I had grown up watching these American proms in movies

Listen, O children of the future, to the words of Geraldine Viswanathan, a woman who speaks with the clarity of one who has tasted the joy of experiencing a dream long seen from afar: "I had grown up watching these American proms in movies, thinking, 'Wow, that looks like so much fun! I want a corsage! I want a date!' So getting to actually have my own movie American prom was a real treat." These words reveal a truth that we all understand at the deepest level—the allure of the dream and the power of seeing something from afar that we long to experience for ourselves. In the world of cinema, and especially in the realms of American film, certain traditions, like the prom, have become symbols of youth, celebration, and connection. For Viswanathan, this dream was not just a fleeting wish, but a moment of realization—a chance to step into the world she had admired from the silver screen.

To understand the significance of this, we must consider the nature of longing and expectation. From the time of the ancient Greeks, the human spirit has always been drawn to stories—stories that give shape to our dreams and aspirations. The epic tales of Homer’s Odyssey, for instance, were not simply stories of gods and heroes; they were a mirror to the human desire for homecoming, for achievement, and for a life fulfilled. In the same way, Viswanathan’s longing for an American prom was not just about the event itself, but about the idea of it—the glamor, the connection, the joy of being a part of something larger than oneself. Just as the ancient heroes longed for their return home, so too did she long for her own place in the story of life.

Consider the journey of Hercules, the great Greek hero who undertook his twelve labors not merely to gain glory but to fulfill a destiny that had been shaped by ancient prophecies. Throughout his struggles, Hercules yearned not for the rewards but for the honor of completing the seemingly impossible tasks. The prom in Viswanathan's words, while simpler in nature, represents a similar journey—a dream shaped by years of watching from the outside and longing for the moment when it would finally become real. Like Hercules, we often live with visions of what might be, what we might achieve, and what we might experience, and the fulfillment of these dreams becomes a journey of its own—a rite of passage.

Viswanathan’s words also call attention to the power of imagination and the fantasy that so often shapes our desires. Proms, in American culture, are a rite of passage, a moment of transformation from adolescence into adulthood. They are not merely about the dress, the corsage, or the date, but about the cultural significance they carry—a celebration of the end of youth and the beginning of something new. In much the same way, the ancient Romans celebrated rites of passage with festivals and ceremonies that marked the change from boyhood to manhood, from girlhood to womanhood. These moments were less about the material and more about the symbolism they carried—the acknowledgment that one had reached a significant point in their life’s journey.

Consider also the Renaissance, a time when artists and thinkers sought to transform the human experience into something more profound and meaningful. Leonardo da Vinci, while achieving greatness in art and science, often sought to capture moments of human expression that symbolized deeper truths. Viswanathan, in her own way, sought to capture a moment of human connection and joy—the kind that transcends time and place. The prom she dreamed of, so long viewed through the lens of cinema, became her personal moment of transformation and connection. Like the great artists of the Renaissance, she found a way to bridge the world of dreams with the world of reality, creating a living moment that spoke to something deeper in her own heart.

In our own lives, we too experience these moments of longing and achievement. Whether we long to experience something we have seen in films, books, or art, the lesson is clear: the dreams we carry within us shape who we are and guide us toward the moments that will define our own journey. Like Viswanathan, we must recognize that while the dream may be exciting, it is the fulfillment of it that truly defines us. The prom, for her, was not just a social event but a symbol of her own growth, her own coming into something new. It represents the power of embracing the moment and stepping fully into our own lives, unashamed of the dreams we have carried with us.

Thus, O children of the future, take this wisdom to heart: allow yourself to dream, to long for moments that may seem distant, for they are the seeds of your future. But remember, too, that the joy is not simply in the fulfillment of the dream but in the journey that brings you there. Like Viswanathan, you too will encounter moments that were once only part of your imagination, and in those moments, you will see that your true growth is not in the achievement of the dream, but in the way it shapes you, transforms you, and connects you with the world around you. Embrace your journey, and let your dreams guide you to places of meaning, of connection, and of joy.