The timing of prom has sparked a growing debate among the Saint Viator’s class of 2025. For the first three years of high school, underclassmen watch the senior class get excited about the big dance. Senior prom weekend is supposed to be exciting, not intimidating. This year’s seniors have an issue; prom weekend is the weekend before AP Exams. Instead of worrying about their picture group who’s driving who, many seniors will have anxiety about their exams beginning just a few days later. If the prom date stays the same, senior AP Students will struggle to find time to study over the weekend.
Saint Viator seniors enrolled in AP Biology face the biggest time crunch because their exam starts at 8:00 the Monday following their prom.
“I have my AP Bio test the Monday after prom weekend, and I am worried that it might be difficult to find time to study over the weekend,” said senior Emma Lamka. Some might say there’s an essay fix for Viator AP students: study for exams further in advance. The big issue here is not studying, it is prom weekend being tainted with test anxiety.
“I think prom should be a time for seniors to enjoy their last moments together as a class and the stress of studying for AP exams will get in the way of that. I’ve heard some seniors don’t even want to go to prom because they’re going to be too nervous about exams,” said senior Ellen Denten. Test anxiety is no stranger to high school students, now imagine the day you’ve anxiously anticipated since you entered high school is now an obstacle in your academic journey.
For many students, the excitement of prom is ruined with anxiety. While the senior class enjoys their final moments together, they will now need to find a way to balance their academic responsibilities and their social responsibilities. Ultimately, the overlap between prom and AP exams highlights a broader issue of how students are expected to manage stress and expectations. High school seniors are already under pressure, with college applications lurking for the first half of the year, Saint Viator seniors deserve a weekend of stress-free fun. Prom weekend needs to be moved to an earlier or later date. This would allow seniors to fully enjoy their night without having to worry about the academic consequences of attending a school-organized event. This solution ensures that prom remains a joyful, memorable event, rather than one filled with stress and anxiety. Until changes are made seniors at Saint Viator will continue to fight the issue.
“I feel like our prom is just interfering with my time trying to study for my AP exams. It’s really annoying how such an important school event is interfering with the most important test of our last year here,” said senior Nathan Sison. Although the clash between prom and AP exams may seem like a minor inconvenience in the eyes of administrators, for students it feels like the end of the world.
Saint Viator offers 21 AP courses and has even received recognition for their female diversity in AP Computer Science courses. Historically, Saint Viator students have excelled on the AP exams due to their hard work and incredible AP teachers. Students work hard all year and want to excel in their exams. However, given the poorly scheduled prom date by administrators, students are faced with the decision of sacrificing their prom celebration for one last study session. Saint Viator High School prides itself on high academic achievement and I cannot imagine administration jeopardizing their academic reputation instead of rescheduling prom.
In conclusion, the overlap between prom and AP exams creates an unnecessary burden on Saint Viator seniors. What should be a weekend of excitement and celebration is now filled with the stress of studying for important tests. Many students, instead of looking forward to one of the biggest events of their high school years, are left worrying about how they’ll manage to balance both. The anxiety about performing well on exams strips Prom of its carefree spirit, forcing seniors to make tough choices about their priorities. A simple decision, moving the date of prom, will allow students to enjoy their last moments together as a class without the added pressure of AP exams. This change would ensure that seniors can fully embrace the fun of prom weekend, creating memories that aren’t tainted by the fear of academic consequences. After all, prom should be a celebration, not another source of stress.