Everyone always looks forward to his or her senior year of high school, claiming it is the most fun time of the four years. It’s been described as a time to relax since college decisions are made and scholarships are awarded. Seniors can be at ease once they are going somewhere next year. In addition to this, events such as prom and banquet add excitement towards the end of the school year. Every girl looks forward to her senior prom so they can get dolled up with hair and makeup. Guys think of clever ways to ask the girls to the big night. One thing seniors realize very quickly is the expense of senior year – a BIG expense at that. Boys pay $140 for prom tickets if they’re paying for their dates as well. However, girls don’t get off the hook, as prom dresses can cost up to $600 alone. Accessories, hair, and makeup can all add up to another $200 or even more. Then there is the Senior Baccalaureate, the Senior Banquet, and the Senior Gala. These is another $10, another $60, and of course senior girls ‘need’ to buy new dresses for all of these occasions as well. Senior year is incredibly expensive! Prom weekend is a whole other story. Seniors, like myself, had to pay almost $200 for their hotel rooms at Seaside Heights, NJ, and will certainly be spending even more money while they are there. Within the month of May alone I will have spent over $500 on senior related events. The class of 2014 has been one of the most successful fundraising classes. We raised over $40,000 in four years combined, yet seniors still end up paying hundreds of dollars out of their own or their parents’ pockets.
We are very privileged to have the resources that we do living in such a privileged town like Madison, where being a senior shouldn’t be so expensive. These activities are supposed to be all about spending time with our class and making memories as we go off onto bigger and better things. Seniors shouldn’t have to be digging in their pockets their last few months of high school.