Students from across the DC area can attend prom at Centreville High School, which makes prom registration inexpensive.
When her learners started voicing their complaints, Miranda Schick was about 20 years old when she was teaching style marketing at Centreville High School.
Second, Schick said, they started talking about how much income they were spending on graduation. She inquired if they had accurately calculated how much money they were putting in to the occasion. Some said their totals were between $500 and $1, 000.
In the same class period, the students started complaining that they have to do community service, and that it is n’t fun. It seemed to be a hobby, Schick said, and they were dreading it.
Schick responded by reiterating the idea that community services can be enjoyable with the right job. That discussion prompted her to help manage the Fairfax County, Virginia, college’s Prom Dress Shop.
At first, the team had fewer than 100 clothes to work with.
Today, there are plenty.
The buy now offers students plenty of options and the chance to get home a gown for free as a result of Schick and the kids’ work. The store has become so large that it’s attracting children from D. C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, she said.
We’ve received some incredibly kind letters from mothers who expressed gratitude for allowing their child to attend prom, according to Schick. They worried that because they couldn’t afford it, they would have to say no. But then this gives them the opportunity.
The store was previously operational next weekend, and it will be back in operation this weekend thanks to students from Centreville High and the Fair Oaks Classroom on the Mall system.
They are involved in the logistics, including helping to make a modular tower on the campus appear more like a department store and less like a class. The rooms are converted into appropriate rooms, and the hallways are decorated with mirrors and clothing racks.
On Friday mornings, the learners start the almost 90- second process of setting up. However, everyone needs to be packed up and moved back into the main school building by Sunday when the purchase is closed.
All of the clothes are donated, either from department stores like Macy’s or society members, Schick told WTOP.
Short dresses are in the center of the compact tower, and six containers of long clothes, sorted by size, color and style, are scattered outside.
Community people have also donated bracelets, purses, bracelets and earrings, Schick said.
Students may choose a dress using their ID. To protect the privacy of its members, the Alpha Delta Kappa professor college works the purchase.
Individuals apply what they learn in the shop in their courses as part of the operation. But, Schick said, “it also helps families whose kids are going to be going to college soon. They are going to include a lot of money coming up.”
The highlight is “just seeing people get their dream dresses without having to spend $1, 000 on them,” said student Marianna Martinez, who helped set up the store on Friday.
The value of the store was evident for Schick when a girl who lived in a class house came looking for a dress a few years back. Her head was down and it was evident she was lacking assurance, Schick said. But when she discovered three different homecoming dresses, things changed.
After the child picked one and left, Schick sobbed.
“You can see that their demeanor changes when they find the right clothing, and also, you can see that their trust also changes,” said Schick.
Friday, a mother who took her daughter to the store said, “It’s been one of those occasions where everything is around.” And it’s so simple. All you need to do is “consider it on.”
Last Friday through Sunday, the factory hosted about 50 people each time, Schick said. She anticipates that this trip will be just as active.
Students Sophia Pena and Sophia Pena said, “The girls leaving these with their parents with a big smile on their faces when they have the dress they chose. It’s only a very good feeling to assist out with that.”