Homecoming @ AMHS 

By: Charlotte Cullom

Date: 11-15-24

How often have you heard your parents talk about their high school experiences, like something out of a cliche high-school movie? Where school dances thrived off of drama-filled slow dances and everyone and their moms  knew they needed a date. Like many popular high school events, homecoming is one that has changed immensely  from our parent’s high school years. If you were like my mom, maybe you were running from an awkward slow dance with two different Jasons. Or maybe you went to homecoming with Nate Christiansen because going to HOCO without a date would’ve been a social crime then. Point is, nowadays you wouldn’t need a Nate Christiansen to go to a school dance. Fortunately, dance culture now is more inclusive, and attending a school dance with a group of friends is just as acceptable as going with a date. 

In addition to increased inclusiveness, having the freedom to go with whoever you want can make the whole experience more enjoyable. Ultimately, high school dances are about creating moments that will give us nostalgia someday. We’ll look through our old photos and remember the songs that we screamed with our friends, or perhaps the DJ that played FE!N 8 consecutive times will come to mind. Either way, when we’re with our people, memories are made that will last way longer than any awkward slow dance would. 

However, this isn’t to say that going with a date can’t be a rom-com worthy experience- but it’s all about who you’ll have the most fun with! In fact, when discussing this with my mom (who gave me my inspiration for this article), she wishes she had gone to the dance with her best friend instead of Nate. Now, this wasn’t because going with Nate was a bad experience, it was simply because her best friend was the one who knew her inside and out! Sharing those classic high school milestones with those that truly have been there for us throughout all the craziness is undeniably more heartfelt! Without this cultural progression, those of us that are single would’ve been out of luck- or at least stuck going with someone we didn’t really know. So, next time you’re out on the dance floor with your friends, remember that it was the generations of years past that made it possible.