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Go for it 

By Cody Sigmon  | Franklin County High School

Prom -- that time of the year when the air is full of pollen, flashing romances and anxious teens in clothes their mother had to help them into.

Sure, prom naysayers may be eager to share their thoughts on prom topics such as last-minute breakups, endless expenses, bad music and sweaty dance floors. But there are plenty of fun reasons why people choose to go to the prom. Here are a few:

• It's an excuse to pamper yourself. How often do you get to wear that tux/dress?

• You can make a fool of yourself on the dance floor, especially seniors. It doesn't matter. You graduate in a month.

• You can laugh about those who do make fools of themselves on the dance floor.

• It gives you the motivation to ask out that special someone who you never would have asked before.

• It's a great place to see all of your friends in one place at one time.

• Even if the music is bad, your waiter sucks or your date isn't into you, it's an irreplaceable experience that you will reflect on for years to come.

Skip it

By Madhura Chitnavis | Hidden Valley High School

Prom -- it's the night that juniors and seniors across the country have been waiting for, but is it really worth the wait?

With its heightened reputation, flashy themes, decorations, costs and great expectations from teens, prom is really and truly a recipe for a major letdown. Here are some reasons why:

• High costs. When you think of prom, the dress and the tuxedo always come to mind, but they are not the only costs. There are the tickets, which can range from $10 to $125 in schools nationwide; photo ops ($25 to $100); the rented transportation ($90 to $1,500); the hairstyling ($15 to $150); the accessories ($10 to $400); the tuxedo ($70 to $250) and, of course, the dress ($150 to $500).

• Brevity. What a lot of people don't realize is that, after everything, prom is just for one night.

• Finding a date. Unless you already have a boyfriend or girlfriend to go with, finding a date for prom can be really stressful. What's worse is that some high schools sell couples tickets only, so even if you do want to go it alone, you may have to pay twice as much.

• Timing. For the past few years, in our area, prom has been the day before or a few days away from Advanced Placement exams. Considering that prom can keep teens out late, it might not be a good idea to go to prom if you are preparing to take the AP exams.

• Stress. It's a major side effect of prom. Which dress should I wear? Who should I go with? Just remember, in 20 years, no one is going to remember who you go with or what you wear.

Overall, prom is just a highly publicized dance. In the end, the decision is up to you. Are all the stress and money associated with prom really worth one night?

www.usatoday.com contributed to this article.