<p>Since another thread talked about a soon- to -be graduate’s planning not to attend his/her graduation ceremony, thought it might be interesting to share fun experiences, memories, or experiences we have from our own, or our children’s graduations. Sometimes its easy to lose sight of the fact that the graduation, or events surrounding the graduation weekend, can hold special, fond memories for families.</p>
<p>So I’ll start. When DS#1 graduated HS I bought an inexpensive “congratulations graduate” yard sign from Party City and planted it by our mailbox, with balloons. Fast forward to DS #2’s HS graduation, 4 years later. The sign, a bit tattered and with some of the streamers now missing, emerged from the garage and found its way yet again to a spot by the mailbox. Took a photo and sent it to DS #1 whose college graduation was going on that same morning. </p>
<p>Fast forward another 4 years. DS#2’s college graduation. Dug that now 8 year old, worn and weather beaten, clearly aging sign, with the stick now broken off and with only a few scraggly streamers remaining out from behind lawn equipment, and stuck it in the back of the car. Arrived at DS’s off campus house the day before graduation and promptly duct taped it to a tree in front of the house. As soon as DS#2 saw it, he knew exactly what it was and beamed. When DS#1 arrived and saw it, it brought a smile to his face as well. There were other more special moments from graduation, but that silly little tradition was a fun one to maintain, and brought smiles to all the family members. We left the sign duct taped to the tree as a ceremonial good bye…</p>
<p>We were in the middle of a heatwave when Chick graduated from high school, college and grad school. So many people came to the first two graduations that by the time she finished grad school, she said that she had been “familied out” and did not want any extended family at graduation.</p>
<p>She still feels that I had the “better” graduation; for my last stint at grad school I told my D that I really did not want to go to the ceremony having been there, done that a few times. She thought that we should still do something to celebrate the occasion and told me “Atlantis (her favorite place) is having a sale.” I ended up spending my graduation with her and her best friend in the Bahamas (it was still hot, but at least it was not a heatwave)</p>
<p>Fun, sybbie!! If you are gonna put up with heat, better that you do it in a bathing suit and a drink with an umbrella in it in your hand! ;)</p>
<p>Both S#! and s#2 attended schools where the heat/humidity/rain can be a problem. Thank heavens the weather on the freshman move in days was perfecto for both, and graduations weather was as well. Lucked out on that one.</p>
<p>My favorite graduation is not mine or my kids or my siblings. It was the first graduation at the school D attends. It was her first year there, which is a 6-12th grade school and all the staff, students and their families were invited. It was held at a large performance center.</p>
<p>Many of the students in the small graduating class were first generation Americans and first generation graduates of any level of schooling. Every one of them had been accepted to college. The staff helped put together two videos-one of the parents telling the kids how proud of them they were and offering advice for the future, and one of the kids thanking their parents. Neither group knew about the others’ video. So many of the parents AND the kids choked up while doing their interviews. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure not even D’s graduation will be as emotional since we’ll all know about the videos by then. I’m so glad we went to that first one though. You really got a sense of how hard the parents and the kids worked to get to that point-for some just getting to this country was an amazing achievement. And here they all were going to college.</p>
<p>Tulane 2009. Ellen DeGeneres, Harry Connick Jr., two bands and fireworks in the Super Dome. Four-plus years after, twenty videos are still available on Yo*tube!</p>
<p>Oh lucky you, NewHope!! You got to see it live?? I still laugh thinking of the video of Ellen coming out in a hotel bathrobe, with a faux dumbfounded look, saying she was told to wear a robe…</p>
<p>Tulane graduations, with the umbrellas and beads and jazz, are the best!</p>
<p>High school graduations for both Ds were pretty stressful because of extended family behavior.
College graduation for oldest was better, as she was first gen college & we were very proud, but as soon as she walked across the stage, dad and youngest had to skedaddle back up the Pacific coast as she was missing a biology field trip.
I do think one of my Ds friends enjoyed putting my brother in his place, after he made some sort of a mr know it all comment.
Brother was an engineer but he was arguing with a math major from Reed.
;)</p>
<p>At D1’s graduation from a small LAC, they allowed parents to line up in alphabetical order to move to the prime picture taking spot as the students got their diploma. I was a bit late getting to the line, and a professor in full regalia asked me my child’s last name to help me move to the right spot in the line. When I told him, he boomed, “Oh, we LOVE <d1’s first=”" name="">, she is one of my favorite students!". Turns out he was a prof in her major. So great to have a prof know who my kid was and clearly really like her. I figured he really did like her since she earned a top department award and graduated with honors, but it was so nice to hear it spontaneously. :)</d1’s></p>
<p>That sounds very thoughtful intparent.
At the hooding ceremony for Ds masters degree, at the last minute they decided to reverse the alphabet so she was actually first & I was no where near ready to take a photo. :(</p>
<p>One of D’s HS friends graduated from a small private school. The graduates walked in each carrying a red rose. Later in the ceremony, they got up, went into the audience area and gave the roses to their mothers. I didn’t get one but I confess I shed a tear anyway.</p>
<p>My nephew graduated from a highly-ranked prep school – all kids college-bound. Apparently it’s a tradition that the grads decorate their caps with their college’s name or initials. Probably 3/4 of the caps were decorated, and it was fun during the dull moments to check them out. The largest contingent was Berkeley, and they must have gotten together, because in addition to a large “C” their caps all sported fuzzy bear ears. I was pleased to see one purple “W.” :)</p>
<p>I have more negative graduation stories than positive ones, but this thread inspired me to look back with a more positive attitude. Two fun things stand out:</p>
<p>When d2 graduated from Vandy in 2009, we attended the Grad Party that was one of the weekend festivities. The music was fall-on-the-floor amazing. The performers were staff and faculty members (though not from the Blair School of Music), but at the time I was sure they had to be professional Nashville musicians. No kidding that’s Music City.</p>
<p>When d3 graduated from W&M in 2012, we had dinner with several of her friends and their families after the ceremony. The College president, Taylor Reveley, came in with his wife and was seated close to us. He is unusually popular for a college president, and the new grads were thrilled to see him. As we were leaving, one of the dads asked if he’d take a picture with the girls, and although he must have been dead on his feet, he could not have been more charming and accommodating. That one was fun.</p>
<p>High School…S1 and his best friend went up on the stage and were awarded NROTC scholarships by a Master Chief Petty officer wearing full Dress whites. The whole audience gave them a big round of applause. They endured one of the toughest training schools in the military world together and are now stationed at the same base.
Friendships like theirs are rare. It all started in high school.</p>
<p>There was a special award presented, and it was given to the DS of a CC mom.</p>
<p>I got to meet Oaklandmom (the oldies will recall this special lady).</p>
<p>Some of the Houses had unique twists, like a color in the hat, or a drum roll. </p>
<p>A random picture by the professional photagher captured son’s face right before he walked, and this picture was put on the cover page of website.</p>
<p>Both kids’ Rice U graduations were fantastic. Concerts, fireworks, good speeches, departmental receptions, res college lunches, etc. We were surprised and thrilled when DD received departmental award (with $) and her Rice work job hosted a reception and gave her a lovely gift. We were invited to dinner at the house of one of the profs and that was a very special evening- dined al fresco, sang late into the night. DS had a research mentor, and we went over to his house and had coffee and cake and visited with his family after the departmental event, and I was thrilled that grandmother was also included in the invites. they were both such joyous events!!! (I did not attend my college graduation at a big university. In college boards wisdom, the GREwas scheduled on campus at the exact same time- I decided to take the GRE instead of attending. Wise choice! I had noone in town to watch me graduate.)</p>