4 Ways to Celebrate a Graduate

The season for tossing mortarboards in the air is here! If you have a graduate in your life, here are a few ideas for celebrating their accomplishment.

1. Embrace the spirit of childhood. Whether it’s a trip to a theme park, go-kart riding, heading to the zoo (we know giraffes are really popular these days!) or belly flops in the pool, spend some time together to re-live the graduate’s favorite part of being a kid.

2. Throw a party. Sure, this one’s a pretty standard way to celebrate. If you want to make your party stand out, check out these ideas from BuzzFeed. We particularly like the sweet take on class rings.

3. Plan a staycation. Especially if the graduate just finished high school, they may be preparing to leave the nest. You can work with their parents to coordinate a weekend staycation in your hometown - they’ll get a taste of freedom and the parents will have the peace of mind knowing they’re just minutes away. Think of it as putting on training wheels before the graduate rides off to college.

4. Help the “broke college student.” Whether they’re just heading off to college or are preparing to head into the real world, it can be tough for a recent grad to adjust to a new budget. Help cover some necessities with a groceries or gas card of give a gift card to a store like Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond. We know the cost can rack up to decorate even the tiniest dorm room.