How to Help Celebrate Graduation in Isolation

Each day, the pandemic finds a way to show people how much life has truly changed for them. This is especially true for high school seniors, who should have been graduating shortly. Since most people around the globe are self-isolating, however, this is no longer possible. 

Now, in the grand scheme of things, a cancelled or postponed graduation may not seem like such a big deal, but it is from the graduate’s point of view. For many, this ceremony is a concrete indicator that they have transitioned from children to young adults. It is more than just symbolic – it is a rite of passage. 

Thus, it is only natural for these seniors to feel depressed at this current turn of events. This may be something you have noticed if you have a child, sibling, niece/nephew, or cousin in your family who should have been graduating. 

The good news is that there are still a few things you can do to celebrate this momentous occasion. Here are the top tactics you should consider using.

Shower Them with Attention and Love 

What many seniors are missing out on is the love, praise, and attention typically heaped upon them during this time. Typically, people from all over – family members, neighbors, and even people in their community will congratulate them on their achievement. 

In isolation, however, they are kept separate from all this. As such, it can often feel like no one can even remember their accomplishments. This is why you should try and pump them up as much as possible. Post announcements on your social media page and make a big deal out of the graduate.

Reminisce about when they started their journey and remark on how far they have come. Pull out tests or assignments that they have scored high on and talk about their teachers’ positive comments. This should help to get them in the right frame of mind. 

Hold Your Own Ceremony 

The beauty of technology is that it allows you to be together while staying apart from one another. As such, you can have a virtual graduation. All you need are a laptop and some cooperation from other members of the graduating class. 

The easiest way to manage this is to have everyone involved download the same video application software. There are plenty of free options available, so you don’t have to spend any money on this endeavor. It may be possible for you to even find a theme or a background that will suit this particular ceremony.

It is a good idea to have a meeting before the actual graduation. This will help you figure out how to set things up and even set a dress code for everyone to follow. To make this moment count for your graduate, see if you can set up some kind of podium and print out a diploma. You can even get customized trophies and plaques for special awards you may want to give out during the ceremony. These will help to pull the setup together. 

You may also want to have a practice graduation beforehand. You will then be able to identify and work out any of the kinks ahead of time. In turn, you can make the actual graduation seem more authentic. 

Host a Graduation Party

Once the graduation ceremony is over, consider throwing a graduation party. You can use the same video software to link all the students together. This is something you should clear with your child or sibling first, however. Keep in mind, it may be a little awkward to manage this. 

Even if they aren’t feeling up to a virtual party, you can still host one within your home. Naturally, you will have to keep it just between family members. Nevertheless, you should still make an effort. Buy or make decorations and stock up on plenty of their favorite treats. Even though your graduate won’t be with their friends, they can still have fun. 

Choose a Perfect Gift

The one thing you can do even when you’re on lockdown is to get the perfect graduation present. The thing about these presents, though, is that a lot is riding on them. They have to be useful, meaningful and mark this great occasion. 

So, if you feel like you are stuck for ideas, there’s no need to panic. You will find many excellent guides for graduation gifts for sisters, children, and more. With this kind of guidance, you will only be tasked with narrowing down the list for the recipient.

Since you can buy virtually anything online, you can also be certain that the present will arrive on time as well. Just make sure to order it well ahead or put a rush order on it as delays are rampant during the pandemic.

If you want to make the gesture last longer, you can get them several smaller presents. Then, consider giving them one at a time to the days leading up to the graduation ceremony. This gesture will be especially well-received since everyone is cooped up inside and there isn’t much to do or look forward to. So, they will enjoy the reprieve from the monotony. 

Get Others Involved 

Even though you can’t physically meet with others, you can still get members of your community involved in the graduation process. For instance, you can set up a social media page where townspeople can post encouraging messages or advice for the future. 

Or, you can have your neighbors drive past your home once the graduation ceremony has commenced. They can shout their congratulations and offer up some of their own words of wisdom! This will also be a nice way to show your graduate that he or she is a valuable member of the community. 

These may be dark and uncertain times. However, it is still possible for you to shine some light into the light of your graduate. This article offers some excellent ideas, showing you how you can get other people involved in the project as well. Regardless of what you decide to do, though, you can be certain that your graduate will end up feeling loved.