By Karen
Popular culture usually shows high school proms (or grads or formals, depending on what part of the country you may be from) as a chance not just to rent a tuxe or buy a new dress, but as a time when underage drinking and drug use occurs. Teens in my part of the country are not given the chance to do this on grad night. While we may have parties on the nights following our prom, the night of our grad is reserved for fun with our graduating class, our dates and our friends.
The Safe Grad is a popular event in St. John's. A lot of time and effort by grade eleven parents (the class next in line to graduate) happens before the night of the grad. Meetings take place up to a year in advance; a site is booked; sponsors found; contracts drawn up; activities planned. Even if we wanted to party in local hotels as opposed to Safe Grad, it just is not possible. Area hotels have strict regulations regarding grads renting rooms. Some even charge extra for grad parties, whereas the Safe Grad alternative is offered at the low price of $15.00 a person!
By Leslie Anne D.
Have you ever wondered where the time has gone? It doesn't seem like I've been in high school for the five years now. I still can remember walking through the halls as a small and timid grade nine. Now I am an OAC (grade 13) with a new perspective. Since the news of prom broke out, it was all my friends talked about for weeks.
Prom to me was basically where the graduates got to dress up and look pretty for one night, then party the night away. I was never too fond of dressing up, but prom was different. I never got overly excited about it, but I knew I wanted to go. I bought an expensive gown with matching shoes and purse. I had my hair and nails done. And to top off the event we rented a limo! I went all out on this big night and the best part was I paid for everything. My friends were all psyched to go and many of them wanted the night to go as they had always pictured in their heads when they were in grade nine. I never even thought about prom when I was in grade nine, I lived for the moment and thought of the future when I was required to.