Well, first, it’s not objectively relevant. Many high school-aged people (and some older, nostalgic people) are significant, but not all. It never occurred to me. I didn’t go to my prom or take any interest. If you’re not, that’s perfect. Nothing’s wrong with you. There’s nothing wrong with you if you’re interested. Prom is a major, fancy-dress dance party in most high schools in the U.S. and probably worldwide. There are normally two proms, one for juniors and one for seniors, and are held at school year’s end. Traditionally, kids go to the prom in pairs, e.g., a boy asks a girl to go with her to the prom, or the girl asks the boy. Some same-sex couples now attend proms. Sometimes kids go to the prom alone, but it’s usually a date night. Depending on how typical a prom is, all kinds of traditions are part of it. Asking for a date (or agreeing to be a date), choosing a dress or tux, going to the date house to pick it up (or be picked up), pinning a corsage, posing for photographs, riding in a limo (for those who can afford it), crowning kings and queens, etc. For many reasons, it’s important to many people. Second, for many adolescents, the high school looks huge in their thoughts and emotions. Of course, it does: four years must be there every day (with some time off). Most have little “outside world” experience, so high school is almost all they know — or at least know well. So all about it seems incredibly significant. It’s sometimes sold as “cherry on the cake.” Yes, all this hard (often boring) work has to be done, but the payoff at the end is this huge, fun party! The prom is the main cause. People (students, teachers, and parents) talk about it year-round — or sometimes for years. To some extent, this is to make it a major, exciting event. It’s publicity, so everybody has something to be excited about. They added to this, a group. Many people enjoy the band. It’s much easier to get people pumped on a group than a science fair.