Graduation (noun): the receiving or conferring of an academic degree or diploma

I graduate from high school in a month. A week afterward, I have to cater to a few hundred of my friends and family by means of a graduation party. Through all of my preparation, I have learned some of the highs and lows of grad party planning. So Anchor News is here to help you plan you grad party using the experience of someone who has done it.

The first major decision that needs to be made is where and when to have the party. In my case, this one was not as difficult because my family decided for me that it would be at our home. The more challenging part of this came when it was time to make a decision on when to host the dozens of family and friends who will inevitably descend upon our home for free food and cake. Being as I have a cousin who is also graduating from the same high school as me this year, we had to work it out with our families to make sure we did not overlap party times. This was hard because both of us wanted to have our parties in the evening.  However, after some intense “rock, paper, scissors decision making,” I was victorious, and won an evening slot for my party.

The next decision involved food choice. I am a picky eater, so food choices can be limited. After some serious consideration, I went with some of the most basic graduation food in my area - Pulled Pork and Mac and Cheese. I am also going to serve garlic bread. In the way of desserts, I have a strong disdain for sheet cake. So, in order to fulfill my desire for sweets, my mother and I decided upon ordering a bunch of cupcakes in addition to baking a variety of cookies. 

The final major decision concerned decorations. Now, my mother wanted to have no part in picking out mortar board cutouts streamer colors, so it all fell to me. After almost no consideration, I arrived at a theme almost instantly - Sunflowers and Greenery. I was able to obtain a pallet background for pictures and some hanging greenery decor. I also ordered fake sunflowers and vines to hang around the garage as extra decorations.

I think the main reason why graduation planning is difficult is because there are just so many small decisions that go into a party that will only last a few hours. It is a stressful experience, but the biggest thing to remember is that this party should end up being one of the most memorable celebration of your high school experience. Pick things because you like them. Prioritize yourself before you prioritize others.. Most importantly, have fun because this is a celebration of what you have achieved. 

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