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The Summer after Graduation: 7 Must-Do Activities

May 30th, 2008, 10:22 am

Along with backyard barbeques, pool parties, and outdoor festivals, the transition from spring to summer also marks the season for graduations. Whether you’re celebrating the culmination of your high-school years or winding down your college career, receiving that long-awaited diploma marks not just the end of an educational vocation, but the beginning of a whole new chapter of your life.

Each spring, graduating students are immersed in preparations for the big milestone: ordering their caps and gowns, cramming for final exams, and bidding farewell to favorite teachers and fellow classmates. But after the tassels have been turned and the textbooks have been stored away, the summer after commencement can loom long and uncertain. After so many months of bustling activity, too much downtime can be disconcerting. Below, we’ve compiled some suggestions for fun and productive things you can do during the summer months after graduation.

Throw a party. It may go without saying, but your years of hard work have earned you the right to celebrate. Even if it’s just a relaxed, intimate barbeque with close family and friends, your accomplishment deserves to be recognized. For added festivity, consider commemorating the event by throwing a combined graduation party along with some of your fellow classmates. Dress up your venue with graduation party decorations in your school colors and old pictures from grade-school and junior-high. For a refreshing twist, consider a themed party, such as a disco or ‘80s party, where everyone is encouraged to dress in a certain style of clothing. Don’t forget the music!
Create a scrapbook. For a lasting memento of your high-school or college years, flex your creative muscles and create a graduation scrapbook of photos, cards, important papers, and other keepsakes that mark milestones of your educational career. Include papers or report cards of which you’re particularly proud, notes from favorite teachers, tickets to school sporting events or performances and, of course, your hard-earned diploma. Accent the pages with graduation cutouts and party favors.
Decorate your dorm. If this summer marks a transition from high-school to college, focus on creating your new home away from home. If you’ll be living in a college dorm or campus apartment, you should start making lists of what you need, what you already have, and things that need to be done to prepare your new space. If you’ll be dorming with one or more roommates, keep the lines of communication open to ensure you’re all on the same page as far as decorating themes and sleeping arrangements. Browse home décor websites to get a feel for the styles you prefer. Be sure to check your school’s guidelines for what types of appliances and furnishings are permitted in your dorm room.
Work. If you’re graduating from college and have already secured your first “real job,” you may be transitioning immediately into the corporate world. After four or more years in a comfortable college environment, being thrust into a more rigid, structured setting can be a culture shock for many new professionals. To help ease the transition, consider seeking out a mentor at your new place of employment who can help get you acclimated. For more support, stay in touch with former classmates who are also forging their place in the working world.
Travel. Take advantage of your break to visit places you’ve always wanted to see. Select a locale that matches your objective. If your goal is relaxation, you may want to book a trip to the beach for a week of sunbathing. For a dose of culture or to supplement your chosen area of study, you might prefer to travel abroad to a more exotic location. To use your time to help those in need, consider joining an international volunteer program. Whatever destination you choose, the summer after graduation affords a unique opportunity for an enlightening excursion.
Intern. Enterprising graduates often use the summer after commencement as an opportunity to secure an internship to help them prepare for their chosen area of study or as a transition into their selected vocation. Many internships are either unpaid or offer very modest salaries, but their resume-building capabilities are priceless.
Relax. Above all, the summer after graduation should be a time to celebrate your achievements, enjoy summer parties with family and friends, and take a much-deserved respite from all of your hard work.

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Memorial Day – History & Ways to Celebrate

May 18th, 2008, 6:53 pm

Most of us anticipate Memorial Day for its cookouts, warm weather, and three-day weekend, but for those whose loved ones have helped to protect our nation’s freedoms by serving in the military, the holiday is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by veterans and fallen soldiers. Memorial Day was first observed in May of 1968, as decreed by General John A. Logan, when thousands of people congregated at Arlington National Cemetery to decorate the graves of the Confederate and Union soldiers who had lost their lives in the Civil War. Because of this, the holiday was originally called “Decoration Day”—an official name given to an occasion many Southern and Northern cities had already been observing for several years. Over time, Memorial Day’s reach extended to honor the fallen soldiers not only from the Civil War, but from all national and international military conflicts.

When President Lyndon Johnson entered office in 1966, the Memorial Day holiday was given an official site—Waterloo, New York. The town was chosen because of the spirited and significant way in which they celebrated the holiday, going so far as to close down local businesses. Memorial Day was declared a national holiday in 1971. Originally occurring on May 30^th, it was later shifted to the last Monday in May, providing the opportunity to celebrate during a three-day weekend. Some veterans and political advocates have pushed to return to its traditional fixed date to preserve the significance of the holiday.

National Observances of Memorial Day

Today, the first celebration of “Decoration Day” is echoed each year at Arlington National Cemetery, when thousands re-convene to decorate each grave with a miniature American flag. The president or vice-president addresses the crowd with a speech and places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

There are several traditional ways in which Memorial Day is celebrated throughout the country. At 3:00 PM Eastern time on the holiday, a national moment of remembrance is observed, with the American flag lowered to half-mast until noon. Many citizens visit gravesites and memorials to show their appreciation of the ultimate sacrifice made by our country’s soldiers. A large number of communities hold patriotic festivals and events, often attended by prominent local leaders and politicians.

For hundreds of thousands of households across the country, Memorial Day has become synonymous with ushering in the start of summer. Because it’s always preceded by a weekend, the holiday is often celebrated with cookouts, picnics, and family reunions. Many families add spirit to the venue with patriotic party decorations, American flags, and fireworks displays. In recent years, Memorial Day has provided an opportunity to demonstrate support for the troops serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. The holiday is also often used to remember non-military loved ones who have passed away.

Unique Ways to Observe Memorial Day

If you’re looking for an unconventional way to commemorate this patriotic holiday, go beyond the traditional burgers and hot dogs and try one of these unique tributes:

Take part in the National Moment of Remembrance. At 3:00 PM Eastern time on Memorial Day, pause for one minute and silently give thanks to those who have sacrificed their time, their families, or their lives for their country.
Visit a vet. Across the country, veteran hospitals house thousands of war veterans who are living with physical disabilities or long-term psychological trauma as a result of their war experiences. Sadly, many of these veterans don’t have family members to visit them. On Memorial Day, show these soldiers that they have not been forgotten by stopping in for a visit. Bring along a treat or patriotic party favor, such as miniature American flags or red, white, and blue cookies, and distribute them to the residents.
Wear the nation’s colors. Show your silent support all day long by wearing red, white, and blue. It can be something as simple as a flag pin or badge, or add a more festive flair by wearing an Uncle Sam top hat, patriotic arm band, or American flag shirt. Either way, patriotic apparel is an easy way to show your spirit.
Visit a gravesite. Even if you don’t personally know anyone who has served in the military, that doesn’t mean you can’t show your appreciation. Go to a cemetery and decorate the gravesite of a fallen soldier—preferably one that looks like it probably hasn’t been visited in quite some time.
Educate kids. Let youngsters know that Memorial Day means more than just fireworks and hot dogs. Pass on the holiday’s history and significance by reading them historical stories and exposing them to parades and other patriotic events.
Make a donation. There are lots of organizations who funnel much-needed funds to the families of wounded or deceased soldiers. Whether it’s five dollars or one hundred, your contribution will help to raise spirits and improve living conditions.

This Memorial Day, choose your own unique way to celebrate the start of summer and commemorate the priceless contributions of our country’s servicemen and women. At Party Favor Mall, you’ll find a spirited array of patriotic party decorations and Memorial Day party supplies to give your event the spirit it deserves.

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