The lights flash across the dance floor as I looked up and saw one of my friends on someone’s shoulders. Many adults would have thought there was a seventh grade bat-mitzvah going on at Staples High School on May 14, 2016, but it would turn out to be junior prom.

It’s the day many have been waiting for since they saw Cady Heron in “Mean Girls” win prom queen. A mixture of nervousness and excitement barely begin to describe the feelings I still get when someone talks about prom. I loved every second of that stressful yet special day. My junior prom experience went something like this.

I woke up early, probably around 8:30 a.m. Nothing had even happened yet. No hair, no makeup, no dress, yet I already had the jitters. So, I turned on my favorite Timeflies song, and tested out all of my dance moves I was going to impress my classmates with later that night on the dance floor.

Circa 12:30 p.m.: Hair. Oh, what to do with it? Straight, curly or blown out? Just too many options. I decided to go curly.

After the hair appointment it was time for makeup. That was the hardest part of all. I had to make sure that the eyeshadow looked good with my dress, and that the eyeliner was not too much. Not to mention my mom was sitting right next to me the whole time, making comments as the makeup lady was applying foundation on my face.

Wait. I was wrong about the makeup being the hardest part. Finally getting the courage to put the four-inch high heels on my feet was the hardest part. But makeup was tough, too.

As I sat around waiting to get my makeup done, I watched all of my friends turn into the princesses. In that moment, I thought, “This is it. This is my junior prom.” A smile crossed my face as I giggled seeing my friend’s dad taking pictures of her when only one eye was all dolled up with makeup.

As we lined up to take prom pictures, it all dawned on me that these were the girls who will be standing next to me when I am handed to my diploma. The feeling of nostalgia rushed over me as I realized that I’ve only got a year left with my classmates, especially my friends. In a year we will all know where we will be attending college. The thought of that scared me, yet excited me.

I might not be senior yet, and I might just be starting the college process, but as I stood there next to my best friends taking pictures, posing with “attitude,” I realized this was what I had been waiting for for so long, and it was finally happening. I was eager and ready to being my night.

The junior prom had a theme of “Under the Sea” and there were tables draped with light blue tablecloths with conch looking shells and netting dangled over the side that resembled fishing net. The DJ, the food that nobody touches and the awkward yet lovable theme become one snapshot in my brain that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Although it was clear that every single girl’s feet were numb from wearing pointy, high-heel shoes, most people were excited to shake their tail feathers and show the rest of the grade what dance moves they had up their sleeves.

On the dance floor, groups of kids crowded around as a student in a top hat and applauded him on as he kicked his legs. Friends grabbed each other’s hands and spun in circles as music from 2009 blasted through the speakers.

But for me, there was more to this night than just the dancing..

As the rainbow filled the room, I took my friends’ hands in mine, rushed to the dance floor and requested the song “I Choose U” by Timeflies, which of course nobody knew the words to.

The words, “ And I choose u-u-u-u-u-u,” filled the tent, and I looked at my friends and thought “I choose u guys to finish high school with.”