Lights glisten all around and slowly the crowd of dressed up high schoolers walks into the ballroom surrounded by good music, dancing, and most importantly, holiday cheer.

Getting the chance to dress up is a treat. It’s not every day that you get to go out and find the perfect dress or tie to fit the event.

I looked forward to going out on a shopping trip with my mom every December to find the one dress for Winter Ball that puts a smile on my face. Not only do I miss our annual trip to the mall, but I also miss the day of the dance.

My mom loves getting involved in helping me get ready for the night. She always wanted to make sure my hair and makeup looked great. With me being the only girl of four children, she looks forward to events like these. Sadly there are very few events like Winter Ball left running at Algonquin.

Gathering with friends and family before the night began was special. Parents stare in awe of how beautiful or handsome their son or daughter looks. They make sure to take pictures of just about everything from EVERY angle possible. Although this can be annoying in the moment, you thank them after the fact for taking that picture of you and a good friend that wouldn’t have happened if they didn’t force it at the time.

Whole school events have decreased as my high school years have gone on. Events such as the Moon Dance under the stars and individual grades’ dances have stopped. Getting dressed up with friends and spending a night dancing, laughing, and celebrating just isn’t enough for some people. But for me and many others this is a great way to hangout with friends in a different way than usual.

Whole school dances are fun. Unfortunately Winter Ball, a tradition for many years, has been cancelled and I strongly believe it should be brought back. Students should have the opportunity to get dressed up and have a fun night spent with friends. Maybe future Winter Balls should not be the same as they were before but something very similar that can bring the school together in a fun, exciting way for everyone to celebrate the holidays.