Homecoming, the first dance of every year, might be the most dangerous event in high school, but rest assured, it’s not as ominous as it seems.

Homecoming in Edina is a big deal, so many students start out thinking that they have to spend tons of coin to have a good time. According to interviews, guys tend to spend between 200 and 400 bucks on the first year. This includes tickets, apparel, dinner, and transportation. Besides the money, interviews indicate a guy will spend about 1 hour getting ready for the dance and a month planning out.

The stress is high for guys. For most sophomores, Homecoming is probably the first time they will be asking a girl to be their date to a dance. The process of asking is full of questions: “Will she say yes?” “What if she already has a date?” “Does this mean I have to be interested in her, or can we just go as friends?” “What if I’m not asking her the right way?” All of this pressure may cause the gentleman to become a nervous wreck by the time he musters up enough courage to ask his lady.

For girls Homecoming is even more stressful than for boys. Senior Kelsey Burns commented, “The real stress is not wondering if you are going to get asked, it is the not knowing what’s the group’s plan until the last minute.”

This waiting is mainly due to guys setting up the groups for Homecoming. Guys tend to be less organized and slap together a group at the last second. This type of group selection results in a rag-tag group of girls connected to a group of guys who are all tight. The result can be some painfully awkward conversation.

Girls also have to go through the painstaking process of shelling out big bucks on the perfect look. Interviews showed that girls spend from $30 and $300 on “the look”, which includes a dress, hair, shoes, accessories, and makeup.

Still, the dance is well worth it. Jeff Solberg, a seasoned senior, believes that “the price tag might be a little inflated, but it is only one night of fun and great memories.”

Homecoming may cause a case of nerves but, this dance only happens three times during high school, so why miss out?  According to senior Danny Lenselink, the stress only occurs “before asking your date, afterwards, let the good times roll!”