Mia Shields

Rose petals, signs and…an inflatable shark costume? This homecoming season, Miami Palmetto Senior High students got creative with their homecoming dance proposals. 

Homecoming originated on U.S. college campuses in the early 1900s, with alumni “coming home” to watch football games. However, since its origins, it has grown into so much more; MPSH is no exception to this trend. MPSH hosts a week of events and spirit days leading up to the anticipated Homecoming dance on Oct. 7. 

For those with dates, another tradition looms: the big ask. From signs to songs, the homecoming proposal has become a staple of the classic U.S. dance, prevalent in teen shows, movies and social media. 

Both homecoming and prom have been known to stir up unique ways for dates to ask each other to the dance, with some examples including scavenger hunts and flash mobs.

Senior couple Juan Galarza and Kate Markus exemplify the grand gesture of proposals. Galarza planned well in advance, curating the perfect couple moment. Marcus describes the lead up to the big surprise.

“Since the morning, [my friends] were telling me that we should go to the beach. But, I had a lot of homework to do, and I didn’t really want to go,” Markus said. “But [my friends] really wanted to go… so I had to. When we got to the beach, my boyfriend wasn’t answering his phone, so I thought he was mad at me.”

However, this was all part of a plan Galarza had been coordinating weeks in advance with all of his girlfriend’s close friends.

“When we were walking up to the path, I was literally telling my friend how I thought he was really mad at me, but then I saw him and a few of my other friends who helped him set up there with a big ‘hoco’ sign out on the sand. It was really nice and I was very surprised,” Markus said. “I definitely think everyone should do [dance proposals] in a cute way, especially their senior year.”

Senior Vance Schroeder made a splash with his in-school homecoming proposal during lunch, generating a crowd of onlookers as he asked his girlfriend Estefania Cerna to the big dance.

“ [Cerna and fellow activities office aides] were filming this video in Valero’s room and the lights were turned off…and then someone walks in and turns the light on. We were all super mad at first because we just needed to get it filmed. But then [Schroeder] walks in his shark costume with this army of phones behind him,” Cerna said. “Definitely make your [prom and homecoming proposals] niche to the person. It means a lot if they do something that is an inside joke or something they like.”

As for the meaning behind the shark costume, Schroeder had previously worn it for some other special high school moments, including Panther Prowl and Halloween. 

However, social media plays a large role in inspiring some of these unique ways of asking for a date. 

“I saw a video on TikTok and already [had] the costume, so it worked out well,” Schroeder said

Viral videos from high schools across the nation have been popular since the early 2000s.

“I think [the virality of dance proposals] is a good thing… It raises the bar,” Cerna said. “I’m the first person in my family to even go to a homecoming, so I think that social media also opened the door for me to know [the U.S. homecoming traditions] as well as for [those asking].”

Some may not opt for an extravagant homecoming proposal, preferring a one-on-one moment. 

“I’m all about the surprise and the pictures, but… some of my shyer friends would just die if someone proposed with all the phones in their face,” said Cerna.

But, suffice it to say the commotion of Homecoming dates has made the halls of MPSH buzz with excitement this past month.