college graduation

[Cindy B]

When I graduated with my associates two years ago, no one really cared. It barely raised an eyebrow with my family. No one even said congratulations.

(Mind you, I am the first generation to even attend college let alone graduate--so it isn't like my associates was a small accomplishment.In my family, the lucky ones even attended high school--not many even graduated from high school )

First I mad, than confused. I thought about it and I knew they didn't understand it--the whole college process. The whole concept is foreign for them.

Next year I will have my Bachelor's. I am going to have a little something then, but not a huge party.


However, in my family, 8th grade graduation was a huge deal-- it was this huge party with extended family, etc. I could never figure out why me and my sisters 8th grade graduation was such a big deal and school celebrations have been minimal since. I figured out that 8th grade the biggest mileston they could related to since most had to leave high school for various reasons (work, draft, family obligations, sickness, etc.)

My parents can not relate to a college degree. They don't understand the concept.

 

[Crankyshank]

Congrats to your DD.

College graduation parties are common around here and I see them as a celebration and not a demand for gifts. My best friend is graduating from law school Memorial Day weekend and is having a bash. Not for gifts, but because she worked extremely hard and wants to celebrate the end of all of that work.

 

[luvwinnie]

Not normal to celebrate a college graduation? My parents gave me a big party! It was so much fun. My niece graduates next month and we will all attend the ceremony and then go out to dinner and we'll be giving her a cash gift to help with buying books for grad. school.

 

[mickeyboat]

I did not have a party, but my future in-laws traveled 800 miles to attend the ceremony, and we had a small thing at the house afterwards.

We actually had a pretty big party for my law school graduation, and several aunts and uncles attended from out of state.

I think whatever you want to do is fine. Cognrats to your DD!

Denae

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'm graduating May 11 and we're leaving the 12th for my present which is WDW and at easter, all of my family members asked when I was having a party. My dad doesnt think we should have a party like we did for my high school but simply "a gathering with family and close personal friends" for some cake and maybe a small cook-out in the summer at our house. I am not expecting many gifts, of course my parents and grandparents will prolly give me gifts or $$$ but I think its personal choice to have a party or not, We arent going to have a party like my high school where we rented out a park and had all this catered food and made a whole saturday out of it.

my roommate is also having a party b/c she is having family from FL come up for graduation, they are have a small get-together at her house and having some food from olive garden at her party (ya i wanna go lol) and a cake but that is it.

 

[Kitty 34]

It's never been a big deal in my family either which suprises me with my Dad being a college professor. 4 out of 5 of my siblings all graduated and except for maybe Mom and Dad taking us out to dinner, that was it.

We've since had our son and two of my sister's kids graduated college with no fanfare.

Now HS graduation......that's a BIG thing in our family.

Congrats, tho to your DD and for her high honors. My DS is a Sophomore in college and has gotten the Athlete-Academic Honor Roll recognition twice now but like you, I feel I can't brag about it when it comes time for him to graduate.

 

[Kath2003]

In the UK, no one celebrates graduating high school. There's no ceremony. On results day, the students generally go to the pub and then a club, get hammered and then get their heels stuck in the front lawn at 4am but that's about it.

College graduation is a bit of a bigger deal - at my Uni, you're allowed two tickets for the day for family/friends. There's a ceremony, people wear the robes and the hats and have their photo taken. Most people usually go out for a meal with their family. At the end of graduation week - since there are 3,000 people graduating, it takes 7 ceremonies over 5 days - there's a graduation ball with a sit-down meal but I didn't go (partly because it was $140 but mainly because I'd have had to catch the bus at 5pm, and my graduation ceremony didn't finish until 4pm - simply not enough time to get down the hill to my house, shower (it was July and air conditioning is not existent in the UK - my graduation ceremony was HOT) and get back up the hill for the coach).

 

[suzimar57]

my son graduates next year, and we're planning a nice dinner out, and a really nice cash gift (possibly $5000)

he'll need it, since he'll be living on his own, with all the expenses that go along with it (furniture, bedding, food)

something to help him start out