The Prom King

High school is never-ending. It gestates long after students step out of the hallowed halls of intermediate education. To them, voting people into office - for instance - is no better than a popularity contest, any more than electing a prom king.

Perhaps politics might be something everyone has seen before - back in high school. For all anyone knows, prom politicking tips off where the rest of any country is headed. From a microcosmic level, it extends farther than one would think, deep into the recesses of the Oval Office or Malacanang.

Year after year, encores still happen in high schools the world over. Students, for the first time, are handed the ropes of voting, albeit for a prom king.

Kingship over the prom is not based upon anything other than popularity. The prom king represents the zenith of the social pedestal at school. Unlike S.A.T. scores, there is no objective standard in place to help determine who gets the elusive crown, such as intelligence, grades or stellar performance of a set task. None at all; except to be singled out for, generally, being good-looking and popular.

Things have looked up though, as the playing field seems set to be leveled. Not that having the best tux of the night or being just popular as all hell does not count anymore, but many schools have stipulated that one who does well in school and get good grades is fit for being a king.

When it is all said and done, a student should heed the warning: Vote wisely.

His Majesty

Someone has to nominate a prospective boy for him to be up in the running for prom king, after which the nomination must be seconded. Anyone from class is eligible for the nomination, even though the prom king title belongs to the most popular boy.

Only then will the student body - or anyone vaguely interested in school politicking - cast its votes for the prom king of choice. By default, the one with the most votes is the most popular boy.

This does not mean he does not have to lift a finger and let his popularity do the talking. Many times he has to campaign as one would for school president. For best results, a prospective prom king has to go beyond their comfort zone, widening his social circle beyond the cheerleaders and jocks.

Whomever receives the most votes of the candidates from the senior class is declared the prom king. Most of the time, voting is limited to seniors. In any case, faculty members usually conduct the election and tabulate votes, for transparency's sake.

All that pent-up excitement among high school students is finally consummated after the prom's dinner, usually near midnight. He is summoned to the spotlight, pairing up with the prom queen for the coronation. It is an oft-repeated scheme for the prom king and queen to give acceptance speeches, even if the crown is made of plastic. Afterwards, the prom royalty is cajoled onto the dance floor for the all-important slow dance.