As the line to get into this year’s prom grew by the minute, the chatter rose and excitement heightened. This year, prom took place at the Universal Sheraton Hotel. From 7:30-10 p.m., Saturday, April 20, students and chaperones gathered in a ballroom, bedazzled in gold to reflect the theme: 1920s Glitz and Glam Art Deco.
During the prom, the classes of 2024 and 2025 danced to lively music and ate an array of food, including mashed potatoes, pesto pasta, roasted vegetables and cupcakes.
The DJ played different genres of music, from pop to hip-hop. Throughout the night, people danced and talked to one another. From the start to the finish, the ballroom was full of music and laughter.
Round tables were covered in white tablecloths and flower bouquets, and the ballroom was scattered in a plethora of dress colors, from glittering greens to pastel pinks to bold blacks. While juniors wore short dresses, seniors wore long dresses, per Archer tradition.
Junior Maya Acutt said she enjoyed the experience of picking out a dress that reflected who she was as a person.
“I started so late. Most of my searching was last week, and luckily I just ordered a few dresses that I found and then chose which one I liked best,” Acutt said. “But I think it’s great that everyone can express themselves during prom or wear something that they like. I mean, [prom] is such a big tradition. [Picking out a dress] is one of the biggest parts of prom. And it’s when you can look your best when everyone else is looking their best, too.”
Junior Zara Khan said she feels like prom is a rite of passage, as well as a great opportunity to take a break from academics.
“[Prom’s] been embedded in our culture as the quintessential American universal experience. I think that it’s a time that people have dreamt about since they were young,” Khan said. “I also think that prom is a time when we can take a break from school and the responsibilities that we have and the pressures of college and everything else. We can just relax and be together, united.”
Senior Jullie Cach said prom felt like a bonding experience for the senior class, as well as an opportunity for people to appreciate one another.
“I definitely think our grade was already pretty close. But [during] prom, we got even closer,” Cach said. “And it was really nice. Everyone was going around to people and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, you look so beautiful.’ And I just love that everyone in our grade was there. We all really bonded. It was just really nice for our grade to come together that way.”
