Every spring, teens across the nation come out of winter hibernation of not shaving their legs and only wearing sweatpants to become magical princes and princesses for one night.

Each prince and princess stresses over the idea of planning their perfect outfit, perfect date and how perfectly their perfect date will ask them. They worry about how their hair should look and whether someone else will show up to the grand ball wearing the same gown, but as magical and unattainable this night may sound, the truth is, it’s only prom.

As for someone who will have been to prom all four years of high school, this last round of dress shopping and hair planning has become trivial.

Each year I have had a different form of date whether it be a boyfriend, a fellow girlfriend, a guy that’s just a friend or, as for this year, just me.

No matter who I went with, how hard I searched for the “perfect dress” or tried to make everyone have the best night of our lives, every prom felt the same: disappointing.

Although this is not the prom’s fault, nor do I think it is mine, but rather it is Hollywood’s fault for displaying this night in “Pretty in Pink,” “Valley Girl,” “She’s All That” and more ‘80s films as one that will change your life forever.

But the sad truth is that it won’t, or rather that it shouldn’t.

Teens get this false sense of immortality on prom night because of the ideologies passed throughout the media. Either girls think it’s the night all of the guys will love her for her beauty and she will be swooned on the dance floor by “Mr. Right,” or guys will be thinking about getting laid and partying until the sun comes up. Both mindsets are ridiculous and will probably only lead to getting hurt.

Prom is just a night for students to dress up, take pictures, have a nice dinner and spend the rest of the night dancing and listening to the limited genre of music played throughout the ballroom.

Whether you have the perfect hairstyle, just the right nail color or your favorite car will not matter ten years from now. When you look back on this night all you will remember is your dress/tux, the theme of the dance and the fun you have with your friends.