Christopher McCandless - Kingswood Oxford & Senior Prom

     Click. Flash. Click. Flash. The pops and snaps of all of the cameras filled my head, as I made my way across the Senior Green. It's prom night and everyone is hustling and bustling to get the perfect photos with their friends, families and even teachers. All the girls sparkled in their seemingly flawless outfits that consisted of sequined, expensive gowns that were paired with dazzling, eye-catching accessories. Hidden beneath all of their makeup and their costly attire, you could tell these young women had a lot on their mind. Why is her dress so much prettier than mine? Where's my date? It was definitely worth the 5 hour-long process to get my hair, nails, and makeup done; I look great! These stilettos really kill, I'm really glad I decided to bring a back-up pair of flats for comfort. I need to get a picture with so-and-so for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. The boys, who weren't as enthusiastic as the girls, still managed to look very dapper and sophisticated in their freshly-ironed suits, that were matched with several variations of dress shoes. 

     It was wonderful to see the excitement in their eyes and the smiles on their faces, but this whole concept just doesn't make sense to me. I just can't understand the perspective that claims that it is completely normal to be so materialistic and spend so much money on bourgeois items, just for one night. Granted, I'm definitely not one to spend money on such nonessentials, period, but it just all seems so pointless. I mean, we can all safely assume that these girls are probably never going to wear these flashy, extravagant dresses ever again, considering they'll probably "out grow them" mentally, and there probably won't be too many occasions where such attire would be deemed as appropriate. Why spend hundreds of dollars, period, let alone on something as trivial and shallow as an evening gown and a pair of heels, which aren't even comfortable to begin with? It all just seems fake to me. Honestly, I don't even want to be here. I just feel so out-of-place, so uncomfortable. I look very incongruous too, just look at me. Being that I was brought here against my free will, I didn't have the motivation in me, to force myself to fit the social norm of dressing up, and so I'm standing here in what would be considered, "the vagabond look," which features simple, extremely casual, worn-out, but comfortable garments. Hopefully one day, these naïve, young adults will soon realize that they can achieve happiness, without having to live with a shallow, materialistic state of mind.