The graduating class of 2024 had their Senior Ball Apr. 27, a month preceding their long-awaited graduation from Oakmont High School.
This year’s theme was “The Great Gatsby,” which entailed sequined dresses, gold accents, and a mysterious aesthetic. There are 396 seniors in the 2024 class, and the majority of them chose to attend.
Preparations
Senior prom has long been an American tradition, and is often deemed crucial to the teenage experience.
Many preparations were underway in the weeks leading up to the ball, from dress and suit shopping to making hair and makeup appointments.
Senior Priya Bains claimed that after going back and forth between multiple dresses, she selectively chose to wear a sequined purple dress with matching jewelry.
“I’m wearing a light purple dress that has sequins on it, so it’s shiny, and I got some jewelry that has a similar shine to it,” Bains said. “I’m [also] gonna get my hair done.”
Many also made plans with friends in advance, with 2024 senior valedictorian Julia Whang claiming that as well as previously purchasing a red dress, she had also made plans to get dinner with her IB community.
“… I am going with my friends,” Whang said. “I have … a group of friends in IB that I am going to dinner with and then going to prom with.”
Some people, however, were not as adamant about their Senior Ball regiment. Senior Seivien Ruiz, claimed he was indifferent about attending Saturday’s event.
Ruiz was not making an extensive effort to prepare, but said that he bought a suit and purple tie to sport, and sometimes practiced dancing with his date.
“I do practice dancing in my room sometimes with Goji, but we’re really bad,” Ruiz said.
The eve of Senior Ball saw leadership students standing in front of the school as fellow students pulled in, requesting that they honk their car horns. This has long been a tradition at Oakmont High School to commemorate major events, like Homecoming and Junior Prom.
Many seniors also chose to wear their class shirts, which are tie-dyed blue and white to replicate their assigned class colors.
Before this, the Senior Ball Royalty Court was deciphered by the Oakmont student body, and ultimately included Jalen Bennett, Luke Scott, Cooper Hicks, Kira Mason, Nick Peterson, and Triston Timmons.
The forthcoming of 2024 prom was greatly recognized at Oakmont, and understandably so given students like Priya Bains’ long-time anticipation of attending.
“I have been waiting for it all year, and it seems weird that it’s so soon, but I’m excited,” Bains said.
The Ball
Oakmont’s prom has annually occurred at The Ridge Golf Club, in Auburn. This year, it occurred from 6-10pm, with the seniors first attending a provided dinner, then taking to the dance floor for the remaining duration of the night.
Most also chose to take photos beforehand in a pavilion overlooking the golf course. But, their anticipation to finally take to the night was brewing. Seniors began lining up at 5:45 while excitedly conversing with friends and fellow attendees.
While in line, senior Taylin Presley was eager to go inside after taking photos.
“I’m feeling very excited,” Presley said. “It’s our last big dance, so I’m really happy.”
Some seniors were willing to get a little messy to properly celebrate the conclusion of their long, and sometimes harrowing, high school experience.
Following the dance, Ruiz claimed to have seen an Oakmont student energetically singing “My Way” when leaving the event 20 minutes early.
“When I was walking out, there was one guy singing ‘My Way’ in the parking lot,” Ruiz said.
Additionally, a lucky group of seniors pulled up to prom in a white limo, and another group was dropped off in a black one.
Behind the dance floor, there was also a photo booth where many chose to commemorate the night in physical form, as their candid photos were printed for a lifetime of safekeeping.
Memories
The ball not only serves as an event for seniors to go to, but an opportunity to make lifelong memories.
Senior Elias Hann, said they had two favorite memories from the night.
“…When I was on the dance floor, I wasn’t on it very much… [it] was fun to dance and hang out with my friends,” Hann said.
Hann cherishes the pictures they took in the photobooth being the final ones they will attain in high school. They had garnered photobooth pictures from all dances at Oakmont High School, including Junior Prom and Homecoming.
“One of them [favorite memories] was the photo booth,” Hann said. “I have a collection of photo strips from all the different dances, photos of all my friends, so I really like collecting them, so it was kind of like one last ‘photobooth photo.’”
For now, it’s memories like these that will remind seniors of their brief time away from fleeing the school life they have known for 12 years. As graduation approaches, many are taking the time to soak in the good they have acquired at Oakmont High School, and even before that.
Bains expressed that she often reflects on childhood memories as she moves nearer to graduating, as the time left to spend with close friends dwindles.
“I’m feeling excited, nervous and a little bit sad,” Bains said. “I’m excited to move on to something new in life, but I’m also nervous about what that brings…[in] college. It might be really stressful having to meet all new people, and I’m sad because I won’t be with my friends anymore because I’ve been with them since middle school.”
Childhood is regarded as the only period in which a person can live freely without repercussions. It’s also a time in which one lacks real responsibility. Now more than ever, it is imperative that the class of 2024 takes the time to appreciate all that childhood has provided for them while taking advantage of what they have left.
And as the school year comes to a close, may they think back to their best memories and find them reflected in the time between Kindergarten orientation, to 8th grade promotion, to senior ball.
