UK Aspies - did you to go your year 11 prom?

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Being so we only got one chance to go to a school prom in our whole school experience (except maybe in sixth form as well), going to the prom at the end of year 11 was a big deal and also quite daunting for everyone, as well as overwhelmingly exciting.
I didn't actually go to my prom, even though my teacher encouraged me to go, but I refused. I was depressed and lonely and my schoolfriends were bullying me at the time, so I didn't feel in a good frame of mind. Also my mum couldn't afford to buy a prom dress and I didn't want to go looking too plain while all the other girls were dressed beautifully like Disney princesses in their long prom dresses. I know my mum would have somehow bought me a prom dress if I really wanted to go, but I didn't want to and I have never regretted it.

In the UK we're not under pressure to have to have a prom date. More kids didn't have prom dates than did, but having a group of friends to go with and arrange rides there and back with was important, and I felt like nobody would talk to me if I did go, just like they didn't usually talk to me in school.

I know a few Aspies that are 16 now and are going to their year 11 proms. I admire their courage. Did you go to your year 11 prom, or did you wimp out like me?

My grandfather killed himself on my sixteenth birthday just before the prom, so I wimped out.

I went to my senior prom because my parents expected me to. I didn't know anyone. Students had to pre-plan table seating arrangements with 6-8 people per table. I wasn't included anywhere so I was on the list of "leftover" people who didn't have a table group. All the leftovers got put together. It was depressing af because even the leftovers knew each other and had stories or memories to talk about. I sat there stone faced not even recognising anyone. Most of them asked what my name was because they'd never seen me before. I left asap.

Prom wasn't even a thing except in American films when I was 16. I would have gone through and hung out with all the other single boys.

I would have talked to you.
I almost said I would have danced with you, but I doubt you're the dancing type.

Maybe we could have made a run for the smoking area. ^

This is all starting to sound like Pretty in Pink.

I went to my year 11 prom but I can't remember much about it which is weird because I normally remember a lot.

I remember hiring a dinner jacket.

I remember it was in a big stately home somewhere and it had big grounds because I left and went off for a walk on my own at some point. I'd quite like to know where that was now.

We didn't have 'dates'. That wasn't really a thing.

I dont remember dancing with anyone. Or dancing at all. There must have been dancing though, what else are you going to do at a prom?

I can't actually remember anyone I know being there!

Thinking about it, I often don't recognise people out of context so it may be that because it was a load of people I was used to seeing in school and in school uniform, seeing them in an unfamiliar place in weird dresses and suits, maybe my brain filed them under 'strangers' and that's why I don't remember much about it.

I think 'proms' only became a feature of UK life in the 21st Century. They certainly didn't exist when I was at school or for many years thereafter.

Other traditions that we've adopted from the USA in recent years are Hallowe'en and the ludicrous 'Black Friday'.

All probably inevitable since the television age arrived, and we began importing all sorts of American shows and attitudes. This reached one of its many low points in the 1970s, when a flood of US cop shows invaded our screens, like Kojak, Cannon, Hawaii 5-0, Starsky and Hutch, Ironside, Columbo, etc.

Not from the UK -- proms exists here; and attending it twice; during K to 10 era: one at 2nd year high school (equivalent to grade 8/9, around ages 14~) and one at 2nd year college level (equivalent to grade 12, around ages 18~ or less).

It can happen at the same time, in between those years or not. Depending at the school.

I did attended both times.

And literally did nothing.

I just fell asleep on it.
With whatever fancy dress and shoes I've been wearing, in a middle of whatever music and lights that was being blasted at the time.

At those times, I've talked to no one and just slept on whatever table I was assigned, ate, then leave.
Too bad I won a raffle prizes but I wasn't there to receive it.

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I didn't go to mine. My parents had booked a holiday at that time. They offered to move the holiday to later in the month, so that I could go to Prom. I said absolutely not. Why would I want to hang out, in a barn, with a bunch of people when they don't like me and I don't like them? Nah. I'll have the holiday instead. By the time Prom was mentioned I was just...mentally done with secondary. I'd had enough of it. Doodled in my school planner was a countdown to the end of the school year.

When I was able to finally leave secondary school; I pretty much ran and didn't look back.

No.

I'm pretty sure my year group was the first one to have a prom at my school. This was back in 2007 and proms were quite a new thing here back then.

It was going to cost £30, and I really didn't want to spend £30 to be stuck for a whole evening with a load of people who I don't like.