Courtesy of Hope Green

Freshmen Ryan Feng and Hope Green smile with the KOH poster Green made.

Hope Green, 9

Who did you ask?

Green: “Ryan Feng (Fenger Banger), and he’s a freshman.”

How did you ask?

“Originally, I just pulled him aside at a friend’s house and asked him, but then I decided to do it with a poster because it’d be more fun. I knew Ryan did debate, so I asked friends that do debate and watched some videos since I knew nothing about it. I got a lot of options, but since he does policy debate, I chose the one that worked with what he did.”

How did you feel before asking?

“I felt a little nervous, but then I realized that I’ve known him since kindergarten, so I was excited.”

How did you feel afterwards?

“I felt good! I got more excited and comfortable for the dance.”

How did he react?

“He was so sweet about it; he said thank you and took the time to actually read the poster and then said it was great.”

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“It’s so important that you’re comfortable with who you’re going with. That gives you more confidence to ask.”

Esha Francis, 9

Who did you ask?

Francis: “I asked Carson Mills, and he’s a freshman.” 

How did you ask?

“Some of my friends and I went to his house and knocked on the door, and he knocked back and said ‘hi.’ I said ‘Merry Christmas’ while holding up the poster because I was scared, and it was so funny.”

How did you feel before asking?

“I didn’t want to ask because I [originally] didn’t want to go to KOH.”

How did you feel afterwards?

“After I asked, I was doubtful because now I actually have to commit to going, but then I was like ‘it might be fun?’ It wasn’t that bad since [Carson and I] are friends.”

How did he react?

“He was awkward like always.” 

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“Don’t give in to peer pressure.”

Caroline Bergh, 10

Who did you ask?

Bergh: “I asked Drew Boone, and he’s a sophomore.”

How did you ask?

“I made a poster with the look of sunset colors with a line saying ‘Are you sunset on going to KOH with me?’ I put battery-powered twinkle lights on the poster, and I took him to our spot where we watch sunsets together.”

How did you feel before asking?

“I felt good. He’s my boyfriend, so I knew he’d say yes.”

 How did you feel afterwards?

“I felt really good and excited after.”

How did he react?

“He thought the poster was really cool. He was like ‘Wait, did you actually make all of this? That’s better than I could ever do.’”

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“You need to make sure you’re confident and be excited and optimistic; it won’t go as bad as you think.”

Claire LeDuc, 10

Who did you ask?

LeDuc: “I asked Noah Wagner, and he’s a junior.”

How did you ask?

“I asked with a poster, and it said ‘I Noah girl who wants to take you to KOH.”

How did you feel before asking?

“I was kind of nervous because when I was about halfway through the poster, Noah and his friends decided to come and walk into my basement while my friends and I were making all of our posters. But [his friends] made Noah stay outside because they knew, so they all came in while Noah sat outside in the cold.”

 How did you feel afterwards?

“I felt pretty good. I’m glad that I [asked]; I felt very accomplished afterwards.”

How did he react?

“I think he knew it was coming, but he seemed happy so that’s good. I think he was getting a little suspicious because he was sitting outside for quite a while.”

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“I think it’s important to ask someone that you’re comfortable around and that you want to be around the whole night.”

Ellie Moriarity, 10

Who did you ask?

Moriarity: “I asked Nick Turner; he’s a junior.”

How did you ask?

“My friend [junior] Bella [Allgeyer] gave me the idea. I wanted to do something creative; I just didn’t know what, so I asked her. I’m taller than he is, and that’s kind of a joke with our friends, so we thought that would be perfect.” 

How did you feel before asking?

“I was excited. I knew he’d say yes.”

How did you feel afterwards?

“I was just happy that I had a date, and I got excited about the night itself.”

How did he react?

“He was excited. We talked about [going together] before I even asked him, so he knew it was coming. I think it’s smart to make sure you know they’ll say yes.”

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“Do it in a chill way. The classic sign is good, but if that’s not you, then a text works too. Make sure the person you’re asking won’t be caught off guard because that can put them in an uncomfortable situation.”

Maya Loy, 11

Who did you ask?

Loy: “I asked Mitch Gale, and he’s a junior.”

How did you ask?

“I made a t-shirt and wrote ‘KOH’ on it with a Sharpie and put it on my dog, Snow. I put her in the car and went with my two friends, Maddie Brueggenjohann and Haley Keller. My dog was very excited because she never gets to go in the car, and she really loves Mitch and guys for some reason. She was super excited, and then I went up to the door with my dog. His dogs were barking, and [our dogs] got to meet.”

How did you feel before asking?

“I was pretty excited because I knew he probably wouldn’t expect me to ask with my dog, and I knew that he would be excited too. I wasn’t nervous at all because I knew he’d have a good reaction.”

How did you feel afterwards?

“I was happy and glad that it went well. I was just feeling excited about the dance because after I knew for sure we were going, we get to figure out everything like dresses, groups and everything else.” 

How did he react?

“At first, he just thought I brought my dog to his house, so he was really confused. He saw that it said ‘KOH,’ so he was just excited and smiled.” 

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“It’s important to make sure that you’re comfortable with the person before you ask them because you want to make sure you both have fun at the dance. Don’t worry about how you ask someone at all because it doesn’t matter how you ask as long as you both know you’ll have fun with each other and know it’ll be a good time.” 

Ava Pfeil, 12

Who did you ask?

Pfeil: “I asked Andrew Lurkins, and he’s a senior.”

How did you ask?

“My poster says ‘KOH 20:20 and then God said… ‘Go with Ava.’’ To prepare for it, I knew I wanted to do something really crazy since it would be the only time I would ask someone to a dance, and Andrew and I have always been really close, so I knew he could take a joke. I went all out getting ready for it; not only did I dress like Jesus, but I also set up spotlights that made my white robe glow and had ‘holy choir’ music playing in the background to add to the craziness. Originally, I was going to get a goat and say ‘Will you goat to KOH with me?’ but when I went to pick up the goat, the owner changed their mind at the last minute and didn’t want me to do it, so I had to think up something else just as wild.”

How did you feel before asking?

“Right before asking, I was mainly just excited to see Andrew’s reaction because I was already so far gone that I wasn’t even embarrassed or nervous.”

How did you feel afterwards?

“Andrew invited me inside, and I met his whole family, extended family included, wearing my Jesus costume. I was just thinking that they probably thought I was a lunatic the whole time. For the most part, I felt pretty proud of myself since it went just the way I wanted it to.”

How did he react?

“He was just in shock and confused but eventually started laughing about it. He said that as he was walking up to the door, he didn’t recognize me at all, and he thought I was a crazy person that was going to try to break in when he opened the door.”

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“I think the most important thing is to go all out and have fun with it because I think in most girls’ cases, it’s the only time that we’ll be asking someone to a dance instead of getting asked. We have to show the boys how it’s done.”

B Antonenko, 12

Who did you ask?

Antonenko: “I asked Hasan Rizvi; he’s also a senior.”

How did you ask?

“I asked with a ‘Mandalorian’ themed poster because we watched the first season together and because he really loves ‘Star Wars.’”

How did you feel before asking?

“I was excited to see his smile and hoped that he would like it.”

How did you feel afterwards?

“I felt pretty good; he thought [my poster] was cool and wanted to keep it.” 

How did he react?

“He was smiling and said yes.”

What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?

“Make sure your sign is about something they are interested in or at least funny.”