WOODBURY — As prom season approaches, juniors and seniors are getting prepped for the big event they’ve been waiting for ever since they entered high school. Along with the upperclassmen, a select few freshmen and sophomores have been invited via a guest ticket to go to prom. 

“I think that prom is mainly for the juniors and seniors, but if an underclassman happens to be invited as a date, I think that’s fine, but it is primarily for the upperclassmen,” Nonnewaug science teacher Josh Kornblut said.

The question is: Should underclassmen be getting as dressed up as upperclassmen, or should they save it for when they are older?

Tatum Kociszewski, a freshman going to prom with her junior date, decided not to spend as much money on her dress.

“[My dress] was free because my friend who went last year let me borrow her old one,” said Kociszewski.

Similarly, sophomore Charlotte Davis decided to find a budget-friendly alternative to the usually very expensive prom dresses.

“I got my dress for free at a used dress place,” said Davis.

But many upperclassmen, like junior Sophia Garguilo, went the extra mile for her junior prom.

“I am getting both my hair and nails done, and my dress was around $500,” said Garguilo.

Along with Garguilo, senior Ellie McDonald has prioritized preparing for prom, deciding how much to spend and what details to focus on. 

“My dress was $400, and I’m going somewhere to get my hair and nails done before prom,” says McDonald.

Some underclassmen believe their focus should be on saving money now and dressing up more when they are older. 

“I’m getting my nails done, which is expensive,” Kociszewski explained. “So, a less expensive dress just made sense. Plus, I want to go to an actual dress store for my prom.”