Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Prom

My cousin, who is a high school senior, is said to be excited over an event taking place on the coming weekend – the JS Prom. I heard he wanted to get a tux but it turned out to be quite expensive and impractical since he was going to outgrow it within a year or two. He settled for the most common attire worn on a prom in the province – slacks, long sleeves, and tie.

I vaguely remember my own JS Prom in the mid-90s. It was one of my high school memories – and there are only a handful - that I’d rather have the Haitian erase from my brain. I would probably cringe when I stumble on a photo of a 15-year-old me wearing cream colored pants and a blue plaid long-sleeves that was a size bigger than my 100-lb frame. I was rail thin then with a serious inferiority complex.

To make matters worse, I was also selected to receive the “Book of Knowledge” from the senior class. That means writing a speech, committing it to memory, and speaking in front of around 400 students. That’s practically my nightmare right there – public speaking. I’m pretty sure my heart stopped for a split-second when my teachers relayed the news. I probably tried to decline but my teachers wouldn’t take no for an answer.

So I caved. I was the obedient student. I went up the stage on prom night, received the Holy Bible aka Book of Knowledge, and gave my speech. I remember dancing to a few songs with someone whose name and face escapes me now. I remember spending the rest of the night guarding the Bible like a hawk and restlessly checking my watch, waiting for the prom to end.

I guess if the JS Prom was held a year later - the prom back then was a bi-annual event - I would have jumped at the chance at making that speech. I would have danced more slow songs. I would have not sulked. I would have tried to mingle. And I would not be embarrassed to show a picture of me holding a mic on one hand and a Bible on the other.

24 comments:

gillboard said...

bible and js prom... parang may malaking disconnect... hehehe

Skron said...

I had fond memories of my JS Prom. Especially my senior prom because my band were allowed to play. We even played Metallica's "Sad But True" for our last song. It was crazy, people danced to it.

WCS Minor Circuit said...

Well, good thing you had a prom to remember. I went to a private Christian school and we didn't do anything like that. We had a winter and spring formal but they reeked of lame so my friends and I opted to go someplace else, which in and of itself wasn't that fun either.

Oman said...

its ok bro. nobody listens to, or in fact remember a speech during JS hehehe. there are probably hundreds of things in their mind that time :)

ok pa nga suot mo eh, nung JS ko hiniram ko lang amerikana na suot ko hehehe.

R. said...

Funny how my friends and I were just having our prom talk the other night in Twitter. Hehe. Prom talaga, mems! ☮.♥.☆

Visual Velocity said...

My JS Prom ranks as one of the most "argh" moments of my life. Bad hair, bad clothes — it couldn't get any worse, heheh

ShatterShards said...

If you're not part of the "beautiful ones" during high school (which I was not), JS Prom would probably be one of the most awkward moments of your life. We had one when I was a junior, and it is one of those times that I wish to forget. Thankfully, I wasn't required to make a speech, but then, it still was awkward. The JS Prom was removed when we were Seniors, though, and in its place was the Graduation Ball, which I didn't attend.

Eloisa said...

if we weren't one of the beautiful ones in high school, like shattershards called it, we will get there eventually. high five? :-p

Photo Cache said...

My school didn't have one - they used to in previous years. Something unsavory probably happened during the proms so when it was our turn, they shut it down. I really wished we had one :(

len said...

Because I'm an introvert, my JS prom was like a punishment. Thank God, I was able to go with the flow. :p

The Scud said...

gillboard, Catholic school kasi. akala ko nga encyclopedia or almanac ang Book of Knowledge. hehe.

The Scud said...

skron, cool. buti may live band sa prom niyo. sa amin wala ata. tapos sa school gym pa ang venue.

The Scud said...

wcs minor circuit, haha. no choice? i don't remember going out after the prom. i think i may have walked straight home right after.

The Scud said...

lawstude, sinabi mo pa. wala sila pakialam. but still. teenager pa kasi. hehe.

The Scud said...

russ, oo. it makes me feel old. nyahaha.

The Scud said...

andy, sobrang bad experience ba? i-blog mo. lol.

The Scud said...

shattershards, konti lang ata nag-eenjoy ng js prom. unless you're one of the cool guys which i was not. not yet. haha. kidding.

The Scud said...

sonia, read your post inspired by this blog. dito na lang ako mag-comment. you are born for public speaking. hanggang public writing na lang ako. haha.

The Scud said...

photo cache, napaisip ako bigla. would it have been better if there was no prom?

The Scud said...

len, punishment talaga ang term. haha. JS prom is part of growing up, methinks.

atticus said...

now i have a better definition of torture: a kid with raging hormones and inferiority complex, a bible in one hand and a glass of drink in the other, wearing clothes he really wouldn't wear if it were up to him.

thanks for making me relive my days as a teenager.

some teachers deserve to be tortured in return.

Raft3r said...

corny ang prom
pramis
hehe

The Scud said...

atticus, salamat. nag-prom ka ba? curious si scud. hehe.

The Scud said...

raft3r, sinabi mo pa. matutuwa lang sa prom ang mga magaganda at makikisig. haha.