Prom Night & What Matters Most

Myleatta Wilson

Senior

Osborn University High School

Hey 2009 seniors, it’s that time of the year for us. We’ve been waiting and planning three long years for it and now it’s finally here. You all know, prom! That one day of our four years in high school that we really show our elegant and sophisticated selves in the forms of gowns and tuxes.

The most important part to me about prom is the planning. In addition to planning for things like what color to wear, what hairstyle to try, and what shoes will match the fly clutch, how will we be able to bring our true style to life on this day? Planning, especially planning ahead, is one of the most responsible things to do for anything especially prom. However, most teens from previous proms had failed plan for their safety.

Of all things, other than your prom dress ladies, your safety is more important than the activities or articles of clothing or jewelry you wear on that night. You can’t "floss" anything if you’re in the hospital or worse, dead! Teens fail to realize that one of the most dangerous nights to be out driving, other than St. Patrick’s Day and New Years, is prom night.

Its kind of crazy to think of prom night as being one of the most dangerous nights to be driving around but its true and we must make ourselves aware of the dangers that could occur on a day that comes only once in a lifetime.

Here are some things to consider:

Þ More than one-third of youth under the age of 21 were killed in an alcohol- related fatality in 2001 during the months of April, May, and June – prom and graduation season – according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Þ A new law that took effect Sept. 1 in Michigan that could mean tougher penalties other than being fined or ticketed for teens caught with the possession of alcohol such as jail time.


So for that special day, if you think you haven’t though about anything else, make sure you think about the safety of you.