From left: Nick Blauch, Matt Griffin, Lucas Hickok, Nick George, Bin Han, and Jayme Davis pose for photos before the prom. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz) MORE PHOTOS
I had been dreading prom for a while. Before prom, I thought that I would much rather spend an evening out at the movies with my date than snapping pictures in the scorching sun, sitting in a ballroom, eating over-priced meals, dancing awkwardly in formal wear, and taking part in a tradition that has consistently made students feel awful for not finding dates in time. Also, I don’t think paying $130 for a tuxedo for one night was an expense worth the cost.
It’s not that I had particularly expected this prom to be worse than any previous year. If anything, I expected this prom to be much better simply due to the excellent venue choice at The International in Bolton. Still, something about prom has always made it a source of anxiety for me. High school proms have been depicted ceaselessly in movies and television as an essential rite of passage that all American teenagers must experience. As the vice president of my class, I felt as if I had a responsibility to ensure that it was a perfect night for not just my date, but for everyone in the Class of 2013.
I wasn’t expecting a fun evening.
A room transformed
After a long, drawn-out hour of excessive picture taking at Old Bromfield, I was ready to go to the International and see how well or poorly everything came together. Emerging from the entrance way, I was instantly taken aback. Although I had visited the venue several times before, I felt I was seeing the room for the first time, full of life, as the music and my fellow classmates poured into the venue.
An antique, jazz-age cut-out of a car and white daisy centerpieces subtly played to the event’s ‘Great Gatsby’ theme. The class president, Clara Wang, had requested that the DJ play music appropriate to the époque during the meal, and he accommodated as best he could by playing a mix of top 40 songs and “old” 2000s pop music.
A breathtaking view
Despite these minor imperfections, the rest of the evening just came together perfectly. Students spent their time eating well-prepared meals (chicken International, pasta primavera, or butter-seared salmon), making (still awkward) moves on the dance floor, or even taking pictures outside with a beautiful vista in the backdrop. The view from the venue was truly breathtaking, as a fountain in a small pond on the golf course was illuminated by a radiant ring of lights. The rolling hills highlighted a natural New England landscape that teenagers rarely find the time to appreciate during the school year.
I was wrong. My preconceived notions of prom were drowned out by my friends’ laughter, the sugary dessert, and the great energy in the room. My favorite teachers were all there, enjoying their food and doing teacher things. I actually had a swell time.
A quick change, then Wow!
After I left prom, I went home for a quick change before driving to Celebration. As I turned into 14 Mass. Ave., I wasn’t sure what to expect. At Bromfield, it is widely known that secrets are simply impossible to keep. Yet throughout the days preceding Celebration, I absolutely had no clue what the theme would be. The instant I saw the beaming search lights and the iconic Hollywood sign over the Cronin Auditorium, I slammed on my brakes in amazement. Wow.
There was so much attention to detail inside the school that my date said something that made me want to write this article. As a choice student at the Bromfield School, sophomore Sammy Reid had never experienced or heard of an event like Celebration. She told me, “This is nothing like what they do in Leominster. How did they pay for this? Where did they find the time for this? How did they do this?”
How did they do this?!
Throughout the rest of the night, I found myself asking the same questions. How unbelievable is it that Harvard parents and community members would set up a Hollywood-themed overnight event just to keep kids in a safe place on a night notorious for bad decisions? How did they do this?
Every corner of the space was completely tricked out, as the fishbowl was transformed perfectly into a scene from “Monsters Inc.,” and the gym lobby became a classy casino with bowtie-wearing poker dealers. There was a sea-themed “Finding Nemo” area and a “Chronicles of Narnia”-style hallway featuring snowy pine trees lining each side of the pathway. The “Austin Powers” and the “Titanic” sections perfectly matched each respective film. Every unique station sported a TV, playing the movie associated with the area. Even the urinals were decorated in a 007 Sean Connery style!
The endless prizes, moon bounce, over-sized twister game, popcorn, Italian ice, snack bar, omelets, waffles, magician, masseuses, movies, karaoke, and poker made the night truly spectacular. I had originally planned on leaving Celebration after a stroll around the decorations, but from the moment I stepped inside, I didn’t want to leave. I stayed till the clock struck 5 a.m., and my only regret was that I couldn’t be in every area at once, enjoying the complete one-day transformation of the school.
My only suggestion for the future would be to add more areas where students can catch some sleep. Although Celebration is filled with more than enough to do till 5 a.m., most students do become exhausted—likely from the constant sensations of awesome. Around 3:30 a.m., it became difficult to find places to take a quick nap, as students piled on the beanie bags in the “Finding Nemo” area and any other area with soft furniture. It was amusing to watch at first, but when I began getting very tired around 3 a.m., I found it a real nuisance.
Pay it forward
Ultimately, there is really no way that I can express my gratitude to the community for coming together every year to take on such a task. The decorations were incredible and there was always something to do—even at 4 a.m. I would not expect an event like Celebration to be successful without a great amount of time and energy from the entire community. The Harvard community has clearly exceeded that requirement in a way that makes me proud to say that I am a Bromfield student. The only way that we, as Bromfield students, can try to pay the community’s efforts forward is by remembering why such an event exists. Drive safely and don’t be stupid.
I hope to see the next Celebration event after my freshman year in college. Please, someone—take me as your date so I can stay the entire night. I already know the first thought that will come to my mind when I see it: How did they do this?
