The GUY Point of View:

Ryan Kinsella – As a guy, it can be hard to find a way to ask a girl to dance. Some people want to do the bare minimum; others want to go all out. Some genuinely don’t have a clue. Your proposal depends on who you’re asking and your guys’ relationship (for example, how do you ask a girl in a way that says “friend” and not “girlfriend”?) Never fear. Here are a few ways you can request a girl depending on your level of commitment, ranked from easiest to most difficult:

1. Ask politely: Who knows? It may work. But you’ll never know if you don’t ask. Try to avoid this method as it tends not to work. However, this is your best bet if you are short on time and need access to materials.
2. Get flowers: Girls love flowers. This technique, as easy as it is, is surprisingly effective. It won’t knock anyone off their feet, but a yes is almost guaranteed. Go to your nearest grocery store or flower shop, get a lovely bouquet ($5), and see step 1 for the next step.
3. Make a sign: It doesn’t have to be difficult but it takes time. Get a poster, some markers, or cut-out letters, and get creative. To spice it up, you can also tack on step 2 to this method, make a poster, and bring flowers. Maybe even throw in some candy if you think she’d like that.
4. Go to her house: DO NOT show up in a creepy way where you walk up wearing all black, trying to hide in the shadows. Instead, cutely, you make the poster, get the flowers, and do it privately. It’s more unique between you, AND you don’t have to risk experiencing public rejection. The only reason this one is as high on the list is that confidently walking up to the door holding a teddy bear and candy while awaiting her father to open the door requires a lot of courage.

If you apply one of these steps to your homecoming or prom proposal, you will get the girl of your dreams to agree to dance with you. If you still get rejected, there must be something wrong with the girl because you certainly are not the problem.

The GIRL Point of View:

Giuli DiGianntonio – Being a girl in the era of perfect Pinterest couples and excessively staged TikTok photos sets high expectations for what your relationship should look like. Seeing those pictures makes it seem easy to find someone willing to put effort into a sign as simple as “Homecoming?” It becomes every teenage girl’s dream. So, when you are likable enough to get a boyfriend, all those dreams are fated to come true. Instead of having your hopes and dreams crushed when a boy asks you with no effort or even not at all, you know that earning the title of “girlfriend” confirms there’s at least one person you can count on to ask you. At this point, it doesn’t matter how they ask- sign or no sign. But, for teenage girls, there are many other factors to consider. For example, we overthink (I can confirm). If my boyfriend doesn’t ask me to attend important events as a date- like homecoming or prom- I assume he doesn’t like me. This, of course, is most likely not true. However, men lie, so there is no proof of otherwise, and I will continue to think this way. But, if you are a boy or girl and are planning on asking someone, here is what I have gathered:

Could you put some thought into it? Think about their interests or hobbies. Do they play sports? What shows or movies do they like? What artists are they interested in?

For example, the sign I was asked with read, “Can ‘Just the Two of Us’ go to Hoco?” The movement is about my favorite song, “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers, a fact that he should know, considering he’s dating me. Incorporating little details can make your proposal more special and unique.

Timing. When are you going to ask? Where are you going to ask them? These things are essential to remember when thinking of how they will respond. Even if you have your sign in hand, it’s probably time to put that away for later if your date lost a big game. 

Remember, dating does NOT equal a date. Use these tips, and make sure your girlfriend knows she’s been asked to homecoming. You’ve got this. Good luck!

Giavanna Beatrice – A homecoming proposal, from a girl’s perspective, is one of the best parts of the ordeal. Only a little is needed – a cheesy poster and maybe even flowers and candy – yet many girls still get asked in poor ways. Coming from a girl who’s had her share of lousy homecoming proposals, there are ways to ask someone and not to. Let me explain what not to do:

From experience, one way to not ask someone is with a rock. Yes, a rock. You’d think this was common sense, but so did I until a boy asked me to homecoming and asked me with a stone he had picked up from the side of the road. He handed it to me and said, “It would rock my world if you went homecoming with me.” Credit is due to the simple fact he had come up with a phrase, but what teenage girl wants to get asked with a rock? Simultaneously, one of my friends got asked with a poster and got handed a mini volleyball (she plays volleyball). That, as you can imagine, felt awful. Since then, I have devoted my life to preventing more rocks from becoming objects of homecoming proposals. Here are some tips for a good homecoming proposal.

First, if you are making a poster, ensure we can read what it says. Black marker and messy handwriting do not scream effort. Add color, add pictures. It should not be “HOCO?” with nothing else on it. When a boy asks a girl to homecoming, it should be because he wants to ask, not as a joke or out of pity. It should not be with a rock with no writing on it that you find on the side of the road. It should be meaningful. Having a good homecoming proposal lets a girl know that she matters and that someone is willing to go with them. Whether it is a friend or a significant other, it matters to every girl. Every teenage girl, at least once in their life, wants to experience a good homecoming proposal. Making it rushed, unprepared, and messy will ruin an experience many little girls can’t wait for when they get to high school. 

If you’re a boy reading this article to ensure you don’t make these mistakes, put in about five minutes of effort, and you’ll be fine. Don’t use a rock if there’s one thing you take away. One simple gesture can mean the world to someone, and 9/10 times, the girl will say yes.