It’s that time of year again! Homecoming season. Schoolwide, students look forward to all the festivities the week of homecoming brings – especially the annual dance. Although the dance can be exciting and fun, it can also bring a lot of stress and anxiety for all of us. Whether you’re trying to find a date or figuring out how to ask someone, it’s easy to get caught up in what you’re supposed to do instead of what you want to do.

The most important thing for anyone to know is that you should do what you want to do – if you want to go to the dance with friends, then go with your friends! If you want to go to the dance with a date, then go with a date! If you don’t want to go to the dance at all and want to have a chill movie night, then do that instead! Do what makes you excited to think about and eager for the night.

If you do plan to attend homecoming, don’t wait until the last minute to plan out your night. Although you might think you have two more weeks, the time will fly by. The sooner you plan, the more stress-free and fun the night will be. Work with whoever you’re going with and make sure everyone’s voice is heard when planning. There is no need for drama!

A part of planning the night is planning on who you’re going with. Choosing to go with a date can be fun, but also nerve-racking. To make this process less scary, it is helpful to talk to your potential date before you decide to ask them. The worst thing is when someone rejects another because they were unaware that they were going to be asked. Both date goers should mutually decide to go together!

However, if you do happen to get into an uncomfortable situation where you choose to turn down someone as a date, make sure to be aware of the situation and put yourself in the other person’s shoes. It is entirely okay to turn someone down but do it politely and respectfully. The person who asked you most likely put a lot of effort into their ask and you should be flattered no matter what!

When it comes down to the night of the dance, approach everything with a fun and excited attitude! Pictures, dinner and the dance will only be awkward if you make it awkward. Having positive energy will become contagious, and it will make all the experiences of homecoming that much better!