(April 10, 2008) — As young children, most girls look forward to their senior prom. They think about having the perfect dress, shoes, date, and limo, while most guys look forward to other aspects of prom. Whatever the reason, senior prom is always hyped up to be this huge event. As many things run through a senior’s mind during prom time, the focal point of having a date is always an issue. “Prom’s what every senior’s looking forward to,” senior Tiara Tahmizian said. Tahmizian, who plans on attending prom with a date, believes that a date is not required to have a good time. “I suggest for the people that don’t have [a date] to not feel pressured and just find a group of friends that they would enjoy to go with that don’t have dates either,” Tahmizian said. It is a similar story for guys when it comes to dates. Senior Siuon Toubeh thinks having a date isn’t that big of a deal. “If you don’t have [a date] you could still have fun with friends,” Toubeh said. Even students who have been to proms before feel that having a date isn’t as big a deal as it is made out to be, but is always a plus. Senior Rosa Peña plans on going to senior prom with a date, but doesn’t think it’s the most important factor of prom. “You can have fun regardless of going with a date or not. It’s always cute to take pictures as a couple and all, but it’s not a priority in order to have fun,” Peña said. The idea of prom certainly has changed throughout the years. P.E. teacher Judy Thomsen recalls prom being much different from what she sees now. “When I was going to high school prom was mainly a ‘dating event’ and no one went stag or just with a group of friends like they do now. It was a huge event, though, and having a date meant quite a lot!” Thomsen said. Thomsen said prom was a special event that almost every senior wanted to attend, but it was more of a formal affair rather than the hyped up party scene prom is today. “I think the prom now has added a party-type atmosphere, where kids can also go with friends and not necessarily dates, so that takes a little of the ‘I gotta have a date’ pressure off the girls and guys. When I was going to high school I was so excited that I was asked to go to my senior prom. I still think most girls want a real date, to go to their prom with a special guy, a romantic evening, dressing up, flowers, etc. It’s one of those fairy tale moments,” Thomsen said. S enior David Mangikyan agrees with Thomsen. Mangikyan thinks prom is one of those special nights that will be remembered for a long time. “I agree that prom has been transformed through the years, but you can still have fun without a date,” Mangikyan said.