It occurred to me that, with graduations cancelled, our high school and college Seniors will be feeling the lack of a ceremonial ending to mark these big transitions in their lives. I have a niece and a nephew in this situation; they’re missing so many landmark events.
Would anyone be interested in brainstorming ideas of ways we could do something online for these graduates? I was thinking of a video conference where every family member reads a testimonial to the grad, and the grad could give a speech. Homeschool families have been doing their own grad ceremonies for years–got any ideas to share?
My son, a college senior, has been at school since mid-January. His graduation should have been next week, Saturday. His university is holding some sort of campus-wide online ceremony next Saturday at noon, followed by department ceremonies. I think I’ve talked him into coming home so we can watch his online graduation ceremony together.
I’m finally starting to think about what we can do to make him feel special on that day. (His university is hoping to hold in-person ceremonies, but who knows when or if that will happen.) We will likely order his favorite foods, make a cake, and put a sign in the yard, but It’s difficult to guess what else might have significance for him.
My sister was telling me that my nephew’s HS is talking about having small groups of students come in at a time (whatever the allowed # is where they live) to “walk” across the stage on video and then, on actual graduation day, they will broadcast the compiled videos into one complete graduation ceremony. My nephew is not impressed but at least the district is thinking.
I would make sure the graduate wants something planned. Not all of them - even in the best of circumstances - wants recognition or a celebration. Maybe ask for their input or give a couple of choices - including “nothing” if that’s what they want!
I’m doing a graduation surprise for my daughter and her boyfriend this weekend. Both attend the same college. I’ve organized a drive by of people who know her. I painted a banner. I’ve got goodie bags for both of them, which includes photos from texted pics she’s shared with me over the last year. I’m making a festive dinner and a cake with the college initial on it. I’m going to do a fun (and hopefully funny)mock ceremony. Hopefully, they will both feel that they at least got the acknowledgement they deserve.
We did a homemade graduation last weekend for my D20. We homeschool but my D19 had a regular ceremony/prom/party, so my D20 was in the same predicament as any other 2020 grad.
I made senior signs for the lawn, and bought graduation banners. We decorated all of the front of our house. We already had the gap and gown and diploma. I had friends email messages to her and we printed them all and put them in a card box with her gifts. We took cap and gown pics out front, went to a local waterfront park and played the graduation march while I filmed her walking and her dad giving her the diploma. She switched her tassel, tossed her cap, and we picked up curbside Chinese food and had a picnic at home. Then we ate the fancy extravagant cake I made for her and she opened her gifts. Then we watched a family show. It was actually a lovely day, and she went to bed feeling like the day was special.
Edited to add: the drive by parade thing wasn’t possible for our family- we lived on a military base, far from most family and friends and those close have trouble gaining access.
We’re making this week kind of a “graduation festival” for our daughter who is finishing up college today. Every time she finishes up a class, DH has made her a special drink. My dad paid for a fancy takeout dinner after her capstone project presentation and we also bought a cake for her. We’re giving her a nice cash gift, too. We need to think of a few more things for the weekend. We are so proud of her for hanging in there with a positive attitude.
Her school is having an online ceremony next Wednesday. They are still hoping to have a “real” ceremony the middle of August. They’re already coming up with distancing and other safety measure. I hope they can make it happen!
Great idea and thread. Well my daughter is still at college till the end of the month but her virtual graduating is next Sunday. We are going up for a picnic (better be nice weather!!). We will make /bring food she loves. There is a nice river and picnic tables where she has in mind. When she comes home at the end of the month we will have the house decorated with school colors with streamers, balloons and such. She already has her Cap /Gown. Maybe take pics on campus.
She is being recognized with a few things like an honors in Anthropology with her senior thesis and she won an a department award and graduating with high honors etc. So we are excited for her.
This is their new normal and hopefully somehow motivated them in the future. But I do feel bad she can’t have a traditional graduating. They are supposed to come back in August to have that. A weekend before the freshman come for a senior weekend. If it goes off.
My nephew is a junior in high school, so not missing graduation this year. I just wanted to pop in and say that his junior/senior prom was rescheduled from April to late June. That sort of thing is probably easier for high school students than for college students.
Maybe high schools can reschedule graduations for later in the summer before the students head off to college.
Well, my nephew’s college did an online broadcast and graduates submitted photos ahead of time. They watched it together in their living room, with nephew in cap and gown. When the program announced his name and showed his pic, he walked across the room and my brother handed him a roll of paper! Later, the family drove to campus and took photos. They had balloons in front of the house and a special dinner.
My niece’s high school has moved graduation to mid-July, with only 4 guests permitted.