Moments of accomplishment call for celebration, and few feats are more worthy of it than graduating from high school or college.
Graduation ceremonies represent the culmination of a lifetime spent hitting the books, all in an effort to get good grades and have more opportunities in the working world. Before entering it, though, it's time to paint the town red with family, friends and relatives near and far.
The following are a few ways to bring fun and enjoyment to your graduation party bash, ensuring that everyone celebrates safely.
Hold a movie marathon
Everyone loves a good movie, especially classic ones that you can watch again and again. From the inspiring - like "The Emperor's Club" - to the poignant - like "Dead Poets Society" - there are lots of school-themed films that can inject some quality entertainment into your graduation celebration.
Play board games
Granted, rolling the dice may not seem like the most unique way to commemorate the next stage of life, but with amusements like Monopoly and The Game of Life sitting in your closet, there's never been a more fitting time to hold some team tournaments or one-on-one match play.
Pinterest has some truly creative examples of how you can celebrate and decorate for your graduation party.
Create party favors
Prior to having everyone come over, you may want to create some fun decorations or party favors that your guests can take home - if they don't eat them first, of course. Buzzfeed and Pinterest have some great ideas, like using ring pops to double as "class rings," or turning Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups into bite-size mortarboards.
Arrange for transportation
If you're over the age of 21 and plan on serving alcohol, it's absolutely essential that everyone drinks responsibly. To avoid even the possibility of a safety issue, make sure that all of your guests who intend to drink either have designated drivers or have pre-arranged alternate transportation. You may also want to make your place available for overnight stay if friends have had one too many. Thankfully, drunk driving is less common today than it used to be, but it still claims thousands of lives every year. In 2014, the most recent year that data is available, 9,967 people were killed in car accidents where alcohol was a factor, according to data collected by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In, 2013, 10,076 died in impaired driving crashes.
Your graduation party should be a fun-filled time, establishing memories you'll cherish long after the Pomp and Circumstance walking march ends. Check out Pinterest for a wide variety of graduation party ideas, many of which are valedictory in their coolness factor, yet simple enough for a grade schooler to put together.
Photo and article courtesy of Selective Insurance Group