Last year the Homecoming Dance felt like a coming of age marker that I flew through,  but I would like to reflect upon some of the lasting effects. In my previous article “Freshman Fears: Homecoming Dance” I explained that, yes, homecoming proposes many struggles such as dress shopping, late orders, and not necessarily winning the water bottle flipping competitions in the lobby. Despite all this, it was an experience I believe all Freshmen should attend and should be excited for.

If I am completely honest, which I strive to be, I didn’t actually go to the dance per se this year. I worked the fundraiser for most of the night for Student Senate, but I saw faces everywhere split by smiles.

Again this year I struggled with dress shopping more than I should, but I believe this is completely due to my own lack of love towards it. It all began by going to one of my favorite stores in Wilton Mall called Francesca’s, which I always recommend to anyone who is willing to look for fresh, free flowing clothes and trinkets off the beaten path. The whole store is smaller than my kitchen, but is packed floor to ceiling with new shipments and clearance items any millennial would die for. I entered the store with three friends, two adults, and five smiles, but I left with two friends with gorgeous dresses, two adults, and one huge panicky ball of self consciousness that I don’t want to feel again.

Girls being girls have always been self conscious about their bodies because they may have not fit the stereotype they thought meant beautiful. I have always wanted to break these stereotypes and expectations for women because all of us are beautiful inside and out, we just need to find our own way in which to express it. Despite all this though, I fell straight into the trap because every single dress I tried on didn’t fit me. I have went to this store for years and this was the first time this size didn’t work for me and I felt horrible about my body. My friends kept wanting to see what I tried on and I just couldn’t show them because I was so embarrassed. Even though the dresses didn’t fit I happened not to leave empty handed, the store still had amazing shirts.

I ended up shopping from my own closet and finding an older jumpsuit I had found at Target and decided it would work perfectly. I then spent the next week in Mrs.Kinne’s room hemming the legs and I cannot thank her enough for all she has done for me. So everyone, please give her a hug for me when you see her next!

By the Friday of Homecoming I had went to all my classes, a pep rally, two soccer practices, and was at my house getting ready with three of my friends and two of their parents and rushing out the door to get back to school in time to set up the dance. Truthfully my goal of the night was to make the dance as special as it could be for all the attendees and was running back and forth in my heels (and then later my hi-top sneakers). I carried water bottle cases, sat at the DJ booth, worked the voting booth, was part of the group that helped announce the Homecoming Royalty, and then helped clean up by taking down lights, shoving water bottles in trash cans, and by attempting to jump up and take down decorations.

Everyone I talked to and took photos with were absolutely stunning and had a fantastic time. Much of the crowd enjoyed the music of the night played by our new Student Senate DJ, Ken Hay, and appreciated the time that was put into the seasonal crowns made by my fellow Student Senate members. Many of the students attending had such a good time they hung back saying goodbyes and giving compliments to their peers showing how close knit Galway is as a community. However, Homecoming did not end there, it was only the first night of the Homecoming Weekend. So as Shakespeare once said,

“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.”