For quite some time now, there has been an ongoing debate between students about whether or not it’s best to go solo to prom, arguing that there’s too much pressure with trying to find the perfect date. Going alone, they say, creates less pressure to try and impress your date, and you won’t be tied down to one person the whole night.

This argument is misleading. Sure, there may be pressure in trying to the find the perfect date, but personally, there is much more pressure in trying to find the perfect outfit. And who cares about stressing yourself out over impressing your date? The only person you should be trying to impress is yourself. If you feel like you’re being tied down to one person the whole night, that’s a personal problem. You either just chose the wrong date or you need to let your date know there are other people you’d like to spend time with. Going with a date to prom, whether it’s just a friend or a crush, gives the whole experience so much more excitement and joy. You’ll have someone else to enjoy the night with, a consistent dance partner, and someone to take pictures with in your best dressed that you can always look back on.

While norms have shifted, prom still compels students to stick to society’s traditional gender roles; the boys ask girls, which is another reason why so many girls decide to go solo. Every year on social media we see promposals gone viral all acted out by male students; this is the perfect opportunity to break those norms. We live in a very different age from the one in which those norms began. I say if any girl is thinking about asking a guy to prom, they should go for it. Girls should not be afraid to take charge sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with making the first move.

Prom is a night that everyone deserves to enjoy. Whether you feel more comfortable or with a group of friends, alone, or with a date it is completely your choice.