For every high schooler, there seems to be a newfound fear when the month of October rolls around. Amongst thoughts of passing APs and getting a reasonable score on the PSAT, SAT and ACT, homecoming enters the periphery of most students, bringing with it the ever present question of whether or not a date might be easily acquired. It’s easy to sympathize with these individuals as it seems the necessity of a date is an aspect of the old world which carried over and has had a resounding effect.
All individuals want a companion of some sort, whether it be a friend or otherwise, but there’s one fact that is easily neglected: going with a date isn’t really the only option you have during homecoming season. For sake of this article, a date will be defined as an individual that accompanies another person to the event of homecoming simply to satisfy the outdated image of what a teenager’s life should be.
A date shouldn’t be the deciding factor of your happiness; how your time is spent should be.
Most individuals push themselves to find a date for sake of just being able to say they aren’t going alone. For all of the ladies out there who assume this sentiment to be truthful, that is not the case. Homecoming would be just as intriguing if a group of friends ended up attending together. The best part of homecoming is simply being able to engage interactions with other people that are actually relevant in the life of whoever chooses to attend.
Homecoming is meant to be a fun event where individuals can smile and laugh and just go about making general merriment. In some ways, a date might be a deterrent in this regard, granted they were inevitably forced into coming or they weren’t necessarily well received by their partner.
“Last year, all of my friends had [a date] and I went with another close friend as a result,” junior Amanda Mulvaney said. “And I was left alone on countless occasions so to a certain extent having a date would have benefited me.”
Mulvaney conjures the fears of many in this statement; however, there is a proverbial silver lining to her story.
“From personal experience, I’d still say it doesn’t benefit you to have a date [for homecoming],” Mulvaney said. “Despite being temporarily abandoned, the best moments of the evening were when my friends and I simply got to dance with one another and act as we would outside of school.”
Homecoming is an event best enjoyed in the comfort of the company of one’s self. It’s easier for an individual to enjoy their night if they do as they chose. With an obligatory date, it seems that two individuals are inclined to have a miserable time, seeing as they might not necessarily be well acquainted with each other. They’d benefit a great deal more if they were to galavant about with their friends who they find themselves comfortable with.
In truth, the best part of homecoming is simply being able to engage interactions with other people that are actually relevant in the life of whoever chooses to attend.
“I actually don’t care much for the concept,” senior Juan Pablo Alvarez said. “There isn’t much of a point in forcing someone to go to something they don’t want to. There’s no point in going to an event where you don’t want to be around the person you want.”
It seems pointless to force such an acquaintanceship, especially if the only intention for the affair would be to achieve some outdated social standard. Happiness should be the primary goal of homecoming, and if a date won’t provide such happiness, it’s really not a requirement. In different circumstances, however, a date might be encouraged, especially if you have a significant other.
“It’s a very nice memory to have,” junior Valery Barbosa said. “I went last year with my boyfriend and we still talk about it and we’re incredibly excited to go this year.”
Ultimately, homecoming is merely an event where students should seek to have fun and enjoy what time they have rather than pushing themselves to acquire dates unnecessarily. A date shouldn’t be the deciding factor of your happiness; how your time is spent should be.
Photo by The Lariat
