Dear Senior Dinner Dance,

I’ve had three black dresses buried in the depths of my closet for months now; my indecisiveness wouldn’t allow me to embrace one until the night of. 

My mom seemed to be more excited than me, as she was on the committee and had been planning this event for months. But in reality, it’s because I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Obviously, I assumed there would be some dinner and some dancing, but that pretty much sums up my expectations.

When walking into Notos, the first thing that caught my eye was the stunning centerpieces. The flowers lined with silver and gold added so much elegance to the place—next to the white tablecloths and the gleaming dance floor. I saw my friends and how pretty they looked and admired how every girl there seemed to have a unique, black dress of their own that suited their personalities perfectly. Seeing everyone look so mature, so put-together, was, without a doubt, the highlight of the night.

Nat, Emma, and I made our way to the cheesy, glimmering gold photo booth with the enlarged “2022” above it to take some photos together—because somehow, someway, after months of being friends and fellow editors, we have yet to snap a genuine photo of us three to keep. Once that was checked off the list, I found a place for myself at a dazzling table in the center of the room so I could take it all in from the very middle. 

As I sipped my ice water out of my fancy, tall champagne glass, all of my worries were left outside Notos’ doors. And it was so refreshing to see that everyone else’s were too.

Now, I feel as close to my class as I ever have before. Last year, I knew half the people with who I have grown up with, and today, I am eager and confident in saying that that fact has changed. 

Having a nice dinner with my best friends was such a breath of fresh air. It was a necessary break from all of the college application chaos, and it was an opportunity to treat ourselves to a memorable night out. 

From being soaked in the rain at Senior Retreat in a hoodie and dirty tennis shoes, to slipping on my mom’s best pair of black heels and straightening my hair, the class of 2022 really knows how to clean up.

So aside from me losing the raffle, the night had some dinner, some dancing, and was everything I had hoped for and more.

– Avery