A record 13 members of the Wellington Debate Team have qualified to compete at two national championship tournaments this year. Twelve – seniors Vinnie Gasso, Caitlyn Konopka, Kevin Murphy, Dylan Race, and Yourui Ruan; juniors Greg Foster, Michael Leatherman; sophomores Antoinette Gray, Cameron Harker, and Savannah Race; and freshmen Gillian Kruisland and Caramen McDaniel – will be at the National Catholic Forensic League “Grand National” in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend. Three – Foster, Gasso, and junior Kwadjo Walker – have advanced to the National Forensic League National Championship in Kansas City for a week in mid-June. These students’ accolades have been amazing!
When factoring in airfare, lodging and registration expenses, competing at these tournaments will cost around $10,000 total. We are hopeful members of the Wellington community will help reduce tournament expenses for these outstandingly talented and driven young adults through donations to Wellington Debate. This can be done in a few ways:
(2) Make a tax-deductible donation by check or money order, payable to Wellington Debate.
If individuals would rather send a check (Option #2), the address is:
Wellington High School
2101 Greenview Shores Blvd.
Room 4-104
Wellington, FL 33414
When it comes to the future of our children, there is only one goal that matters … and there’s no debate on this issue! We must, at any cost, provide our children with all of the tools they will need to keep the future of our great nation financially stable and insure global superiority for generations to come.
Wellington High School Debate is a non-profit high school program that addresses this issue. Through hands-on activities, mentoring, presentations, and weekend competitive debate tournaments, students discover the world of competitive performance and political dialogue. Participants are challenged to research current events, outline positions both in support of and against the topic, and openly argue and defend their position. Wellington Debate also allows students to memorize edited scripts from plays, musicals and movies, and present them in a competitive acting forum.
Lawyers, teachers, public relations officers, radio and television personalities, executives, and prominent public figures testify to the benefits of debate participation. In fact, 80% of Congress debated competitively, and every U.S. President going back to Harry S Truman debated. Many of them found lifelong friends through their involvement, and gained valuable skills for use in their careers. Further, studies show colleges and universities rank debate among the most valued experiences a student can have when applying to college; a recent study showed the single most important factor in college admission to Ivy League and national universities was participation in speech, debate, and/or drama.
On behalf of my students, I thank you in advance for your assistance. Please feel free to contact me; my team and I truly appreciate your generosity and support.
The Tech Revolution: An Evening with Steve “Woz” Wozniak
Friday, April 4, 2014
WHO: South Florida Science Center and Aquarium along with honorary chairwoman Frances Fisher and chairwoman Elizabeth Gordon
WHAT: An elegant evening with world-class speaker Steve Wozniak, American inventor and co-founder of Apple Computer. Wozniak will discuss innovation and creativity, entrepreneurship, education, and his personal vision for the future of technology. In addition, the pre-event for the Gala will be held at the recently renovated and expanded South Florida Science Center and Aquarium – the first private event to be held in the space. The blockbuster Titanic exhibit in the new Science Center space will serve as the backdrop for this very exclusive pre-party.
WHEN: Friday, April 4, 2014 at 6:30pm cocktail reception; 7:30pm dinner.
WHERE: The Breakers, Palm Beach
HOW MUCH: $600
WHY: The mission of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is to open every mind to science through the strategic programming of interactive exhibits, engaging community-based camps and events. Formerly the South Florida Science Museum, the new SFSCA just completed a $5 million expansion and renovation. The SFSCA features more than 50 hands-on educational exhibits, 8,000-gallon fresh and salt water aquarium featuring both local and exotic marine life, a digital planetarium, Conservation Research Station, Florida Exhibit Hall and an interactive Everglades exhibit.
GENERAL INFO: For more information about the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium or for tickets or sponsorships for the upcoming Gala, please call Marcy Hoffman at 561-370-7738 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org
As part of its national mission to promote public health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) provides an educational program for the public on how to lose weight and keep it off.
On its website, Healthy Weight – it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle!, the CDC states: “The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn’t about short-term dietary changes. It’s about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses.”
“More than one third of U.S. adults are obese. Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than your body uses. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight will help you prevent and control many diseases and conditions,” the CDC advises.
The CDC provides extensive resources on assessing your weight, losing weight, and preventing weight gain.
