Graduation is both a happy and a sad event.
It certifies the fruition of the hard work the graduate invested in the pursuit of knowledge and skills, but also it marks the beginning of a possibly even more exciting phase in life.
Nonetheless, it means saying goodbye to long-time friends and classmates which is saddening.
It is certainly a time for a party, a time to both celebrate and to say good-bye.
Giving the graduate one more chance to be with his or her friends and classmates can be the best graduation gift you can give.
With this in mind it is important to consider planning graduation party activities that will really make this occasion stand out as unforgettable.
Here are some activities you could include in your special party.
Hand each guest a plain white T-shirt and a permanent marker.
The guests can sign each other's name, or leave small, yet memorable notes on it - best done before they put it on.
Designate a table as a memory station.
Place several note boxes, one for each guest.
Make sure you label each note box with the guest's name.
Leave note pads and pens on the table.
Guests can write anything they wish to impart to their friend or classmate, then drop the notepad into the appropriate note box.
Welcome the guests with a life-size image of the graduate.
Include sets of male and female life-size cut-outs where guests can stick their photos.
Delegate a photographer who will never leave the spot.
Make the photos available before the party ends.
At the end of the party, let the graduate sign each photo and give it to respective guest - this alone is a wonderful party favour.
Provide a sign-in book or a sign-in board or even both.
When the party has ended and when the graduate is all alone, there's nothing more heart-warming than reading messages from friends and classmates.
Aside from leaving a space for personal messages from the guests, provide questions relating to the graduate for the guests to answer.
Create a time capsule.
It can be a plastic box or any durable container.
Tell each guest to bring something that best represent their high school or college.
The guests can bury the box in the ground together or assign some to keep it until their reunion.
Open House Party A popular option when planning a graduation party is to make it an "open house" party.
You are familiar with an "open house" for selling real estate.
The idea is similar.
An open-house party is one which gives guests the freedom to arrive and leave anytime.
To make the open-house party even more exciting, maximize all parts of the house.
You could showcase the graduate's various interests and hobbies in different rooms.
In this case, the decoration, the food, and the type of activity will vary for each section.
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking, but don't limit yourself to these.
Be creative and use your own imagination: Living or Dining room: Play the celebrant's favorite songs and serve the favorite dishes.
Just let guests have fun and chat with each other.
Graduate's bedroom or a Family or Recreation Room: This setting is a little more intimate - a good place to really let the guests know more about the celebrant.
Play videos taken of the graduate since childhood to present time.
Put photo albums on display.
Yard: Say, the graduate is interested in soccer.
Set up a soccer goal in your yard.
Organize a mini-tournament.
Invite cheerleaders for a little performance.
They can come up with chants that particularly mention the celebrant.
Barbecue, cocktail food, and hotdog work well for this setup.
As a final note, though you may include other activities or even some party games, be aware that high school or college kids just love to get together and talk, or have quiet time listening to music together.
So be sure to allow adequate time for them just to "hang out", and when you do add activities try to include activities that complement the meaning of graduation.
What is that? Some say it is the point where memories of the past meet dreams of the future.