars for Duds.” The academic council charges money from students who wish to wear regular clothes instead of uniform. All money raised from “Dollars for Duds” is then used to fund our extracurricular activities. Which, honestly, is a good idea, however, the fact that a larger percentage of the students contributing to our funds are students who can't attend events really bothers me. Why would a seventh grader fund a school event they can't attend? It would be okay if middle school parties matched or even came remotely close to the budget expected for high school parties, but this is not the case at all. Prom and all the other proms just cost too much. Originally, school dances were held at their respective high schools, but as the years go by, schools seem to compete in making their school dances more extravagant than others. Now it is “school tradition”. If anyone proposed eliminating prom or even keeping it at school, there would be an uproar of angry students and parents protesting outside with pitchforks and lit torches. When I told my friends I didn't feel like participating, you'd think I'd given them a heart attack. They seem to believe that prom is the most important night of your high school career and that your life would be over if you didn't attend. Another reason prom isn't as good as you think is that prom night is a great time. for making bad decisions. Statistics show that about a third of alcohol-related fatal car crashes among teenagers occur between April and June, which is considered the peak of prom season. Many teens give in to peer pressure and participate in things they wouldn't normally do because they are trying to "make it a night to remember." While it doesn't appear to be a problem at Heritage Academy, it is a problem at other schools. And even if you get a date, the chances of having a good time are slim. I mean, for the amount you spend, you should just go to Disneyland, which is the happiest place on earth. Even if you wish for your shooting star all night, you'll be asked by an average Joe Schmo, who you might have some fun with. But when he takes you to the dance floor and the first question he asks you is: “what color is your toothbrush?” You'll know I'm right. And that boy with the dreamy blue eyes, the one you were praying for, would ask you. Yes, you know who I'm talking about. Well, he asked your best friend. And she said yes! Look what you paid! You spent hundreds of dollars on shoes, clothes, jewelry, makeup, and hair just for the handsome guy to notice you. And he didn't even give you half a glance. Now you have to subtract.