It’s that time of year, when posters with bedazzling stars or confetti pop up everywhere around school, all with the same four letters plastered over it in bold. PROM. It’s the perfect opportunity to ask out the classmate one may or may not have been pinning over for the past year! However, one cannot simply walk up to them, that would be ridiculous!
To begin, the first factor to be taken into consideration is exactly how one will ask. With a huge sign in the middle of the hallway? A text? A phone call? All these proposals have varying levels of success and leave different impressions on the person of interest.
For example, texts and phone calls are much safer bets, as if one gets rejected, there’s no one to witness the awkward situation. But it may seem less personal, and the other party may find it easier to reject the offer.
Then, there’s the option of simply holding up a sign. But what color should it be? The cliché bright red with hearts drawn around it? Or a more modest design with muted colors? This approach has a higher chance of success because they might feel more inclined to accept as not to garner negative attention from the peers around them. But again, if one is still rejected, it becomes much more humiliating as there are dozens of students to witness your most embarrassing moment. Everything must be taken into consideration, even if it takes days to weigh the pros and cons of each possibility.
Upon deciding how to propose, the next issue is what one should say. If it’s on a large sign, perhaps “Prom?” will suffice, or even a humorous pickup line. But, if the other doesn’t find it funny, (which is entirely possible), you are left smiling nervously while they pretend to be at least slightly amused.
As for texting, if one simply sends the request in 5 words or less, they may come across as indifferent and socially inept. On the other hand, if one sends an entire paragraph, it may look as though they’re “trying too hard” or being “fake.” As for phone calls, it is easy to lose the courage to ask, and one might end up stumbling over their words incoherently, unable to speak clearly. Nevertheless, it may be better than reading off a paper during the call, because it can seem scripted. Again, one must perfectly manage what their first impression is to have the greatest chance of succeeding.
After weeks of planning and deliberation, one is finally ready. The day before prom, one walks down the hallway with a sign. Only… to catch another classmate confessing to the same person.
Maybe next time?
To begin, the first factor to be taken into consideration is exactly how one will ask. With a huge sign in the middle of the hallway? A text? A phone call? All these proposals have varying levels of success and leave different impressions on the person of interest.
For example, texts and phone calls are much safer bets, as if one gets rejected, there’s no one to witness the awkward situation. But it may seem less personal, and the other party may find it easier to reject the offer.
Then, there’s the option of simply holding up a sign. But what color should it be? The cliché bright red with hearts drawn around it? Or a more modest design with muted colors? This approach has a higher chance of success because they might feel more inclined to accept as not to garner negative attention from the peers around them. But again, if one is still rejected, it becomes much more humiliating as there are dozens of students to witness your most embarrassing moment. Everything must be taken into consideration, even if it takes days to weigh the pros and cons of each possibility.
Upon deciding how to propose, the next issue is what one should say. If it’s on a large sign, perhaps “Prom?” will suffice, or even a humorous pickup line. But, if the other doesn’t find it funny, (which is entirely possible), you are left smiling nervously while they pretend to be at least slightly amused.
As for texting, if one simply sends the request in 5 words or less, they may come across as indifferent and socially inept. On the other hand, if one sends an entire paragraph, it may look as though they’re “trying too hard” or being “fake.” As for phone calls, it is easy to lose the courage to ask, and one might end up stumbling over their words incoherently, unable to speak clearly. Nevertheless, it may be better than reading off a paper during the call, because it can seem scripted. Again, one must perfectly manage what their first impression is to have the greatest chance of succeeding.
After weeks of planning and deliberation, one is finally ready. The day before prom, one walks down the hallway with a sign. Only… to catch another classmate confessing to the same person.
Maybe next time?