Assessing Your Weight
To determine whether your current weight is normal, overweight or obese, in relation to your height, the CDC provides a calculator (below) to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI).
“BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI provides a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems,” the CDC explains.
If you are an adult, 20 years old and older, you can use the following tool provided by the CDC to calculate your BMI and learn whether your weight is underweight, normal, overweight, or obese:
For more information on assessing your weight, see the CDC’s website on Assessing your weight.
Losing Weight
“It’s natural for anyone trying to lose weight to want to lose it very quickly. But evidence shows that people who lose weight gradually and steadily (about 1 to 2 pounds per week) are more successful at keeping weight off,” the CDC states.
“To lose weight, you must use up more calories than you take in,” the CDC explains. “Since one pound equals 3,500 calories, you need to reduce your caloric intake by 500—1000 calories per day to lose about 1 to 2 pounds per week.”
Getting Started. Successfully losing weight requires a commitment and a plan, according to the CDC. To help you get started, the CDC provides a Step-By-Step Guide on its Getting Started website. The steps to getting started include:
Step 1: Make a commitment.
Step 2: Take stock of where you are.
Step 3: Set realistic goals.
Step 4: Identify resources for information and support.
Step 5: Continually “check in” with yourself to monitor your progress.
Balancing Calories In Versus Calories Out. According to the CDC, losing weight, gaining weight, or maintaining weight is about Balancing Calories: the number of calories you take in (in the food you eat) vs. the calories you burn through physical activity. If you use more calories than you take in, you will lose weight.
A basic list showing the number of calories burned in typical activities is provided by the CDC. More extensive online counters that help you determine the number of calories you are burning through various exercises are also provided by private sources such as HealthStatus or Bodybuilding.com.
The National Institute of Digestive and Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), provides a sophisticated online interactive Body Weight Simulator, created based on a recent scientific study.
Using Java software, the Body Weight Simulator tells you the number of calories you would need to cut from your daily diet and the length of time required for you to reach your target weight, given your current weight, height, age, gender, and physical activity level. You can re-run the simulation with increased physical activity levels, to determine how exercise will help.
The Simulator also tells you the maximum number of calories per day that you can thereafter eat to maintain your target weight. The Simulator thus helps a person gain a more realistic perspective on what will be required in your particular case to reach and maintain your desired weight.
Starting with realistic expectations and selecting a diet level that you can realistically sustain for the required period of time may be the key to staying on your diet.
Official Dietary & Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The US government has issued official science-based guidelines to help Americans maintain a healthy lifestyle, including:
The New Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), and the new MyPlate Icon, which HHS and USDA have issued to replace the older Food Pyramid, as a simple graphic guideline to help Americans choose and plan a healthy diet; and
Monitoring Your Progress. A recent study found that maintaining a daily food diary of what you eat, and the number of calories you are consuming, is a helpful technique used by those most successful in losing weight.
The CDC provides a form that can be used to help you maintain a Daily Food Diary. In the Notes column, you may want to record the number of calories of each food you eat, and total them at intervals during the day to keep track of the calories you are consuming.
The CDC also provides a form to help you maintain a Physical Activity Diary. This will help you keep track of your progress in achieving your exercise goals.
For more information and resources on losing weight, see the CDC’s website on Losing weight
Maintaining a Healthy Weight and Preventing Weight Gain
“Once you’ve achieved a healthy weight, by relying on healthful eating and physical activity most days of the week (about 60—90 minutes [per week], moderate intensity), you are more likely to be successful at keeping the weight off over the long term,” according to the CDC.
Follow the guidelines above to maintain a healthy diet at the number of calories appropriate to maintain your ideal weight, and continue exercising for good health.
“Work your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent mix of the two each week,” the CDC advocates on its website on Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight.
“Strong scientific evidence shows that physical activity can help you maintain your weight over time. However, the exact amount of physical activity needed to do this is not clear since it varies greatly from person to person,” the CDC States.
“By avoiding weight gain, you avoid higher risks of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and some forms of cancer,” according to the CDC.
An ongoing study of people who have lost weight and kept it off, conducted by the National Weight Control Registry has found that those who had maintained a significant weight loss reported improvements in not only their physical health, but also their energy levels, physical mobility, general mood, and self-confidence.
