Believe it or not, before Barack Obama (pictured second from right) became the president of these United States, he actually had a life. He was once a teen with not only studies on his mind but playing hoops, goofing with his boys and trying to perfect his “rap” so that he could approach the ladies. When Barack or Barry — as he was commonly referred to back then — was 17 years old, he attended his high school senior prom at the Punahou School in Hawaii. Previously unpublished pictures from the President’s momentous night in 1979 have been unearthed by his then-classmate and friend, Kelli Allman (née McCormack, pictured left). TIME exclusively obtained the photographs and NewsOne is sharing them with you.
SEE ALSO: Homeless Teen Graduates At Top Of Her High School Class
Back in high school, Obama’s best bud was Greg Orme (pictured) who also played on the school’s varsity basketball team. Allman told TIME, “They were like brothers.”
When prom night rolled around, Obama escorted Megan Hughes (pictured right), who attended the Hawaii School for Girls at La Pietra, while Orme chose Allman as his prom date. The couples met at Orme’s house, where they sipped on champagne before heading out to a dance and then an after-party. According to Allman, “It was a really fun, happy time. We were all cracking up, and everyone was smiling,” says Allman. “It was pretty typical from there out as far as what happens at prom: the dinner and the dancing and the photos.”
Who could have ever imagined that one of the kids pictured in the prom photo would one day be the leader of this country, and little did Allman know that she would have in her possession, a note in her yearbook written by a U.S. president.
SEE ALSO: Cleveland Eateries Promise Charles Ramsey Free Burgers For Life
