Graduation is exciting, stressful, emotional, and honestly surreal. What do you mean the past 12 years of school are ending in less than a week? After spending four years in high school, it can feel strange and also scary knowing it is about to end. As graduation gets closer, here are three things you can do to prepare for graduation.
Study for Finals and Finish Strong
Even though graduation is coming close, classes are not yet over. A lot of seniors experience something called “senioritis,” a disease that seems to destroy the grade point average (GPA) and test scores during the last few months of school. However, as much as I hate to say it, finals still matter. Some classes can heavily affect your final grade, so it is important to stay focused until the very end.
Seniors should also remember that many colleges can place students on academic probation or even reconsider admission offers if grades drop. Usually it is C or below but it is important to check the rules of your prospective college. Ending high school on a strong note feels much better than giving up and letting the last four years of hard work go to waste.
Take Graduation Pictures
Graduation is something memorable that you should capture and look back on years later. What better way to do that than taking grad photos with friends and family. High school goes by faster than most people expect and these pictures become memories of the people and places that were part of your everyday life for the last four years.
Some popular spots around Los Angeles (LA) include Pasadena City Hall, Santa Monica Pier, Huntington Library Gardens, and any beach location. Additionally, if your college campus is nearby a lot of students will be taking photos posing with their college flag. Furthermore a popular trend on social media is taking photos in some sort of vintage photo booth that you find around LA. If this is something that sparks your interest, you can look for some in your respected areas, with one booth I suggest is any Booth by Bryant that has the perfect black and white vintage color grading.
Senior Activities Week
Arcadia ASB is hosting Senior Activities Week, which consists of fun events for all of the seniors before they graduate. Starting the week of May 26, each day includes activities for seniors to enjoy with their classmates before the school year comes to an end. Tuesday will feature a drive-in movie night at the PAC parking lot from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Seniors can sit in their cars while eating popcorn and enjoying the Disney movie Big Hero 6 with friends. Wednesday is Senior Sunset at Salter Stadium from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Students can relax on the field, watch the sunset, enjoy snacks, and take cute digi camera photos. Seniors are encouraged to bring their own blankets as it might be cold.
Thursday is College Chalk Day in the S Building courtyard from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students can celebrate their future schools by drawing college logos and posing around with friends. Friday is Senior Activity Day beginning at 8:00 a.m. Activities include cap and gown distribution, senior breakfast, T-shirt distribution, yearbook signing, senior letter retrieval, a photo booth, games, and a senior talent show. Games include giant Connect 4, Twister, Spikeball, and four-square. Later in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., seniors will participate in Grad Run to their respective middle schools to close out the week’s celebrations.
As graduation approaches, it is important for seniors to remember that these final weeks of high school go by quickly. Between finals, graduation pictures, and Senior Activities Week, there are countless opportunities to make lasting memories before everyone begins the next chapter of their lives.