“The good news is that weight gain can be prevented by choosing a lifestyle that includes good eating habits and daily physical activity,” says the CDC.
This may require a change to a healthy lifestyle – one that maintains balance in your life and that you can comfortably live with for the rest of your life.
“The key is FINDING A BALANCE in your lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity,” according to this video prepared by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), part of the CDC:
My First Record, age 16 Photo: LH Baumel (Recorded circa 1975 at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL)
I don’t check Facebook that frequently (as it can be habit forming), but it is a wonderful way to stay in touch with my high school friends. Needless to say, it was a high school friend that shared the post below. At first I didn’t think much about it. I read it and went on with my day. Later on, the words kept coming back to me.
How fortunate I was to have experienced the transition from the telephone cord era to the digital age. When I was in college, music arranging and orchestration were among the many subjects I studied for my music degree. I spent countless hours copying the parts for musicians to be able to perform my compositions. I developed a callous on my finger where my pencil rested. Writing out parts was extremely tedious and tiring. Occasionally, I’d copy a music note incorrectly – causing me great embarrassment in rehearsal. In my wildest dreams I never imagined that one day I would be creating my orchestrations on a computer, and with the touch of an “enter” key the musician’s individual parts would pop out of my wireless printer. To top it off, with the help of digitized instruments, I can hear my pieces in advance prior to rehearsal and performance. This has greatly improved my creative process.
Music students today are fortunate to have the digital jump-start I didn’t have access to. Do I miss writing out those parts? NO! Do I miss the excitement of hearing a work for the first time with full orchestra, jazz band or choir? Yes. What can be learned from this ever-changing era of instantaneous satisfaction? You want a song? Download it. You want to watch a movie? Stream it. Admittedly, I am thrilled that I can do all of the above. But, gone are the days of getting a wrapped gift on your birthday shaped like a record. Of course, we’d always sarcastically say, “Let me guess… it’s a record,” prior to opening it. Those born a bit later than me will one day lament for the same, but the memory will be in the shape of a CD. Now, when asked what I want for my birthday it’s always the same answer: an iTunes card.
My greatest error in judgment about the foreseeable future occurred in about 1982. I had to write a music soundtrack for a corporate film about a computer system called Prodigy. It was a system that you could actually use at home to peruse and shop for goods and services. I said to myself, “This’ll never fly.” Boy, was I wrong! Well, maybe partially. Prodigy didn’t last very long but home computing changed everything about the way we work and live.
In this fast paced digital world I often feel like there is so much to learn and do that it actually stops me in my tracks. I get perplexed and it stifles me! What should I do first? Watch a tutorial on a software upgrade? Tweak my photography with Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom? Write a soundtrack for a short video I edited and post it to YouTube… listen to an audiobook… or simply ride the bicycle I ordered online. Hopefully, if the weather is beautiful, I’ll choose the bike ride.
The best way to handle the changes occurring so quickly is to grow with it. Keep the “analog” that pleases you in your life. Go to “live” concerts by downloading the tickets in advance. Investigate museum websites and explore the exhibits that might interest you. Make a dinner reservation on OpenTable and, after dinner, stop by a Karaoke bar and sing your heart out. Blend the beauty of what we have from yesterday with the tools of tomorrow.
Now if I could only get the computer to do my laundry? Hmmm, a laundry washing app. Nah, that idea will never fly… or will it?
Live… Go… Do!
Top 5 For April 2014
1) Read: The AMC interview with Milton Glaser
Get out your elephant pants… Mad Men is Back!
Iconic artist, Milton Glaser, creator of the I Love New York logo, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits album poster, the DC Comics logo and much more has designed the new Mad Men poster for season 7. You know what I’ll be watching on Sunday night, April 13th.
The 19th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival
April 3-April 10, 2014
Eight days of films from around the globe, industry panels, seminars, student filmmaking programs, network opportunities and gala events all set against the background of our tropical South Florida beaches, waterways and venues. Admission is $10
For film listings and venues see: www.pbifilmfest.org or call 561-362-0003
3) Attend a concert at:Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton
Masterworks from Around the Globe
University Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, April 5 at 7 pm, conducted by Laura Joella.
