By Abi Wiseman
Throbbing feet and aching smiles, students were finally able to relax after a night of great memories with friends. Prom had just passed! Many students awaited the excitement of this year’s 2024 Prom! From the venue, caterer, and all the little details in between, the Prom Committee has worked so hard to make the Prom the best it can be.
For a regular student, the preparation for Prom is simple and minimal. But, the excitement is huge and roars throughout the Leffell high school. “I’m excited for the venue because we are in the city. Also, because I am a senior we have more of a role in Prom therefore I’m excited for that to play out.” Senior Raya Sulman said.
Some of the highlights Sulman had from last year’s Prom was the “Pre-prom location because everyone was there as a community” she mentioned, “The Prom felt like a big bar-mitzvah and everyone was really into it and happy to be there, like a culminating celebration”.
Nevertheless, months before Prom was a thought on students minds, the Prom Committee was busy putting endless effort to make Prom a meaningful experience. “Because we need to plan a Prom, the Prom Committee is in charge of the DJ, decor, venue.” said Junior Hayden Cohen, “Planning Prom is a very stressful experience and it is not as easy as it looks, there’s a lot that goes into it behind the scenes.”
The Prom Committee took responsibility and communicated with other associations for all the details for Prom. More specifically, the Prom Committee was very devoted to the venue of the Prom and what would make Prom unique “The Prom Committee drove to many different venues around White Plains and the city on weekends. We spent the whole day figuring out what would be the best fit for this year’s prom” Junior Jack Wolk said. Additionally, one of the hardest parts about planning prom is “agreeing with each other. Even with five people, everyone has different opinions and you really want to fight for what you want.”
Needless to say, from a regular student’s perspective, planning Prom is thought to be a huge responsibility but overlooked by most students. “The students play such a big role in the planning because they truly know what the students want and how to satisfy their needs,” Sulman added.
From prior Prom Committee experience, Sulman also notes that “A big part of prom is deciding what kind of environment the students want to have and trying to make sure everyone is comfortable.”
Being the former President of the Prom Committee and taking a managerial role of leading logistics, Cohen remarks that “I wish people would know and respect the really hard work that goes into Prom. Everyone on the Prom Committee has put in so much time and effort into making this the best experience for people possible…I just hope everyone acknowledges the amount of volunteer work the Prom Committee has put into this.”
Like Cohen, Wolk considered that “Planning Prom was way more work than I envisioned and everyone needs to be really committed”.
More specifically, the Prom Committee members have worked so hard to ensure that this Prom 2024 was different from another in the last decade. Commuting to New York City, the Committee made the venue in Washington Heights to create a more penthouse and night-club vibe to the Prom. This venue was promised beautiful views and a great space for students to talk, dance, and more.
Unfortunately, since Prom 2024 has come to an end, the work for the Prom Committee slows down. Next year, however, a new group of students will embark on the challenge of planning Prom. “I advise students on taking on the challenge of planning Prom if it sounds like something you’re interested in. Besides, I think it is an amazing experience to plan a Prom if they have never planned an event before because you feel much more capable to plan any other event.” Wolk said.
Similarly, Cohen believes that having planned prom, although a lot of work, was a worthwhile experience and is one that a student may never receive ever again. “I think planning the Prom is meant for certain people, meaning if you are organized and you are interested in planning events it’s a great way to get involved with the school.”
Lastly, whether you are interested in planning your Prom or not, Sulman recommends not having a set expectation of what Prom is going to be, “Ultimately, making memories with the people you love is what Prom is all about and I wouldn’t focus on being disappointed if not everything works out.”
