Picking out a prom dress or suit, finding a date and dancing the night away are core high school memories for many students, but for some the prom experience extends beyond their days as a high school student.
Paraprofessional Dave Thompson attended the junior and senior proms at Pickerington High School in 1975 and 1976. He explained they were memorable because of the fashion
trends of the time: bow ties, platform shoes and colorful patterns.
“I look back at those pictures, and I looked goofy,” Thompson said.
Other than the outfit choices, Thompson said his own prom experience was relatively uneventful. It was not until Thompson served as the Pickerington High School junior class adviser and planned prom for 27 years that he made the most memories, he explained.
Thompson said during his time in the role, the hardest obstacle in planning prom was deciding on a theme and gathering supplies for the theme.
“We always tried to tie the theme to a song,” Thompson said. “Trying to get 12 high school juniors to agree on a theme the entire school would like was the toughest part.”
Thompson explained he got to witness many exciting moments over the years, but said his favorite memory was when an assistant principal brought home leftovers from the prom’s
dinner.
“The kids had already eaten,” he said. “At the end of the night, an assistant principal I worked with reached under the table and brought out Tupperware containers. I thought that
was pretty funny to see an assistant principal taking prom food home.”
Overall, Thompson said he enjoyed the experience of planning prom with students and helping create a sweet moment for the kids.
“I had more fun as an adviser,” he explained. “I was planning someone’s high school memory, and I wanted to give them something they could remember.”
Published and digitized April 2026.
