With only three Mondays left in the school year, seniors at Eastview High School are digging deep to find their remaining motivation to finish their classes. Along with the assignments seniors are making a checklist in their head that keeps growing. This ongoing list includes Prom, Graduation Plans, Grad parties, college registration, and much more.
However, let’s focus on grad parties. They include anyone you’ve ever known. That is from long lost relatives to the closest of your friends. The invitation even goes out to all the Facebook friends you have made throughout the years. Erin Gottesleben a senior at Eastview High School said, “I’ve replied yes to two or three grad parties that I know for sure I am going to and the rest have been flooding in on Facebook, but I replied maybe to all of them, in case they didn’t work in to my schedule.”
Grad parties have become increasingly popular as the years have gone on and this year at Eastview several seniors are preparing for theirs. The benefits to having graduation parties are great. You get to celebrate an exciting time with your friends, family and mentors; and of course, the money everyone donates is always a big help towards tuition and books. However, they do have their down sides as well. Roberta Dziekan a parent of a senior at Eastview High School confessed, “We decided that not to throw a grad party mainly because of the costs that come with the party. It's a big responsibility to plan a party like that and with the end of the year coming close to an end, we decided we'd rather just relax and have a casual dinner with close family members.”
Although a good point, Graduation parties are a lot of fun. They can include games like a bean bag tosses and sometimes games that ask questions about the graduate. However, I like to think the best part is always the food and I think many others would agree with me. Erin Gottesleben a senior this year shared, “The thing I am most looking forward to at the graduation parties are all the different foods I will get to eat.” The food is always like a centerpiece at the party. Yes, you come to congratulate your friend but then you follow your nose straight to the food. Sometimes it’s a surprise, it can be almost anything. I remember attending grad parties last year and there were taco bars, barbeque beef sandwiches, lunch meat sandwiches, and just tons of fillers. It was amazing; I was so full all the time from them. Then sometimes you hit the jack pot; someone’s grad party has some kind of catered food like pizza from Dominos, or wings from Buffalo Wild Wings, or maybe even Jamba Juice smoothies. Catered food is always a big hit at graduation parties, although it can become costly.
Graduation parties can seem like a no brainer, but there are mixed opinions here at Eastview I decided to interview some people that had different opinions when it came to grad parties. Mr. Groebner a teacher here at Eastview High School beamed about his grad party, “I remember it was at my house, I believe there were around fifty to seventy-five people there. It was a nice sunny day, and lasted about three hours. Distant relatives came and a lot of my high school friends came as well.” The experience was a memory that Mr. Groebner will never forget. However, when Erin Gottesleben was asked if she was going to have a grad party she responded with, “I am not having a grad party because I don’t want to have to do all the planning. I’d rather just go out to dinner with my closer family, like grandparents.” Erin gave a valid point, and her argument was understandable. Her comment also seemed to mirror Roberta Dziekan’s view point about graduation parties, “I did not have a graduation party. I had a dinner with immediate family. When I grew up hardly anyone had grad parties it was more of a family event.” Although Roberta’s experience may have been different than other parents, this shows how far graduation parties have come.
Even teachers have started to enjoy graduation parties. Mr. Groebner talked about what he looked forward to, “I look forward to the conversations that I will have with the graduate, and just to see how they handle themselves at the party. I also look forward to the surprise of who I may see. Since I am a teacher here, it is very likely that I’ll run into someone I know.” Mr. Groebener is not the only teacher that has been invited to grad parties in the past. I noticed when I attended grad parties last year that I saw teachers at them as well. It was initially a shock, but I guess they too wanted to celebrate with the graduate...although I’m sure they wanted the food too.
With my senior year coming to an end, I have put much thought into having a graduation party as well. After considering all of the benefits and costs I decided not to have one. Even though many of my friends are having parties I decided that for me personally, I would rather follow in my mother’s footsteps and just have a relaxing dinner with close family. I will celebrate with my family, although it will be on a much smaller scale. I will also still celebrate with friends at theirs. To me that is a win-win situation.
When it comes to grad parties many people can have mixed opinions, but one thing is unanimous, the benefits of having a graduation party is that you get to celebrate an exciting time with friends and family. The memories from the party will last a lifetime and help recap your senior year. So to those who are not having a graduation party congrats on graduation still, and to those of you that are having graduation parties, enjoy them and pick good food, maybe you’ll see me there.
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