In the years leading up to it, prom seems like this magical concept. You get to dress up like a princess, you’ll have a great date, and the whole evening is just a delight.

To those who are having — or have had — this experience, good for you.

To everyone else: I get it. Oh boy, do I get it.

Both junior and senior year, I dreaded the time of year when prom-posals started flooding my SnapChat story feed and my few friends either wrote off prom as too cliche to care about, or were beyond excited because they had groups of their much cooler friends to go with and just couldn’t wait for the big night.

And I was alone.

But I still had myself.

If you don’t have a date to prom, there’s no rule that says you can’t take yourself to prom.

And why not?

If you take yourself, there will be no arguing over where to eat beforehand, what your corsage will look like, or any of the other arguments of this nature that arise between groups and couples.

It sounds intimidating to take yourself. I completely understand the feeling; I’ve been there before. However, I am very glad that I actually went.

It sounds cliche, but junior and senior prom are worth going to. Unless you become involved in greek life at college, this will probably be your only opportunity to get seriously dressed up and go dance the night away with your friends.

Speaking of friends — go with them!!

You don’t have to take a date to prom, but it could be fun to take some friends. That what I did both go-arounds, and I had a swell time at my high school proms.

But when I say went with friends, I mean I asked friends to let me tag along with their group.

Maybe you feel self-conscious about doing something like that, but there’s no reason not to ask for the things you want. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, as they say. Your friends won’t be offended. Most people are of the “The More, The Merrier” mentality and will be more than accommodating to your request.

Both years, I went with a group that consisted of the friend I asked to let me tag along, and people who were primarily complete strangers — and it was great!

My only regret about asking people to bring me to prom with them is that I never actually asked someone out.

I’m in college now, a much more confident person than the socially inept high schooler I was a year ago. I’ve since (successfully) asked guys out —which was not as scary as I thought it would be — and I wish I’d gotten up the nerve to ask the folks I had crushes on out while I was still in high school.

You only live once, so don’t waste this go around.

Go out!

Have fun!

Who knows, you might turn out to be the best date you ever had.