INTO THE OCEAN DANCE IT OUT kiara gutierrez

Thoughts of new beginnings came to life as the junior year came to an end and sorrow about soon becoming a senior surfaced, but the year wasn’t quite done. Like in the movies, “the prom” was about to be the biggest and most electrifying event. Picking out the perfect dress, the music resonating in the bathroom while you curled your hair and put on makeup, the excitement radiating off the walls—it was magical, like something out of a dream. Junior prom led to that. My senior Kiara Gutierrez told me a story about her junior year and what her first prom was like. She said, “The thought of soon being able to attend my junior prom, was so exciting it was something I was waiting for. It was the first big school event to happen after COVID and after not seeing many people and being quarantined it all just felt very surreal. The prom took place in North Highlands, this was where the ballroom was for prom and I was with my 4 friends who I’m very close to now. I was wearing a long blue dress and tan heels. I was feeling pretty excited because this was the first one in about two years and although I didn’t go with a date I was happy to be there with friends. I specifically remember going to in n out after the dance and still hearing the ringing in my ears from the music and being the only ones dressed up fancy. This moment changed me because I realized that I hadn’t had stable friends that cared about me and I was finally feeling confident in myself about having eventful high school years” Kiara truly showed how after the pandemic prom was a tremendous blast.