May 7, 2021

Editor’s Note: Molly Wetsch is a senior at Lincoln High School and the editor-in-chief of the Statesman. She has agreed to periodically share her experiences this year as a high school senior.

If I’m being honest, my biggest high school aspiration was not necessarily going to every event and having a ton of school spirit. I was more of the “take as many classes as possible and graduate” type. So my senior prom wasn’t something I thought about very often – until it was taken away. 

Everyone, whether they say it or not, wants that dream teen-romance-movie prom. It’s innate within us as high schoolers. Something about throwing on an unnecessarily long dress – or a hot, stuffy suit – just speaks to us on a cellular level. I really can’t explain it: Adults reading this, you probably remember that time in your life. And those who aren’t high school seniors yet, you’ll understand soon enough.

I had pretty much accepted before my senior year even started that I wouldn’t be experiencing most of the iconic events that we associate with high school. The Sioux Falls School District, however, surprised me at every turn. Because of the district’s hard work in maintaining coronavirus regulations, I got my final football season, last homecoming week, and I’m even graduating in person in a few weeks.

One thing that I never counted on, though, was prom. Hundreds of teenagers in one event space doesn’t exactly scream COVID-friendly. And, in part, I was right; there was no school-sanctioned prom. The only thing the district would officially sponsor was a grand march at every school, which is a quick, maybe 30-minute, parade of seniors all dressed up.

But where do dressed-up teenagers go? They go to dinner; then, they go to prom.

There is perhaps nothing more powerful than determined parents. It was an admittedly small group of four senior moms who were able to ensure that Lincoln High School’s Class of 2021 got its prom night. It took guts: They went in with zero district funding, concerns about coronavirus safety and absolutely no experience in planning a prom.

Although I am definitely not the first to say this, I also won’t be the last: They pulled it off flawlessly. Mask requirements were strictly followed, the venue and decorations were enchanting, and everyone just had a fantastic time, even the parent chaperones. For the first time in what felt like forever, we seniors got the chance to let loose and just be with each other. There’s not much opportunity for socialization during the school day, and I found myself speaking to people I’ve hardly seen for the past several months.

I didn’t know what was going to be of my senior prom, but like so many things this year, my expectations were greatly exceeded. It’s hard to explain how it feels to experience something you’ve been expecting not to. In any case, I’m grateful for the experience; I have precious few left with my graduating class.

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