An exclusive boys’ school guide to the prom

Prom etiquette for guys
ILLUSTRATION BY JUDEE ZABALA

For exclusive boys’ schools, prom season is a happy occasion to be in the company of girls. Other than the high school prom, guys get to interact with the opposite gender only at soirées.

While some guys choose to go stag at the prom, the majority, of course, would like to have a date.

Guys are understandably excited since this is an opportunity to get to know the girls in a more intimate manner and to create a good impression. Here then is a guide on how to treat your date on prom night.

1 Pick her up at her house. You should not expect her to meet you at the venue. Be a gentleman and go to her house (unless her parents  decide to bring her to the venue). Some parents set curfews, so if your date has one, make sure you bring her home on time. Sit with her in the car. Talk to her. Don’t make it an awkward silent trip to the prom.

2 Be mindful of your date. Remember that she is dressed formally, with heels, and it can be quite an effort to move around through a crowd. Offer to get her food and drinks. Even if she says she can manage, at least you did the right thing by offering.

3 Be yourself, contain your excitement. The best way to enjoy the prom is to be natural. Just be you, but a bit more refined. Almost everyone knows that in exclusive boys’ schools, students tend to be rowdy—but being yourself does not mean behaving like you’re having fun with your buddies on campus. Talk to your date as casually as you talk with your schoolmates, but be a gentleman.

4 Do not leave her. You see your classmates every day, so you don’t have to join them at the other tables. You asked your date to be your companion for the night, so give her the attention she deserves. Escort her to where she needs to go. If she needs to go to the restroom, wait outside and offer to carry her things.

5 Give her a token of your appreciation. The corsage is a traditional prom accessory, one of the essentials to give your date. Some schools give the boys something else to give their dates. While these things are fine, it is still nice to give other things, a gift that comes from your own effort. Your date has taken time from her own schedule to be with you at your high school prom. But your own token does not have to be material. A letter, a video or a song can be interesting. Let your creative juices flow.

Keep in mind that this is her night as much as it is yours. Have an enjoyable, worry-free prom night!

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