This is it, the night that thousands of teens across America look forward to all 4 years of their high school career. The night most teenagers refer to as being “the most magical night of the year.” Anyone would be crazy not to go. . . or would they be?

Why is it almost an obligation to go to your senior prom? When you really think about it, it’s only a regular high school dance, on steroids.

Yes, it is a night where the senior class can get together one last time before graduation, and yes it is a night for the scrapbooks that will be stowed away, only to be reopened in 20 years.

But there are many other ways to gather and create those crazy fun memories. Teenagers do it all the time. Aren’t we known for living in the moment, and making those last seconds count?

Instead of spending over $500 on all of the “necessities” for a typical prom night, get a group of non-prom goers together, and have the ultimate movie night.

Split the costs, rent a projector, choose some all-time favorites (as well as some new), and host a night in your backyard. Everybody likes Hollywood thrillers and fattening snacks, make the night your own.

Another fun idea, that involves food, is a road trip; but not some any old road trip. Take a giant map of Florida and check out all of the interesting places that you can go to. Write the names on slips of papers, and pull them out of a hat. There you go, your own mini road trip.

All you’ll need is a car, your friends, and of course a camera (just like everything else from the 70’s, Polaroids are coming back into style).

An ever so popular idea, that involves a car, and never grows old… go to an amusement park for the day. Most proms are held on Saturdays, so instead of spraying on a fake tan, and stressing about a hairstyle that’ll be a frizzy mess in 5 hours, plan to go somewhere fun and just let loose.

(Besides going to see Mickey Mouse is always exciting, no matter how old you are.)

In all honesty, it really is not weird to not go to prom. All that money can be spent doing something else, something just as fun, possibly even more.

As long as you’re with people that you can tolerate, that’s all that really matters in life. Prom is just another night.