Enjoy a splendid evening of classical, romantic, and modern masterworks from Europe and America. Krisztina Kover, FAU Instructor of Music, will be the featured piano soloist for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major. Other works include “Papillon”, based on themes from Jerry Goldsmith’s music for the film, arranged by FAU Associate Professor Alejandro Sánchez-Samper; Allegro non troppo from Brahms Symphony No. 2; Verdi I Vespri Siciliani Overtur; and J. Strauss Jr.’s Thunder and Lightning Polka. Tickets $10 at www.fauevents.com
Classical Guitar Society
Sun/Apr. 6/ 3 pm, directed by Ken Keaton. Classical Guitar Society. The Society presents guitar solos and chamber music by FAU students and faculty. Suggested $10 donation at the door.
A World of Dreams
FAU Wind Ensemble, conducted by Kyle Prescott
Wednesday, April 9 at 7 pm
The FAU Wind Ensemble opens this powerful concert with Above and Beyond, a new work for winds from one of the great musical minds of our time, Gerard Schwarz. Darius Milhaud’s jazz-influenced Le Creation du Monde then paves the way for the David Maslanka’s epic and emotional A Child’s Garden of Dreams. Suggested $10 donation at the door.
FAU Choral Ensembles
Saturday, April 12 at 7 pm Conducted by Patricia P. Fleitas and Stacie Lee Rossow.
FAU’s Chamber Singers, Women’s Chorus and ¡Cantemos! present a variety of choral works in this exciting blend of master works and new music. Suggested $10 donation at the door.
4) See a play or hear a lecture at:Palm Beach Dramaworks in West Palm Beach:
Dividing the Estate
By Horton Foote
April 1 – Apr. 27, 2014
Times are tough for the Gordon family in this funny, astute play, but the matriarch of the clan has no intention of dividing her 100-year-old estate – even if her greedy children have other ideas.
Granada’s Poet: Federico Garcia Lorca
Apr. 8, 2014 • Lectures begin 2:00pm and 7:00pm
The author of The House of Bernarda Alba and Blood Wedding was a liberal rebel against Spanish society who was captured and killed by Franco’s brigade. Completely banned in his homeland until decades after his death, Federico Garcia Lorca ultimately would become known as one of the greatest Spanish dramatists – A presentation by Mark Perlberg.
For tickets and more information go to: www.palmbeachdramaworks.org
5) Plan a visit to:
Photo: Museum of Polo Hall of Fame Website
For those curious about the sport of polo, past, present or future, the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame is a rich repository for the story of American polo. The Museum is home to an extensive collection of historic documents and physical treasures which include extraordinary works of art, magnificent trophies, artifacts, books, statistical records, periodicals, films, videos, recordings and polo memorabilia. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the grand history and tradition of the sport of polo for the generations of the future.
A multimedia theater is a part of the Museum that features important films and videos of the sport and the library contains many books, journals, magazines, statistical and written records, all of which are available for research. Every year, new and exciting exhibits are added to the Museum that are of interest to players and fans of the sport.
A permanent and newly renovated exhibit, a polo timeline of sorts, is a fascinating journey from the roots of polo which originated in Asia over 2,600 years ago, through the decades of its evolution in America, to its present day status as a worldwide sport. Polo has survived and continues to flourish owing much to the enduring relationship of human and horse that is celebrated in this exhibit. Other newly added exhibits include fascinating elements of polo such as “The Polo Pony; An Extraordinary Athlete,” The History of the Westchester Cup, Women in Polo, Ten Goal Players, Arena Polo, Horses To Remember Portraits with push-and- play information, Best Playing Ponies, and the sweeping history of the “Super Bowl” of polo in America, the United States Open and much more.
Also in the Museum, visitors can explore the Hall of Fame area, and reflect on the many magnificent trophies dating from the 1880’s around the time of the birth of polo in America. – Taken from the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame Website
Lori Hope Baumel and her husband Eric live in Wellington and have three children.
Their eldest, Sam, 27, is a media producer and conceptual artist who currently resides in (extremely hipster) Brooklyn, NY. Her younger children, Evan and Rachel, wrote the Around Wellington “Teen Talk” column in previous years. Rachel, 24, lives and works in Boston, MA and Evan, 21, is a senior at American University in Washington DC. Eric has practiced radiology in Wellington since 1991. His many talents include artist, cook, photographer and, recently, medical app developer. You can learn more about Lori at www.loribaumel.com or read her blog: www.grownupcamp.tumblr.com
Wine consumption in the U.S. now rivals levels found in European countries. As an American, I’m proud to say my wife and I are doing our part to keep that trend flowing. We work with unquenchable determination to integrate wine into our everyday lives on a par with our French, Italian and German counterparts.
