The Sadie Hawkins Dance brings an opportunity for girls to experience the feeling of asking that special someone to the dance. Instead of longing for that person to ask a girl to dance, girls take on the initiative. The reverse gender role also manifests the struggle that guys have to go through to simply ask their crush to the dance.

   We continue to carry on the fun custom that brings anxiety and hopefulness to those who choose to attend the dance; the Sadie Hawkins tradition has continued for 40 years since being adopted by universities across the United States. After having poor ticket sales in the first week, the Associated Student Body worked hard in promoting the dance. Girls soon began to develop an interest, and the Sadie’s proposals began.

   In the second week alone, sophomore Angie Park asked freshman Woo Han to Sadie’s. She created a poster and asked him in front of the JROTC room at school. In addition, junior Hannah Bustamante asked Cidney Marbella by creating a sign and baking cupcakes. Cidney had to either accept or reject by choosing a sweet cupcake or a bitter wasabi one, respectively. He chose the sweet one. Surprised, Cidney said, “ I didn’t know she was going to ask me, but I’m glad she did.”

   Even during the Van Nuys’ annual talent show, senior Krista Taduran bravely stood up on stage to ask her boyfriend, Anrae Reotutar, whom she had performed with that night, to the dance. The audience was able to feel their genuine affections for each other as the proposal concluded with a kiss.

   Finally, junior Ana Suatengco used her creativity to film a delightful video while holding up signs saying that, “Dance is the song of a body either of joy or pain. Would his answer [to the proposal] give me joy?” She then walked into the classroom to ask Martin Trinidad, renowned for his break dancing abilities, to Sadie’s. He shyly accepted while pulling her into an embrace.

   Events such as the Sadie Hawkins dance bring many memories that one cherishes and remember even after our years of high school are over. They help us to grow and to focus on our feelings and emotions – they give us an opportunity to experience something we may not be able to in the future.

—Henna Ali