Dear Class of 2020,

You did it! You made it to the end of one chapter of your life, one stepping stone to becoming your best self, and to showing the world all the great things you can bring to the table. I know that it may not feel like a time for rejoicing or celebrating due to your graduation ceremony being cancelled or possibly postponed due to COVID-19; but remember, a virus and state-wide shutdowns, DID NOT hold you back from accomplishing your goals in 2020!

Although you may not have thought you would be in this place of not being able to gather with big parties or dinners with your family and friends, you should still celebrate! Engage those people in your life that want to celebrate you, and find an activity or way to express your accomplishments, because this opportunity only comes once in a lifetime. The very definition of celebrate is to “acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.”

Now, because there are restrictions on social gatherings, that does not mean there are restrictions on enjoyable activities, so plan something, or drop the ever not so subtle hint to your parents, partners, roomies, etc., to throw you a 2020 Safe Grad Bash!

Here are 5 ENJOYABLE activities that can help you celebrate your HUGE accomplishment in 2020:

1. Host a video party: Invite your friends, family, relatives, neighbors, people from church, people from school and sports teams, whoever you want! Create a slideshow to show off all your accomplishments and how you got to this point. Make it theme oriented for even more fun, have people dress up or bring props into the video party. At the end of the party, you can give everyone your address or Venmo account to send you Grad Gifts!

2. Invite friends to a Netflix (after) Party: Play your favorite school theme movie like Fast Times at Ridgemont High or National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, make some popcorn, get some snacks, and enjoy!

3. Make a meal or get take-out: Splurge a little, you deserve it! Try different foods from different local restaurants by using to-go orders or food service delivery from GrubHub, UberEats, DoorDash, or GoPuff for your snacking needs!

4. Make a grad themed Tik-Tok, Instagram, or Facebook Post with friends: Remember you aren’t celebrating alone, there are so many people in the world going through the same things you are right now! So, get with some other grads, create something fun, and go viral…or better yet, organize and try to set a world record for the most grads celebrating at the same time! (Just give me cred for the idea when you set the record!)

5. Create your own graduation ceremony: Wear your cap and gown, snap photos and videos, play your own walk out music, create your own ceremony, have your own speech, hire or ask someone to speak at YOUR graduation…the possibilities are endless. Be creative.

In closing, to the graduating class of 2020 I wish you the best in all of your feature endeavors, if you can make it through this, you can make it through anything. Take what you have learned from “social-distancing” and apply it to your future; learn to be patient, understanding, and kind to those you interact with everyday. You can be and do anything you want in life, as long as you start somewhere, and now is the time to begin again.

Be Bold. Be Creative. Be Kind. And Be You.

Please share your grad story below; what were your experiences, highs and lows, what things are you doing to make your special day more special and continue to celebrate? We want to hear it!