Here’s a very special welcome to this year’s Freshman. Homecoming is literally around the corner, and while it is a big event for everyone at Niles North and a time for everyone to have fun together, it can also be a time to stress if it’s your first high school dance. Luckily, I have a few tips that every freshman — male or female — needs to know.

First of all, if you are not sure about going to homecoming, go. There are only so many homecoming dances you will have the opportunity to attend as a high school student. If you wait until senior year to attend, you will have missed out on all other opportunities to create fun homecoming memories. You also can’t take anyone else’s word for how enjoyable homecoming is; you need to experience first hand. Everyone has different experiences each year, so even if you don’t enjoy homecoming this year, it doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy homecoming another year. You just need to take the opportunity to experience homecoming and put yourself out there.

Secondly, do not over do it. Relax and take a deep breath, you do not need to spend hundreds on your homecoming ensemble. Homecoming is a time to loosen up, not stress. No one needs to wear six-inch heels and add another layer of skin with foundation nor wear a tuxedo and douse themselves in cologne. Just be yourself and if that means flower child or glamorous diva just do it.

Thirdly, if you are going to try something new or get something permanent done do it a few days in advance. If you are getting a spray tan, trying on new foundation, or changing your hairstyle, give yourself some time in case it does not work as well as you hoped. Situations like these are bound to happen, so don’t panic and just do it days in advance so you can correct it and dodge stress pimples.

Fourth and last tip is that it does not matter if you have a date or not. Homecoming is where you meet and mingle with people you know and people you don’t. Having a date can be fun, but not having one can also be fun, and sometimes it can be even better. Without a date, you can sidestep the exasperation of babysitting a date and have the opportunity to enjoy time with anyone from a good friend or an acquaintance to someone completely new. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe you’ll leave homecoming with a date.