As homecoming gets closer, finding a date can become one of the most stressful parts of the event for some students. Beyond choosing an outfit, students may worry about who to ask, how to ask them and what will happen if they are rejected. Seeing classmates post their homecoming plans and dates on social media can add to the pressure, while others may feel pressured to say yes to someone they do not like because they do not want to hurt that person’s feelings.
“Being asked by someone I don’t like would make me feel like I have to say yes, because I wouldn’t want to hurt their feelings or make them feel bad,” freshman Hannah Stinchfield said.
While some students feel stressed about finding a date to the dance, other students get stressed about asking someone to be their date. Fear of rejection and the pressure to create the perfect invitation can make asking someone a bigger decision than it needs to be. Students may feel the need to make their proposal memorable so the person they are asking will be impressed by the effort.
“I want to impress the person I’m asking and want them to see the effort because if I show effort they’re more likely to say yes than no,’’ freshman AJ Simpson said.
Adding to the pressure of creating the perfect proposal, social media can add more tension to students’ expectations of finding a date. Seeing people get asked or showing off their homecoming dates can make some students feel pressured to find someone quickly so they can experience the same thing.
“It makes me want to have a date even more and have a cute poster,” Stinchfield said.
However, others believe that social media can actually make asking and finding a date easier.
“It [social media] gives me ideas of the proposal and maybe what the other person would like, like in their repost,” Simpson said.
Picking out the perfect homecoming dress can be stressful because there are so many different choices and expectations. Students may feel pressured to stand out while still matching their personal style.
“Finding the perfect dress means a lot, because I just want everything to be perfect for the day,” freshman Genesis Kimble said.
With trends and social media influencing what people wear, finding a dress that feels unique makes the decision even harder. The pressure to look perfect and stand out can turn a highlight of homecoming into a burden.
“A lot of people say I’m best dressed in the grade, and I want to keep and maintain that title,” Kimble said.
With the pressure of finding a homecoming date, the perfect outfit or making the perfect invitation, homecoming can be stressful before it even begins. Even if finding the perfect date adds to the stress of homecoming, students should have confidence and take the initiative to invite someone.
“Shoot your shot, you only live once and it’s better to take the shot and get rejected than live with the regret of not asking, because they could have said yes and you’ll never know,” Simpson said.
