It is the highlight of the year for many high school students.
"I can't wait to dance," Ashley Saunders, a student at Independence High School, said, "and I can't wait to hang out with my friends after."
"It's senior prom," added Chris Nelson, a high school senior. "It's something you remember for the rest of your life, so hopefully a lot of good memories."
Chris Nelson hopes to make his senior prom one to remember, but faculty at Independence High School and first responders in Raleigh County want students to be around to share their memories the morning after.
"Maybe this will pop up in their mind as to what they saw here today, and it will help our students make healthier and wiser decisions and say no to drinking and driving," Assistant Principal Rick Shupe explained, "because we don't want to get up Saturday morning and read about one of our students in the paper that's been injured or killed."
Students witnessed a mock disaster Thursday, just a day before their prom night.
"We want to make our kids aware of the dangers of drinking and driving," continued Shupe. "And through our simulation today, they're going to see a student in the car that's been injured or hurt or killed."
It's a call no parent ever wants to receive, and that's why many students say they're making a promise not to drink alcohol on prom night.
"A lot of people, they tend to party on prom night, make some irrational decisions, so hopefully this sways them from doing such things that make very deadly consequences," Chris Nelson said.
Those consequences will follow students and their families long after prom night is over, but Assistant Principal Rick Shupe says the event was designed to help kids keep from driving under the influence at all times.
Prom for Independence High School kicks off at 8 p.m. Friday at Tamarack.
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