It's funny how words can make fools out of the best of people. Usually the one that first pops into people's minds is love, or maybe faith or religion. I discovered another last night: prom. 2010's Elmira District Secondary School graduates got together to celebrate the times they'd shared and the times ahead. Now, I know my fellow graduates and I know that few of us have a stellar reputation. I know I don't. Yet, I was still surprised at some of the things I saw. I've heard that people get drunk at prom, and I've heard about the dancing style that parents get nightmares about.
Well, I learned quickly, through trial and error, how to tell the drunk ones from the ones who are just nuts and having a good time. I also learned not to pay too much attention to couples who were dancing as a couple. I know many people at parties have dates, but when they're going out with their date, or they're one of the people who has a "f*** buddy"-for lack of a better term-and is planning on getting laid, you learn quickly to avert your eyes. Unless you happen to have arranged that particular couple, like many matchmaking ladies have done, or you're one of those people who get your kicks watching others make out or dry hump each other. The former, are ok. It's fine to be proud of yourself and your friends. The latter, I'm sorry, that's just weird.
Now, I'm not much of a dancer. In fact, the only time I've actually tried dancing was at prom. Lucky for me, I've been keeping my eyes open and have a bit of an idea of what I do and don't want to do when dancing. So I didn't make as much of a fool of myself as I expected. But then again, if my amateur guess is anything to go by, not many people there have danced more often than I have.
So, we have people drunk, others who may as well be in the bedroom, and those who don't know how to dance, doing their best to learn fast. Now, Elmira isn't the most sensible place ever, but we're all rather reserved. This being so, why are so many people acting so crazy?
My guess? The graduates of EDSS have been pushing themselves hard with courses since grade 10, and have always been striving to fit in to a clique, a club that expresses who they want to be. And on July 29, 2010 that group was straight out of Rock and Roll history.
For today's kids, the Rock and Roll era appears to be one of music, freedom of speech and opinion, and sex. Well, with Rock and Roll being this year's theme, that image seemed to fit. The music wasn't quite what your parents would tell you they grew up with, but it was certainly out there. The conversation was free and flowing, with a few friendly drunks to keep people talking and offer casual chatter. Standing with the different groups of teens, it wasn't hard to pick up opinions on music, class, university and college options, views on friends, couples and dancing styles. Tell you the truth, it was rather hilarious to listen to. As for the sex...well, it wasn't hard to find. If about three or more songs in a row had a steady, hard beat, then you could easily find couples glued together in one position or another. Grinding is a common dance move to this generation, and a lot of couples seem to enjoy it. No matter what their upbringing.
Maybe a bunch of people were just stressed out from all the projects and the workload. For others, relationships may have added to the strain, or perhaps the expectations of friends and family were the problem. Whatever the cause, the graduating class found more than enough ways to drop the stress and relax.
Friends, fools, drunks and those who I have never known, good luck with life, and maybe we'll all see each other at the next reunion.
