‘Promposals’ bring good vibe to St Jago High

In the wake of recent incidents of school violence across Jamaica, students at St Jago High School in St Catherine are demonstrating resilience and camaraderie by embracing 'promposals', aiming to infuse a positive aura into their surroundings with hopes of fostering a ripple effect of positivity.

Promposals, which are invitations to proms, are widely scene on social media, especially in the US. Two 16-year-old students at St Jago, Shania Sewell and Danielia Johns, were both asked to the school's prom in creative ways in March. Danielia recounted the memorable experience, sharing the surprise and joy of being asked to the prom by her best friend. Her prom date had popped the big question by having schoolmates each holding a card that spelled out "Prom?".

"I was so surprised. It was so shocking and had no idea it was going to happen, none at all. When I saw the balloons I didn't know I was walking into my own promposal," she said. She is eagerly anticipating the upcoming prom night, already having her dress picked out. Shania found herself pleasantly surprised when her classmates orchestrated a balloon arch for her on behalf of her prom date.

"It was on March 20th. I had asked him before if he was going to do a promposal because we decided to go to prom, but he said no, he wasn't going to," she said. But on a regular schoolday, her friends tricked her into walking around the entire compound before returning to the fifth-form block, where she saw her classmates making a balloon arch for her to walk through. She said she was overwhelmed with joy, surprised, and very "nervous". Despite gaining new-found attention after a TikTok video of her promposal went viral, she is more focused on ensuring a memorable prom night for everyone.

Shania, who is a fifth-form student with aspirations of entrepreneurship, envisions a future where she can explore various avenues, including cosmetics and apparel, expressing her ambition to establish her own brand. She also shared her aspiration to pursue further studies at Seneca in Canada. Danielia also shared her passion for subjects such as clothing, food, and business administration. While she's still deliberating on her career path, she acknowledges an inclination towards the realm of business.

Claudine Christie, an English teacher at the school and a key figure in organising prom, commended the dedication of her colleagues in orchestrating such events. Reflecting on the current year's preparations, she emphasised the collaborative effort between students and teachers, attributing the success to their collective initiative and hard work.

"I am taken aback! I must say, because these young men, I would say, have gone out like way beyond what I've ever experienced. They have surprised me so much. I never realised that I had such romantic students. It's kind of refreshing, because it's not something that you see in this generation often, and I think it's a good example of what they'll be like as adults," she said. She opined that promposals are becoming a part of St Jago's tradition and that this year has cemented its idea.

Reflecting on the broader impact of promposals, Christie and Shania emphasised the committee's role in fostering bonds and breaking down barriers between students. They credit the experience with not only promoting camaraderie, but helping to hone essential life skills such as money management and etiquette. In light of the positive outcomes stemming from promposals, Shania advocates for their adoption in other schools, as she believes that such initiatives contribute to the holistic development and upbringing of young individuals.

"I believe that other schools should emulate these activities, as it shines a positive light in the [current] negative environment of schools, and it puts a positive perspective to the Gen Z generation, as opposed to what a lot of adults think. It also helps with the standards and upbringing of our young boys," she said.