If you ask about what makes graduation so special, the obvious answer would be something that borders from an event to celebrate your student success to a symbolic moment of venturing a new life.
For some it's an end to the horrid, brain-whacking projects and deadlines at school while for others, it's simply a rite of passage to becoming someone better - a proof of personal progress.
Whether you see it as a festive celebration or a sacred event (or both), an end or a beginning, a long-lasting symbol or a fleeting moment, graduation has been a part of our student lives' tradition.
Sixteen weeks or less from now, another batch of graduates will march up the stage and claim their hard-earned diplomas and finally shout to the whole world that they've made it. Yes they did. And they deserve our congratulations and applause.
But to say that graduation is all about jollity and fun would be an understatement. For one it needs enormous preparation from parents and students. Two, these preparation require money. And more often than not, spending leaves us with a headache.
So yes, it may not be all about fun after all.
Still, there's a way by how we could make our graduation day work well.
We need to prepare.
Much as how an architect creates blueprints of a house, graduates and their parents also have to map out the things they need on graduation day.
1. Graduation Fee
Graduation is supposed to be a sort of liberation from all those headaches brought about by school fees and projects, yet here comes your school asking you for a graduation fee.
While not all schools require students to pay fees to attend the proper graduation ceremony, there are some institutions like the Notre Dame Preparatory school who charge their seniors $125 for the event.
So if you're enrolled in a school which asks you to pay for the ceremony, then better yet start preparing now to ease the burden of allotting money for your other expenses later on.
2. Graduation Cap and Gown
Your commencement would never be complete without the trademark cap and gown that you wear on this special day.
For students from big universities like Harvard or Yale, purchasing or renting graduation gowns isn't as tedious as those from small and medium-sized universities since their graduation regalia is already made available by an appointed provider.
Depending on the quality, you may spend as much as $50 for your whole attire and the amount might just be too big for some.
As early as now, the best thing is to decide whether or not you'll purchase or rent your graduation regalia and then start canvassing on the most affordable prices available on onsite or online stores.
Knowing as much alternative as you can will do you some big favor when other expenses comes in.
3. Tickets
If you think fees for attending graduation ceremony ends with your grad fee, then think twice.
While some schools like the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) doesn't charge any grad fee, some of them asks for ticket payments for any extra attendees of the event. For instance, if you're only given a set of three free tickets, bringing in more persons than that would require you to pay $3 to $8 per extra. That's a reasonable price but still an expense.
As soon as your school releases details on your commencement exercises, it's best to immediately take note of the prices (if any) of grad tickets so you can allocate enough money for your expected attendees on your big day.
4. Special Events
Special events could range from your school prom and picnics, to special breakfast with the deans for graduate school. Any of which means additional payment on your part which is relative to the venue and other activities incorporated in the event itself.
On average, (excluding prom night), these events will require you an expense of $15 to $25.
5. Photos and Yearbooks
You may choose to ditch off some of the special events before graduation but never ever the photo shoot for class picture on your yearbook.
Photos come in different package and will vary in cost depending on your choice. Yearbooks on the other hand runs at $75 in average and may increase if parents choose to produce a customized ad including personal photos and messages for the graduate.
Rather than pack and hurt yourself with the number of expenses a week or two prior to graduation proper, you'll find it easier if you'll set a budget and a schedule on taking these photos as early as now.
You'll be pleased by how it helps you out.
6. Keepsakes and Mementos
Aside from keeping solo and class photos as a remembrance on the time you spent with your pals at school, you always have the option to add a more memorable value to your school life by buying yourself a memento.
This could range from the common mugs and key chains to the more practical sweatshirts and drawstring bags.
Or as tradition has it, your very own class ring.
7. After-graduation party
So is that it? We celebrate with the entire class and school, march on stage to get our diplomas, listen to speech and offer our congratulations with our colleagues?
Yes. But it really doesn't have to.
Typical families would always have this after-graduation party held either at home or on some special places like restaurants and resorts.
Wow. That costs a lot.
Of course. But that's generally acceptable since it's your special day. What could probably make it unacceptable in the long run is if you end up broke for months just because you spend everything - and I mean everything from your petty cash to your secret bank accounts - just to celebrate. Without even budgeting ahead of time.
At the end of the day it will all boil down to how well you've planned ahead, considering the location, foods, guests, and entertainment you want to have for your after-graduation party. So plan wise!
Most would say it's a matter of preparation, and they make it sound so easy that we end up falling short with what we actually have to do to get the best of what we need.
So now ask yourself.
'Have I prepared enough?'
If yes then good, you can now go ahead and make a run through with your list. If not, then better start doing now before it's too late.
Think about it. Your graduation is at stake.