It is the time of the year where girls spend months searching for the perfect dress. Seniors search for a short dress thats formal enough while juniors look for that perfect long dress. Because, for the juniors it’s the only chance they get at wearing a long dress to a highschool dance.
Senior year should be the year to go out with a bang and make your final mark in high school.
The current LFHS prom tradition is for the seniors to wear short dresses and juniors wear long dresses. This tradition leaves seniors searching for yet another short dress while juniors get all the excitement of wearing their first – but also last – long dress. Seniors should be able to have that excitement for their final high school dance.
“I think it is cool that we can tell the seniors from the juniors, but I think the prom dresses should all be long,” said junior Carina Lagunas. “Prom is one of the few occasions where we get the chance to really dress up, especially with things like the red carpet. Having long dresses make prom feel more special and formal.”
Being able to wear a long dress to prom is the underclassman dream. However, when they get to senior year and realize they have to wear their 11th short dress to a dance that is known for long dresses, it can be overwhelming; theres only so many dresses out there.
Theres been talk from students on flipping the traditional ways, but no actual plans have been set in place. The tradition has been going on for a long time, so switching it might be controversial for some. Although, there technically is not a ‘rule’ that you have to wear long dresses junior year, people have yet to stray from the usual.
“I hate the tradition. We wear short dresses to literally every other dance. Prom is meant to be different and special. Everyone should get the chance to end high school wearing a long formal dress to prom,” said senior Bridget Diem.
The want for a change is a common theme throughout LFHS students. However, nobody wants to be the one to change it.
“I would prefer to switch the tradition, but I doubt it would happen because switching is hard to get everyone on board with,” said senior Maddy Cummins. “I also understand where they are coming from, because technically it’s the junior prom.”
Being the one to change the tradition could possibly create an uncomfortable environment where they are the one standing out. However, if this tradition can change and everyone does it together, it might be an easier transition.
“I feel like if everybody could wear long and it would make prom more formal. But, I like the class distinction in the short versus long so a good middle ground would be flipping this tradition,” said Clio Stresser.
Although this topic comes up every year, nothing seems to change. Despite the common dislike for the current tradition, nobody wants to be the one to stand out. The 2026 prom goers need to be the ones to voice a concern for the tradition that allows seniors to end their high school careers on a high note.
