Meh, I was somewhat 'awkward' in High School: glasses, acne, slight build, a tad of an introvert, and always a bit flustered around girls. Prom never interested me then and even if it did, I probably wouldn't have had the balls to ask anyone sadly even though many a girl piqued my interest.
My prom likely was nothing too special anyways. The school was small and only opened two years before I started attending, so there was never an interest in making prom a big extravaganza that I just *had* to go to. It was probably just an opportunity for the wealthy kids from the Peninsula and Torrance to flaunt their threads and rides, and talk about volleyball, tennis, the next new car Mom & Dad would buy for them, or the trips to everywhere they'd be taking during the summer. *Yawn*
Contacts, a cleaner complexion, good taste in dress & grooming, and a much more open and talkative attitude towards everyone have made a world of difference since. If I had to do it over again would I go? Maybe. I don't think it would have made a difference either way in the person I eventually became, and only serving at best as just another good time I had out with friends which I did do plenty enough. Having not attended prom is nothing but an insignificant blip in my 27-1/2 years so far. If anything, it served as one of many sources of motivation for me becoming the exact opposite of the shy person I was in High School.
For me at least, life as I care for it and experience it nowadays really began after High School. Prior to that, I have immense and wonderful memories of childhood and adolescence to tide me over before I get to live vicariously through my own kids eventually. And when it comes time to, I won't push them towards or away prom. I'll let them decide on their own, knowing they'll come into their own regardless.
I've had no problems with women since. Prom, shmom. High School, Shmy School.
EDIT: Hmm... guess this deserves a mini '/rant.'