Opinions

Your Real Prom Date: Pressures to ‘Conform’
By: Jayde Martinez
For a teenager, prom is a festivity equal to any other holiday in the universe. Sometimes students spend more time looking for that one extra accessory than time at the dance itself. Although the dress styles and music played changes from year to year, the pressures of drinking and being sexually active never do. Teens fixate on prom, viewing it as a moment when they transform from young adults into adults. They want acknowledgement that they’ve made drastic changes, and sometimes turn to visible proof. This may be a reason why teens feel pressured to do drugs or drink not only during prom, but in their teenage years overall. Nicole Adolfson relates to this situation. “The way I see it is, if someone in high school is drinking now, what exactly do they look forward to on their 21st birthday? It’s just like everyday.” Drinking on prom can possibly be a result of the clear pressures to grow up on this night. Fortunately enough, some school districts go as far as offering all-night after-prom parties. But even in the absence of such events, teens should open their eyes and see that drinking is not a necessary part of making prom “a night to remember.”
However, drinking is not the only result of prom; sexual pressures are also involved. And this includes couples who have remained abstinent previously.Adolfson explained, “I believe that sexual pressures are more frequently found in teenage lives when that particular teenager is in a relationship. If a person is not in a relationship, I think that they are less pressured than the person in a relationship.” It’s more likely for sexual pressure to be a bigger issue on prom night rather than any other special event. This is mainly because of the expectations that a teen is “required” to fulfill in order to have their prom night considered a success. Peole need to realize that the statement, “everyone’s doing it,” should not be taken as fact. Research states that at least half of students in high school aren’t sexually active. Remaining abstinent won’t make you part of a minority; you’ll have plenty of company. We all know the consequences that sexual activity has. These could make an intentionally innocent night a “night to remember” for all the wrong reasons.	Prom’s consequences must be talked about now so that teenagers are more aware of what comes with prom. Teens don’t realize that even though they are familiar with the pressures of drinking and sex throughout the year, those pressures are even higher on prom night. Although parents and teachers cannot rid the teenage generation of these pressures, more caution could be recognized to prevent major consequences. These cautions could include a more strict form of authority towards teens on prom night or even simple things such as encouraging messages from teachers and parents before and after the dance because no matter what, sex and alcohol pressures will always be lurking in the background of that memorable prom photo.

Your Real Prom Date: Pressures to ‘Conform’

By: Jayde Martinez

For a teenager, prom is a festivity equal to any other holiday in the universe. Sometimes students spend more time looking for that one extra accessory than time at the dance itself. Although the dress styles and music played changes from year to year, the pressures of drinking and being sexually active never do.
Teens fixate on prom, viewing it as a moment when they transform from young adults into adults. They want acknowledgement that they’ve made drastic changes, and sometimes turn to visible proof.
This may be a reason why teens feel pressured to do drugs or drink not only during prom, but in their teenage years overall. Nicole Adolfson relates to this situation. “The way I see it is, if someone in high school is drinking now, what exactly do they look forward to on their 21st birthday? It’s just like everyday.” Drinking on prom can possibly be a result of the clear pressures to grow up on this night. Fortunately enough, some school districts go as far as offering all-night after-prom parties. But even in the absence of such events, teens should open their eyes and see that drinking is not a necessary part of making prom “a night to remember.”

However, drinking is not the only result of prom; sexual pressures are also involved. And this includes couples who have remained abstinent previously.Adolfson explained, “I believe that sexual pressures are more frequently found in teenage lives when that particular teenager is in a relationship. If a person is not in a relationship, I think that they are less pressured than the person in a relationship.” It’s more likely for sexual pressure to be a bigger issue on prom night rather than any other special event. This is mainly because of the expectations that a teen is “required” to fulfill in order to have their prom night considered a success.
Peole need to realize that the statement, “everyone’s doing it,” should not be taken as fact. Research states that at least half of students in high school aren’t sexually active. Remaining abstinent won’t make you part of a minority; you’ll have plenty of company. We all know the consequences that sexual activity has. These could make an intentionally innocent night a “night to remember” for all the wrong reasons.

