How to: prepare for Teresian

By Caitlin Fletcher

As the Teresian dance approaches, some STA sophomores, juniors and seniors begin to imagine those awkward, embarrassing and unavoidable moments they might encounter. According to STA junior Grace McCarthy, hair styles, make-up, carpooling confusion and boutonniere botches are all on the minds of most students. To avoid all of these, experienced dance go-ers have helped create a how to list for the upcoming dance.

How-to Hair:

STA junior Jackie McGee has heard stories about girls going to dances and not liking their hair-do or having their hair fall out of it’s up-do at the dance.

In order to avoid these mishaps McGee follows a few rules when doing her hair. She believes it is important to keep it simple, she either curls or straightens it, and also uses hairspray and bobby pins.

“I wouldn’t do my own up-dos because I don’t trust myself,” McGee said. “I’m not very good with hair.”

According to McGee, if an up-do is what a girl wants, then she may want to look into getting it done.

“I got mine done last year and I was really happy with it,” McGee said.

One last tip: if your hair falls out of your up-do during the dance, don’t sweat it. According to McGee, going into the bathroom and putting your hair in a pony tail is a quick fix.

How-to Make Up:

Whether girls get their make up done by a professional, an older sister or do it themselves, they should be cautious when they choose colors. McGee says that dark is fine, just as long as it’s not too heavy, otherwise you may run into problems like girls she’s seen in past years.

“If you do your make-up too heavy you’ll be sweaty during the dance and your make up will smear,” McGee said.

One tip from McCarthy on how to avoid this: use light colors with your make-up. She says that if it smears during the dance, no one will be able to see it.

McCarthy also suggests if you don’t usually wear dark make-up, don’t try to change it up. Stay natural, do what you know works well for you, and above all else use something you know will not smear on your face during the dance.

How-to Pick Up Your Date:

Picking up your date can be the scariest part of the evening, according to McGee.

McGee knows what this is like first-hand. When her date last year, Rockhurst High School junior Whit Collins, came to pick her up, her older brother, Mr. Patrick McGee, attempted to scare Collins.

“Make sure your brother isn’t around when you get picked up or when you go pick up your date,” McGee advised.

McGee also suggests that when you pick up your date you bring a friend because it gets rid of the tension and awkwardness of having to be alone with your date.

According to McGee, the parents are not there to scare you, but to help make your experience comfortable. According to Jackie’s mother Jill McGee, she tried to make her daughter’s date feel as comfortable as possible despite her son’s behavior.

When picking up your date remember: bring a friend to help reduce awkwardness, make sure siblings aren’t around if they plan on embarrassing you in front of your date, and remember parents are not the enemy, they are trying to help.

How-to Pin a Boutonniere:

Last year when McGee was attempting to pin her dates boutonniere she was so nervous she would prick him with the needle she couldn’t put the flower on his jacket herself. McGee, however, believes that this is nothing to be embarrassed about.

According to McGee, it’s always easier to ask a mom to do it for you because there is less risk of pinning your date.

“She knows what she’s doing and you don’t,” McGee said.