[ti:High Schoolers Go Online for Virtual Prom]
[by:www.21voa.com]
[00:00.00]更多听力请访问21VOA.COM
[00:01.04]American high school students have turned to the internet to save their traditional end-of-year prom experience.
[00:12.68]The students are connecting through online video services to dance,
[00:19.32]listen to music or find other ways to celebrate the end of the 2020 school year.
[00:30.28]In the United States, most high school students attend a yearly formal dance known as prom.
[00:39.64]This year, with schools closed and the nation shut down because of coronavirus, proms have been cancelled.
[00:50.64]So, students and teachers decided to use technology to hold "virtual proms."
[01:00.40]Some will use the video linkups to show off their best prom clothing.
[01:07.96]Others, including many who did not have the chance to buy formal clothes,
[01:14.04]may choose to take part in jeans or T-shirts.
[01:20.68]Many of the proms are getting support from celebrities and well-known companies.
[01:28.48]Teen Vogue magazine and restaurant operator Jack in the Box are supporting parties for thousands of teens.
[01:40.80]Actor John Krasinski threw a prom on Youtube and was joined by singer Billie Eilish.
[01:50.56]Actress Allison Williams, star of the Oscar-nominated film Get Out,
[01:57.40]served as the guest music DJ for virtual prom goers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[02:08.04]"It's terrible that it's happening to your class, but I hope you're having a good time anyway,"
[02:15.56]Williams told about 100 high school students, friends and teachers in mid-April.
[02:24.00]She wore a shiny, copper colored dress.
[02:29.76]Alauna Stults is a high school student in Ohio.
[02:34.88]She will wear a special blue outfit when she attends an online prom May 9.
[02:44.16]The prom is being paid for by two web businesses, an event planning site and a clothing rental company.
[02:55.80]"I was looking forward to prom," she said. "I was planning on going with a group of my friends,
[03:03.80]but it's really cool we can still dress up and do everything we would do for a prom."
[03:13.96]The students have filled social media with sweet photo memories from online proms.
[03:21.40]In some, fathers dressed in formal wear danced with their daughters.
[03:27.64]Others showed whole families involved in the virtual parties.
[03:35.20]"Prom is definitely one of those bigger life moments when you're growing up,"
[03:41.36]said Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Peoples Wagner.
[03:49.32]The Teen Vogue website expects about 5,000 teens to attend its virtual prom on May 16.
[03:59.44]Organizers are working with high schools around the country to set up separate online areas for each school.
[04:09.96]Many popular celebrities and internet influencers will appear throughout the event.
[04:20.88]Jack in the Box is working with schools in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Houston to hold virtual proms in May.
[04:33.16]The company will provide free food to all the students by giving them special delivery instructions.
[04:43.92]Donna Sheperis is an associate professor of mental health at Palo Alto University in California.
[04:53.48]She sees some sadness in these virtual proms.
[04:59.88]"They also crave human connection," she said. "They crave a chance to dress up and dance with their friends.
[05:08.60]They crave some time that's just for them. And this year, they can't get it."
[05:17.04]I'm Susan Shand. 更多听力请访问21VOA.COM