Prom’s consequences must be talked about now so that teenagers are more aware of what comes with prom. Teens don’t realize that even though they are familiar with the pressures of drinking and sex throughout the year, those pressures are even higher on prom night.
Although parents and teachers cannot rid the teenage generation of these pressures, more caution could be recognized to prevent major consequences. These cautions could include a more strict form of authority towards teens on prom night or even simple things such as encouraging messages from teachers and parents before and after the dance because no matter what, sex and alcohol pressures will always be lurking in the background of that memorable prom photo.

Advice after four years
By: Ashley Torres
As a freshman, four years of high school seems like an eternity. But since it’s the beginning of the end for me, the thought of waking up in the morning and not being able to walk through the doors of Leyden, tears me up inside. Throughout the years of high school you tend to get more open-minded, and by the time you realize it, it’s time to say good bye. As a freshman not knowing very much about high school, you don’t really consider the fact that there will be bigger obstacles that head your way. As a senior and ACCESS mentor I see the differences between freshmen and seniors such as their confidence levels growing towards the end of the year. Since the days get longer and the amazing weather comes, they lose track of their studies, thinking that since it is their freshman year they have three more years to make up what they messed up on. But that isn’t the case. I for one have been through many obstacles and regret some of the choices that I made during my freshman year. Now, I have to try to make up for them.
As a senior, I think about how we [seniors] used to act when we were freshmen. I know everyone says, “Oh my god did I ever act like that during my freshman year; if I did I think I would beat myself up.” Not that every freshman is the same way, but in general some freshmen act obnoxious. It’s the beginning of a new journey for freshman as well as the new class of 2012 about to come in, and it’s the end of a new beginning up ahead for seniors. All the work that you put into school, starting from your freshman year pays off extremely well in the end.	While writing this I hope that you all read and take into consideration some of this advice and act now. Don’t just give up and slack off toward the end. Trust me. Four years may seems like a long time, but before you know it, you’ll be out of Leyden’s doors heading on another journey beyond those doors. Actually think about the decisions that you make and how you make them. Sometimes you just don’t get a second chance. Love your years in high school. You do have your ups and downs, but in the end you have those great memories that you’ve made. Whatever drama and problems that do come your way shouldn’t make you weaker. They should only make you stronger.

Advice after four years

By: Ashley Torres

As a freshman, four years of high school seems like an eternity. But since it’s the beginning of the end for me, the thought of waking up in the morning and not being able to walk through the doors of Leyden, tears me up inside. Throughout the years of high school you tend to get more open-minded, and by the time you realize it, it’s time to say good bye. As a freshman not knowing very much about high school, you don’t really consider the fact that there will be bigger obstacles that head your way.
As a senior and ACCESS mentor I see the differences between freshmen and seniors such as their confidence levels growing towards the end of the year. Since the days get longer and the amazing weather comes, they lose track of their studies, thinking that since it is their freshman year they have three more years to make up what they messed up on. But that isn’t the case. I for one have been through many obstacles and regret some of the choices that I made during my freshman year. Now, I have to try to make up for them.

As a senior, I think about how we [seniors] used to act when we were freshmen. I know everyone says, “Oh my god did I ever act like that during my freshman year; if I did I think I would beat myself up.” Not that every freshman is the same way, but in general some freshmen act obnoxious. It’s the beginning of a new journey for freshman as well as the new class of 2012 about to come in, and it’s the end of a new beginning up ahead for seniors. All the work that you put into school, starting from your freshman year pays off extremely well in the end.

While writing this I hope that you all read and take into consideration some of this advice and act now. Don’t just give up and slack off toward the end. Trust me. Four years may seems like a long time, but before you know it, you’ll be out of Leyden’s doors heading on another journey beyond those doors. Actually think about the decisions that you make and how you make them. Sometimes you just don’t get a second chance. Love your years in high school. You do have your ups and downs, but in the end you have those great memories that you’ve made. Whatever drama and problems that do come your way shouldn’t make you weaker. They should only make you stronger.