To leave no doubt about our commitment, “Support Our Grapes” is the message of unity that calls out from our bumper sticker. “When in Doubt, Add More Wine,” is the foolproof cooking philosophy engraved on a plaque hanging in our kitchen. “Wine has been berry, berry good to us” is the feeling we hold in our hearts after each exquisitely paired marriage of food and vintage varietal.
These days, wine enjoys an exalted status as the healthier choice among alcoholic beverages. It has also achieved marketing clout as a lifestyle enhancement that complements everything from formal occasions and special meals to casual gatherings and kicking back for some quiet relaxation at home. With the expanding menu of socially-acceptable ways that we can fit wine into our lives, keeping track of which wines you enjoy can get to be a challenge. You know your exploration of wine has reached an advanced stage when you find yourself in a store holding a bottle with a familiar label and thinking I know I’ve had this one before, but I can’t remember if I loved it or hated it.
Having paid my dues as a self-made student of wines in the $7 to $14 a bottle range, I’m happy to pass along this helpful pointer to all wine connoisseurs in training: Keep a Wine Log.
As pretentious as it sounds, a wine log is the only practical solution to prevent yourself from accidentally buying wines you intensely dislike over and over again. It’s also a great way to develop your wine vocabulary as you grope for words to describe what you taste. Note this early, inexperienced entry from the wine log my wife and I have been keeping for years as we attempt to capture the essence of an $8 bottle of Pinot Grigio paired with Alaskan king crab legs.
Tasting Notes:
1.) Crisp.
2.) Dry.
3.) Nice.
4.) Good with king crab legs.
Now take a peek at this recent, more knowledgeable entry describing a California chardonnay we had with some grilled salmon.
Tasting Notes:
1.) Tinges of tangerine tingle in our noses along with something more – asparagus perhaps?
2.) Undercurrents of toasty oak and creamy vanilla add a mellow tone.
3.) Flirty in a refreshing fruit-forward kind of way (as opposed to a slutty “love for sale” kind of way).
4.) Room spinning, feeling woozy, must . . . get . . . air.
It was through keeping a wine log that my wife and I came to the life-changing realization that there’s no such thing as a bad Australian red wine. This no-holds-barred entry from the Williamson wine log captures the glories of an Australian Shiraz served with a porterhouse steak fresh off the barbie.
Tasting Notes:
1.) Smokey hints of tobacco and mesquite vie for our approval.
2.) A plumy persona plays mischievously on the palette, suggesting a tangy fruit tart or, perhaps, a tarty French maid.
3.) Aromas of cocoa and kiwi tease and taunt us, daring us to write the words “cocoa” and “kiwi” side by side while keeping a straight face.
4.) Feeling groggy, room spinning, must . . . get . . . help.
I share these entries from our wine logs purely to convey how our ability to articulate the nuances of fine wine has evolved to its current level of sophistication through the meticulous process of “sipping and telling.” May it serve as an inspiration to all those who strive to savor wines they enjoy. May it also help them gracefully avoid wines that cause them to spit violently across the table spraying innocent people with the sour remnants of their displeasure.
Are you wondering what type of parenting style you have in your everyday interactions with your children? We’ve all experienced the extremes of parenting in public places. We’ve seen parents who take things too far and are abusive toward their children, even in public places like the grocery store. And we’ve seen parents who can’t make it through the checkout without caving in – buying a couple of candy bars to keep their kids quiet.
Here are four parenting styles – each one very different – as presented by Kendra Cherry (The Four Styles of Parenting) on About.com. Which parenting style is happening in your house?
