For upperclassmen, prom is one of the most anticipated events of the year, as it’s an opportunity to get dressed up, take pictures with friends, get down on the dance floor, and enjoy a carefree, fun experience. This year, Junior Prom took place on April 25, and Senior Prom was held on May 9. As juniors, we were already granted the right to attend Junior Prom, but we also got the chance to go to Senior Prom through invitation from friends. Both were memorable experiences, but they differed in a variety of ways, ultimately making one of them stand out as the better of the two.
The venue of a prom is an integral part that can make or break the students’ experience. Drexelbrook has hosted Junior Prom for as long as anyone can remember, and this year was no different. The ballroom is spacious, with enough room to accommodate the entire junior class and their guests, along with over 40 tables. For Senior Prom, the venue is usually selected by the class officers. Like last year, it was held at the Franklin Institute. This was an awesome place to experience Senior Prom, as it provided not only a space to dance, but also catered to students who aren’t huge fans of dancing through its exhibits. Students were given access to interactive experiences about space, the human body, and various engineering processes. Our personal favorite was the space exhibit as it offered a calmer atmosphere and provided a great spot to unwind from the liveliness of the main area.
A good dance floor is a must-have for any prom, regardless of the attendees’ age. Senior Prom’s dance floor was located right in front of the huge statue of Benjamin Franklin and in between the two sections of dining tables. Despite the impressive setting, it wasn’t very spacious, and some people didn’t even realize it was the dance floor at first. Once dancing began, it was difficult to join in because those on the outer edges kept bumping into tables and chairs, which also made it hard to move between dining areas. Junior Prom’s dance floor, on the other hand, was much larger and better organized. It was also positioned between dining areas but had plenty of space for almost everyone in attendance to dance comfortably, with room to spare. Access to either side of the room remained easy, no matter how many people were on the dance floor. So, overall, we think Junior Prom had the better dance floor.
Unfortunately for Junior Prom, Senior Prom takes the cake for food, no pun intended. Overall, we felt the food at Senior Prom tasted better and offered more variety. At Junior Prom, the menu was set: a salad for the appetizer, chicken parmesan for the main course, and an ice cream bar for dessert. Senior Prom, by contrast, featured a buffet-style dinner with many options, including Caesar salad, alfredo pasta, chicken sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, and potato chips. For dessert, there were donuts and brownies with various toppings like sprinkles, homemade whipped cream, cherries, and more. Although we found Senior Prom’s food to be more enjoyable overall, Junior Prom actually won in the dessert category. The ice cream bar was tastier than the donuts and brownies, in our opinion.
Although both proms provided opportunities for taking photos, Senior Prom was the clear winner in this area, thanks to two standout photo locations. For Junior Prom, we took pictures at a friend’s house before heading to Drexelbrook, and many other students did the same. Once at the venue, students could take pictures anywhere in the main hall or on the dance floor, but the backdrops were fairly plain. Senior Prom told a different story. Many attendees first stopped at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to take pictures on the Rocky Steps, in front of the gorgeous fountain, or on the benches in the grassy areas nearby. This was a perfect spot for the first round of photos, offering a classic, elegant backdrop. Once at the Franklin Institute, there were countless additional photo ops—in front of the Ben Franklin statue, inside the exhibits, or with friends on the dance floor and at the tables. This gave students a chance to take both fun, silly pictures and more traditional ones. Some of our favorite photos include walking through the Giant Heart and hugging the model Earth. Having such a wide array of vibrant, dynamic backgrounds definitely made Senior Prom’s photo opportunities far superior to those at Junior Prom.
We also wanted to recognize BLAST, an after-prom event for students that features themed areas for students to explore. A major highlight of BLAST is the opportunity to win prizes, especially for college, through raffles or by earning tickets from games. Even though we were juniors and weren’t eligible for the college prizes, we still had a great time enjoying all the different activities and are very excited to attend again next year. There was also a huge variety of food, which really helped us recharge after dancing and better enjoy the rest of the activities. What makes BLAST truly special is that it is entirely run by parents and staff. Most, if not all, of the contributions come from parents or local businesses. It is an incredible example of how our community comes together to support students.
In conclusion, both proms were extremely entertaining, and we never found ourselves bored at either event. Our school and class officers do an amazing job of creating a fun, memorable night for their students and peers. While it was expected that Senior Prom would most likely be considered “better,” since it is one of the final big events before graduation, Junior Prom came in a close second!
