You are not alone. Fifty-five percent of 107 Lowell students of all different classes said that they worry about the cost of event tickets, particularly formal dances, according to a March survey The Lowell conducted in random registries in all grades.

Their worries are not unfounded. This year’s junior prom tickets, for example, cost $55. So how can you avoid paying such high prices for tickets? The answer is simple: support class fundraisers, such as Chevy’s nights and carwashes. After all, it all comes back to you.

Fundraisers depend on student participation for success. Most class food nights earn Lowell between 10 to 20% of a restaurant’s profits, depending on the event. The more food students purchase, the more money they raise for the class.

Unfortunately, most students do not attend class fundraising events. Of the 25 freshmen surveyed, only one had participated in a class fundraiser, a Mel’s Drive-In food night. The seniors had a better record — almost two-thirds said they had attended a class fundraiser.

Those who are not attending are missing out on fun social gatherings. Out of all the students who had attended a class fundraiser, only one said he didn’t have a good time. Imagine how much fun these events would be with more students. The more the merrier.

Though class fundraisers can seem expensive, money spent for burritos at Chevy’s or burgers at Mel’s comes back in the end in the form of less expensive tickets. According to Student Body Council Treasurer junior Elaine Chen, prom expenses can total up to tens of thousands of dollars, and fundraising is the only way to reduce these costs. “If lots of people show up at food nights (we) can raise up to $500 each night, but when only a (few) people show up it can only raise a couple dollars,” she said.

The student body council has successfully fundraised $15,000 this year, which represents a monumental effort on their part. But they need your help.

If students gather their friends together and pitch in a little money on fun events such as class dinners, then event prices will be much lower, enabling even more students to attend. A win-win situation for all.