Students invest their time, money and energy on Prom: the event that consumes an entire day of planning. Despite Panthers’ varied preparation methods, all Prom-attending students– prom queens, singles, juniors– share a similar expectation.

Attending prom with Eric Wollman, senior Seana Mendez is running for Prom Queen. Also her boyfriend, Wollman is running for a Prom King. “I’m still trying to convince him to match his tie with my dress,” Mendez said.

Mendez plans to match Wollman’s tie with her dress, and, along with her transportation, nails, hair and shoes, prom will cost her over $580: the same price as 20 black JanSport backpacks.

Even though she holds a spot in the Prom court, Seana Mendez feels almost no additional pressure to keep up her appearance.

“I might go all out with my hair style, mainly because of the special occasion, but besides that I will get ready the same way,” Mendez said.

Senior Clark Rosen does not currently have a boyfriend, but chose to attend Prom with a close friend. Rosen expects to “go crazy” with his best friend, Skyler Archer.

“Even though we’re going as best friends, we are going to joke around and I might get her a corsage,” Rosen said.

By using his own tuxedo and shoes, Rosen anticipates to spend $70 on his transportation and corsage for Archer.

“I’m very relieved that I’m spending hardly anything for Prom,” Rosen said. “Maybe I’ll use the extra bucks on my girl Archer!”

Of the 800 seniors at Palmetto, many do not enjoy relationships or going with a “date” and choose to enjoy prom alone.

“I don’t do monogamy. I fly solo,” Dasha Munoz said. “I’m getting my prom dress, my nails done, and my hair styled; I’m going to bring my A-game and I’m going to have an awesome time.”

Regardless of whether students look forward to the Prom court elections, the food or the deejay, regardless of whether students desire to attend Prom to “joke around” or bring their “A-game,” everyone has a similar goal in mind.

“Whatever happens at prom,” Munoz said, “I just want to have fun.”