How Much Is Too Much Graduation Celebration?

It is that time of year when some families are still celebrating their children's graduations.  I’ve noticed that rites of passage, from pre-school and elementary school for example, were a big deal this year and the years before that.  It seems a little out-of-proportion to the child’s accomplishment.  (Did kiddies really need caps & gowns?) 

A graduation is a distinction, and involves the awarding of a diploma.  High school, college and graduate school graduations are significant achievements and should be celebrated as such.

But how much is too much when it comes to graduation?  One of my friends, whose opinions I normally agree with, said that she is “fed up” with all the fundraising that goes on for graduation.  “It starts freshman year!” she complained. 

I understand the frustration, but many schools do the fundraising in order to keep the cost of Grad Week activities within reach of any family’s budget. 

At Grad Week, the seniors are treated to a barbeque pool party, a brunch, the commencement ceremony itself, and a “safe and sober” Grad Night party on a Hornblower yacht, including entertainment and the bus that carries them to and from San Francisco. 

It takes a lot of money, and planning, to pull off a full week of activities.  Parents on the Grad Committee work hard.  Throughout the year, parents and students held popcorn and hot chocolate concessions at football games, sold gift certificates and holiday wreaths, held car washes and restaurant fundraising nights.  They even organized a Rummage Sale, Bingo Night, Movie Night, and other community-wide fundraising events. 

Thanks to all of those efforts, the cost to the students is only $50 for Grad Night and about $36 for the cap & gown, (plus whatever they choose to spend on yearbook, photos, announcements, class ring, etc.).   That’s a lot of bang for the buck.  It makes the entire Senior Class feel special and engaged in the graduation events.  It also means that many students have invested a certain amount of time and effort over their Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years to create a special Senior Grad Week for themselves. 

Hopefully, the Seniors understood that it took effort to create something special and will appreciate that a memorable Grad Week is a labor of love, and not just a matter of writing a check.  When those students , we could feel proud, as a community, that we supported and valued each and every one of them.