by Cuahutemoc Solorzano

St. John Bosco seniors just had their last school dance of the year! The class of 2025’s prom was a spectacular night with an unexpected but welcomed surprise. 

According to St. Joseph’s Senior Treasurer Julia Gisel, this prom was held at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach Hotel, which was chosen because it has areas separated from each other. 

“Our board didn’t want a venue that was too far, and one of the things we were looking for was a divided space. We wanted areas divided so that people could actually talk away from the dance floor or hang around the drinks,” said Julia. 

More so, this venue was previously used for a Mother-Daughter brunch hosted by St. Joseph’s High School. Though, prom might’ve taken place in an entirely different venue. 

“We considered doing the venue at the Queen Mary, but the ceiling inside of it was about 6 feet, and we didn’t like it since people wouldn’t be able to jump on the dance floor, especially for taller people,” said Julia.

They venue, in the end, was well-received by attendees, who experienced a night to remember.

“My prom experience was a 10 out of 10 – I had a lot of fun. The food’s really good and the venue’s beautiful, but an elegant kind of beautiful,” said St. Joseph’s senior Maerix Hernandez.

The lights within the venue were strung in waves throughout the entire ceiling and created a calm atmosphere during the prom dinner, according to Maerix, while the young men at Bosco appreciated the food.

“This prom is really good. I’m having a great time with my friends, and the food is really good,” said Bosco senior Elijah Sanchez.

The dance floor was wide enough for everyone to dance at the same time, and let students dance whilst surrounded by those they’ve known for the past four years, providing a sense of closure for some individuals, according to SJ senior Jolynn Hallum. SJ seniors Sofia Castro and Saydee Morales shared that sentiment.

“I would give my prom experience a 7 out of 10. A lot of work and thought were put into it, but I feel like the music wasn’t taking into account the students’ choices. But it added to the overall classic bittersweet prom experience for me,” said Sofia.

“Being able to enjoy my last dance with my best friends is so special, and it’s already memorable,” said SJ senior Saydee. 

Prom was, for the most part, a great experience for many SJ and SJB students. 

Something extremely special occurred at the end of the dance, according to Jolynn Hallum. 

“I really liked [at the end] when we held hands and danced around in a circle together. I liked how when the DJ played ‘Party in the USA.’ All of my friends sang the SJ version of it; it was really cute.”

SJ and Bosco students gathered around in a circle with arms interlinked as they danced to the last few songs of the night, while Elijah Farris and Jacquelyn Reyes were crowned 2025 Prom King and Queen.