Graduation Cancelled? Alternative Ways to Celebrate!

Commencement postponements and cancellations across the country have left many soon-to-be grads and their families lost for words.

It's especially heart-breaking for first-generation college students whose families have been waiting years to celebrate this milestone accomplishment.

You and your student have worked so hard for years in preparation of this moment! If your graduate can't walk across the stage in cap and gown to receive their diploma — if you can't throw the unforgettable bash they've been dreaming of, with family and friends gathering from near and far — what can you do to make the day feel special?

Celebrating While Social Distancing

Video Chat Parties

Though it might feel bittersweet to celebrate over a computer camera, you're still letting your student know you’re proud of their accomplishments. Regardless of the medium, it’s always nice to see your loved ones' faces and this is an easy way to include everyone as well as a fun excuse to get a little dressed up during quarantine. Your student is sure to be excited for the chance to wear their cap and gown for you even if they never leave the house.

Take the opportunity to mix it up a little. Set a theme and decorate your video chat background! Everyone can wear costumes, pajamas, formal attire or whatever your student might want. Or set up a surprise theme for your grad — maybe something that commemorates a special childhood memory. Keep the surprises coming by inviting guests they don't expect to see.

Your graduate will appreciate being the center of everyone's love and attention, and sharing tears, smiles and laughter.

Record a Video Tribute

Have friends and family members record messages to your student and compile a celebratory video. Encourage people to include words of advice and inspiration, share a story from the past, or whatever else they want! This personal, affectionate celebration will be a time capsule of wisdom, humor and memories — something to cherish forever.

Does your student look up to someone famous? Cameo can help you surprise your student with a personalized congratulatory video from their idol.

Themed Graduation Photoshoots

Use this extra time to get creative with the grad photos you’ll keep forever! You and your student can decide what theme you like best and even build a custom backdrop for the shoot. Can’t agree on just one theme? Why not do them all? It’ll be a fun way to spend time together, alleviate quarantine boredom and create treasured memories.

You can ask friends and family for photo requests. Maybe the grandparents would like something more traditional and serious, but aunts and uncles want something silly. You and your grad can use these photos to send out custom graduation announcements when the time comes, and reuse photoshoot backdrops and props for parties (whether in person or over video).

Looking on the bright side, only a select few will be able to say they graduated during a major historical event.

Create a Graduation Wish List

Your student and your family might be sitting on an unprecedented amount of free time right now. Have your soon-to-be grad compile a small list of things they’re hoping to receive for graduation and share the list with extended family and friends who are looking for gift ideas. It's nice to give people plenty of time to come up with a gift that will feel meaningful.

At-Home Celebration Ideas

Gift Scavenger Hunt

Ask family and friends to ship gifts to you rather than to your student (and give you a hint as to what's inside so you can create appropriate clues). Hide things around the house with a trail of notes that require some ingenuity to puzzle out. This is a quarantine-friendly way to create a festive mood.

Make sure someone (you?) gives your student monogrammed stationery or note cards for thank-you notes.

“Take Me Back to Childhood” Party

What did your student love to do when they were little? Build pillow and blanket forts? Play certain board or video games? Were they into LEGOs, stuffed animals, arts and crafts? Maybe they loved family camping trips, or liked to put on plays and skits. It could be a show or movie you used to watch together, or a favorite family meal.

Take this opportunity to revisit some of the wonderful memories you've shared over the years. Set up a tent in the backyard and recreate the fun you used to have toasting marshmallows and playing card games by flashlight. Indulge in some make believe. Toss a ball or Frisbee, or play croquet or badminton. Watch some home videos, go through family photo albums, reminisce.

There’s nothing like a healthy dose of nostalgia to boost spirits, especially as your student prepares to venture out into new experiences.

Looking to the Future

Encourage your grad to plan future unofficial commencements!

It's hard to see your student so awfully disappointed by the prospect of online graduation or entirely cancelled ceremonies. Encourage them to plan unofficial graduations with their group of friends for the future when people can once again be together in person.

While it may not be the official school-wide ceremony they were hoping for, they can still have tons of fun running around with their friends, making memories. They might enjoy goofing off while walking across a makeshift stage to receive a diploma (does anyone want to dress up as the college president?), allowed to crack jokes and make impromptu speeches in a much more relaxed environment than you'll find at most "real" college commencements. Offer to fly in, help plan, or provide drinks and snacks for the event!

However you decide to celebrate with your graduate, remember to support each other during this time. Everyone's feeling incredibly frustrated and disappointed by the recent turn of events, but there is a bright side. Your student is graduating from college! They've earned their moment in the sun, and even if their commencement will be unconventional, you can find ways to help them sparkle and shine.

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