by Belinda Pertot

Created on: May 13, 2008

It doesn't matter how many movies you watch or how many times you ask someone what to do in the situation of asking someone to the prom, this is hard. You know it just comes down to asking someone. Straight up, right there, but hay, you can pick your time, your place and who is around. Just don't leave it too late, like I did. Never leave it too late or you will never know or that opportunity will just pass you buy and might not be there ever again.

How do we ask someone to the prom? This is not an easy task, especially for those of us that have never done this before. If you are a girl doing the asking, well, this is hard for any occasion, and especially one that is this important.

I do believe now, looking back to my days at school, that as you get older you see the ways in which it would have benefited you if you would have asked that special someone. This might be the scariest thing that you might feel as though you have to face in this early part of your life.

Confidence is truly needed and a lot of it. Dig deep for this one but don't expect a rejection. This may not happen. (Or it may) You might be quietly surprised at the result. Ten years after I graduated from my senior year I went to my High School Reunion. I approached a couple of those guys that you just thought were the cutest, the good looking guys (and still gorgeous) in the class and they let me in on some very interesting information. A couple of them had no idea that I like them at school and wanted to go to the prom with them. They said that I should have just asked. Confidence, I discovered later in life it can be more of a positive in these situations than a deterrent. These boys, now men, thought that I wouldn't even go to the prom. I was too shy and quiet and not out-going like the rest of the girls. This was not true. I just became shy and quiet like that when I was around those that on most days intimidated me. I think, that night, I realize now a lot about how I have changed and those boys gained the knowledge about how they were perceived back then.

It was great to turn back the clock and understand how they all felt but at the same time a bit sad that I will never know if any of them would have said yes. I wish I knew then what I do now. If I would have just asked, even if I got that disappointing no', at least I would have known. I would have grown from the experience and discovered that with each scary moment in life we become a better person on the other side. I also wouldn't be here17 years on wondering What if

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