Fraternity-Testvériség, 2009 (87. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2009-04-01 / 2. szám
FEATURE ARTICLE HUNGARIAN BALL DEBUTANTES For some young ladies, the experience of “coming out” to society at a Flungarian Ball is a meaningful occasion they will hold dear to their hearts forever. At the Protestant Ball, held at the Holiday Inn in Carteret, NJ on November 14, 2008, two young ladies from the Magyar Reformed Church in Perth Amboy, NJ experienced an unforgettable evening. Kelly Colgan, a sophomore at Franklin High School, is almost sixteen years old and hopes to enter the field of nursing. She enjoys drama productions and recently appeared in her school’s show “Beauty and the Beast” as one of the townspeople. Melissa Banyacski is a seventeen-year- old senior at Edison High School with an interest in creative writing. She will be attending Fairleigh Dickinson University this fall. Her father, Mark Banyacski and Kelly’s mother, Joyce Colgan, are brother and sister to HRFA member Cindy Torok, wife of former HRFA President, Rev. Stefan Torok. Now that both girls have had time to reflect on their “coming out party,” they talked with me about the meaning of it all. Q. How did your debutante experience come about? What made you decide to participate? What role did your family play in your decision? How did your girlfriends at school react to your decision to be a debutante? Kelly: My aunt and uncle were influential in talking me into being a deb. My friend, Brielle D’Angiolillo, was so By Kathy A. Megyeri excited that she asked if she could also be one, so we planned our evening together. Melissa: Yes, my aunt and uncle had suggested that 1 be a debutante along with my cousin. It made it a nice family affair. Q. Describe the preparations: purchasing the dress, making a hair appointment, etc. Kelly: For my mother, the prospect of searching for a white gown appropriate for the occasion was nerve-wracking. I purchased a gown in February but by August, I found something 1 liked better. I also had my hair and nails done and went with my escort to pick out his tux. We rented a limo for transportation. My escort was Austen Mesar, a sophomore who attends St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen, NJ who’s a star basketball player. Melissa: I had to find a white dress and purchase it which wasn’t easy. On the actual night, I had to go and get my makeup and hair done. Q. Describe the ball itself-the selection of your escort, the program, the reaction from your loved ones, etc. Kelly: I knew I wanted to bring my own escort and not get partnered up with someone I didn’t know. My girlfriend suggested a friend of her family. I got his number and we began text messaging. 1 mentioned that I had a Hungarian Ball to attend and he said he’d like to go. He thought it would be cool. The first time I met him in person was when we went for a tux fitting. What a sport! He is also of Hungarian descent. He enjoyed the evening, and we have remained friends. My family filled two tables since my cousin Melissa was also a deb. Melissa: I attended the ball with my boyfriend. All our family loved seeing us all dressed up and glowing through the night. I have a seven-year-old twin brother and sister. They were so excited when they found out they could also come to the Ball. My sister, Gabriella, loves to dress up. We even rented a tux for my brother, Christopher. They had such a great time being at an adult affair. Q. What part of the debutante ball will you most likely remember 30 years from now? Kelly: The never-ending waltzes and Csárdás as my escort kept stepping on my gown. Melissa: I will remember dancing and the difficulties in learning the intricacies of the steps. Performing a piece of my heritage (dancing the Csárdás) was truly memorable. Q. How did the experience affect you? Would you recommend it to other girls or eventually to your own daughter? Why? Kelly: My escort was a good sport since he had no idea what he was getting into. Yes, I’d recommend it. It’s a nice way to keep in touch with your heritage. 24 SUMMER 2009