In this style of parenting, children are expected to follow the strict rules established by the parents. Failure to follow such rules usually results in punishment. Authoritarian parents fail to explain the reasoning behind these rules. If asked to explain, the parent might simply reply, “Because I said so.” These parents have high demands, but are not responsive to their children. According to Baumrind, these parents “are obedience- and status-oriented, and expect their orders to be obeyed without explanation” (1991). Authoritative Parenting
Like authoritarian parents, those with an authoritative parenting style establish rules and guidelines that their children are expected to follow. However, this parenting style is much more democratic. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, these parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. Baumrind suggests that these parents “monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct. They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative” (1991). Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents, sometimes referred to as indulgent parents, have very few demands to make of their children. These parents rarely discipline their children because they have relatively low expectations of maturity and self-control. According to Baumrind, permissive parents “are more responsive than they are demanding. They are nontraditional and lenient, do not require mature behavior, allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation” (1991). Permissive parents are generally nurturing and communicative with their children, often taking on the status of a friend more than that of a parent. Uninvolved Parenting
An uninvolved parenting style is characterized by few demands, low responsiveness and little communication. While these parents fulfill the child’s basic needs, they are generally detached from their child’s life. In extreme cases, these parents may even reject or neglect the needs of their children.
I was inspired by this quote that one of our writers shared with me this month.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie
Gratitude, even during our toughest challenges, is what carries us through. It seems like we often complain that something is “too much” or something is “not enough.” Having a sense of gratitude for the most important things in your life will keep us balanced.
Here are the new articles for this month! Don’t forget to check out our “News & Events” for the latest happenings and our “Photo Galleries” of recent events.
Prom season is in the air! Dresses are being ordered, appointments are being made, prom tickets are being purchased, and I still don’t have a dress. Being a junior and this being my first prom in history is creating a wave of emotions—I’m currently feeling both nervous and excited at the same time. My wallet is suddenly feeling less heavy and my agenda is getting more and more filled for preparation for the anticipated day.
High school … it happens to everyone.
And for four years it has a way of dividing us.
Athletes, overachievers, drama queens, misfits, jokers.
But then, just before it ends, we were almost at the door.
One night has a way of bringing us together – PROM.
I’ve been dreaming about my prom since I was a little girl. Yes, indeed I was that girl that dreamed of walking into prom in a beautiful, princess dress with the disco balls spinning and the room radiating with happiness. Even though, I’m pretty sure there will be no disco balls like I imagined, I do still think of prom as this amazing night even though I’ve never been. So I have been mentally preparing for prom for the last seventeen years. I’ve had a Pinterest board since my freshman year focused on my prom. I’ve been preparing for this night for years and by preparing I mean I’ve been watching my deal of prom films and squealing at the thought of me going.
Currently, girls are being asked in extravagant ways to prom because it’s impossible to just simply ask a girl “Will you go to prom with me?” without there being a parade behind you or a bouquet of flowers in your trembling fingers. And with prom just around the corner for many, boys are being hesitant on asking and girls are growing very impatient. Some getting asked even refuse prom invitations if they’re not in some sort of out of the ordinary fashion. Personally, I would accept a prom invitation in any way because it does take a lot of guts to go up to someone and ask. Whether it’s spelled out in candles or yelled out in front of the entire student body in a pep rally, just asking has made its way out of the question.
It’s no joke that prom can be pricey to say the least. After adding up transportation prices, tickets, dress, hair, makeup, nails, and everything else needed for the night, it can get to be very pricey. Some advice from a person that has never attended prom is that you should try to do as much as you can at home. For instance, if you have any friends gifted with makeup art, or if you’re quite talented yourself, you can save money instead of going to expensive stores in the mall to have people do your makeup.
Since we’re getting closer and closer to the end of the school year meaning graduation and prom are also getting closer. Most proms are starting off in the end of March, falling into April and even some in May, giving those attending in May enough time to get all of their prom preparations together before the day. Since I’ve procrastinated much of what is going on for my prom, I am nowhere near prepared at the moment. It cannot be emphasized enough how stressful prom planning can be. Varying from where to go before prom? What transportation to take to prom? And even where to take those memorable prom photos that parents refuse to let you miss.
Prom is almost here, which means plans are finally falling together and a memorable night is about to happen. After months of preparation or last minute plans for some, this will definitely be a night to remember.
Gabrielle Harris is a junior at Wellington High School. She is involved in the Quidditch team, Key Club, and is the social media and news editor for the WHS Wave school newspaper. She hopes to study mass communications in college and aspires to someday tell her travel stories to the world.
As part of its national mission to promote public health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) provides an educational program for the public on how to lose weight and keep it off.
