For some people, the biggest prom worry is asking and being asked. It's natural to stress outabout gathering the courage to invite that
special someone — and to worry you might be turned down.
Ask. If the person says no, you can move on. If you never ask, you may miss
out on a great evening with someone who may be shy and waiting for you
to make the first move. This works the other way around, of course. If
you need to decline an offer, consider the other person's feelings
when you say no. Remind yourself that it took guts to ask and probably
caused a lot of nervousness.
Lots of people feel pressure from their friends to drink, do drugs, or
have sex on prom night or grad night. Take a minute to think in advance about how you'll avoid getting into
an unwanted situation. If you’re put on the spot, you can feel like
you have no clue what to say. If you plan ahead, it’ll be a lot
easier to stay strong. If you do find yourself in a problem situation,
you can always make an excuse to leave.
If you do go to a party where there may be drugs, never put your drink
down and come back for it. Someone could put drugs into it without your knowing.
Drugs and alcohol impair judgment in ways that can hurt you — even
if you're not the one using them.
Be sure you have a safe ride home, whether it's a designated driver,
parent, or that chauffeur-driven limo. It's also a good idea to have cab fare or to call an older sibling
or parent just in case your ride gets wild or doesn't show up.
Substances like alcohol and drugs can play a role in people having unwanted
sex. Be aware of what's going on around you and try to stay in control. Also, be aware of your date's ability to consent to sexual activity.
If your date is not in a condition to respond or react, it could be rape.
If you feel pressured to have sex on your prom night, remember you don’t
have to. It is ultimately you and your date’s decision.
Remember, your body and your future belong to you. Don’t let anyone
talk you into doing something that could jeopardize them.
Prom can be magical. But it's not the only time you'll have this
much fun: there are plenty of other life-defining events as well. So don't feel
like you have to do anything you don't want to. It's your prom.
Enjoy it the way you want to… though you should definitely be looking
forward to having an awesome time with your friends that you will probably
talk and laugh about 10 years from now!