StrGess of Transition after Graduation goes both ways

GRADUATION...a two way street

Families and graduates are often unprepared for the emotions involved in the transition. It is certain that both the graduate and the graduation family face new challenges, as well as anxiety and fears.

Common Concerns for Graduating Seniors:

• Seniors face long term consequences are related to choices concerning college, career decisions, and making it on their own in an uncertain world.
• Seniors worry about parent's expectations, picking a college major or choosing the "right" job, financing college expenses.
• Seniors have concerns about losing close friends who are vital connections.
• Seniors have a generalized anxiety about the unknown after leaving the safety of the home environment.
• Concerns of the Graduating Family:
• Parents struggle with being "empty-nesters" and wonder what life will be like without focusing on their child.
• Many parents have financial concerns regarding the high cost of college in the 90's, as well as struggling with the complexities of applying for scholarships and financial aid.
• Parents report that they fear not "being there" to assist their children, noting safety concerns, and lack of input into their student's life in a culture, which is unpredictable.
• Suggestions to ease this time period and the adjustment process:
• Realize it is a natural life passage as well as a grieving passage (from childhood into adulthood). Discuss how you will still be there for each other during this time of transition.
• Discuss fears and concerns with your child. Open the door to meaningful discussion
• Speak openly about finances and budgets. It is important that everyone understands the limitations of the availability of money.
• College discussions should include safety/self care issues. Discuss safety concerns such as walking alone at night, protective skills for self-care, and issues of alcohol and drug abuse. It is essential that discussion center around daily life management skills such as time management, budgeting checkbooks, overspending, nutrition and health, and the importance of attending classes.
• Be open with your heart. Express your appreciation and your sentimental side. Share feelings of pride and gratitude. Unfortunately, many of us are still waiting to hear those words of encouragement in our adulthood. This is a chance to give your children what you may not have received from your own parents.

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  duHation Party

  Having a Graduation Party?
  

  Decorations:

  Mortar boards and tassels are the natural decoration themes for your graduation bash, as are glasses of champagne for the over-21 crowd. Look for congratulatory banners and balloons, and decorate flowers and tablecloths in your school colors to add to the school spirit.

  
  

  Honor your graduate by personalizing the decorations. Enlarge their annual school photographs and hang them in order to show how much they've changed-and how goofy they looked during their more awkward years.

  For graduates from high school or college who were involved in school activities like sports and afterschool clubs, you can make those interests part of your decorations. If you have photos of your grad engaging in those activities, frame them and use them in your decorations and centerpieces to remind the graduate of everything they've accomplished.

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  Autograph boards are great for commemorating both the graduation and your graduation party. Buy a large piece of poster board, glue a photo of your grad in the center and attach glitter pens and markers to it with string. Hang your poster on the wall or an easel and let guests sign it with good wishes. After the party, attach a matching frame on the poster and it becomes a great gift to your grad.

  
  

  A combination photo album and memory book also makes a special gift. At the party, ask your guests to write a personal message on the right side of a page. After the event, paste party photos on the left side of the page.

  
  

  A massage gift certificate is a relaxing treat after a hard school year -- or months of hard partying. For a theme-appropriate touch, roll the gift certificate into a scroll and tie with ribbon so it looks like a diploma.

  
  

  Activities:

  Plan a casual, fun open house for your grad, complete with dining and dancing, so guests can drop in and wish them well.

  
  

  A grad-centric trivia contest keeps that person the center of attention and lets friend and family get to know them better. Before the party, come up with a bunch of questions about the graduate and their school. Questions can range from general (what was the grad's toughest class, who was their favorite teacher) to personal (biggest crush, most embarrassing moment).

  
  

  To play, say a question out loud and let everybody guess. Give prizes for correct answers-or, to spice things up, give an additional prize to the most inventive answers to the questions.

  
  

  
  

  Food:

  If you're spending the day preparing for the graduation, you won't want to devote too much time to a fancy party. Keep the party (and the cleanup) simple and fun with a big buffet of mini-size food.

  
  

  Think mini pizzas, mini burgers, mini hot dogs, stuffed mushroom caps, even shrimp cocktails (just fill small cups with cocktail sauce and place three or four cold shrimp around the edge of the cup).

  
  

  For appetizers, put out crudités with assorted dips (hummus, onion dip, ranch dressing), and offer trays of assorted cupcakes for dessert. If you're feeling especially creative, tie a licorice lace around a cannoli to create your own edible diploma.

  
  

  
  

  Music:

  1. Mrs. Robinson / Simon and Garfunkel
  2. Graduation Day / Kanye West
  3. Congratulations / The Rolling Stones
  4. School's Out / Alice Cooper
  5. Old Friends / Willie Nelson
  6. Forever Young / Alphaville
  7. Goodbye / The Corrs
  8. Graduation (Friends Forever) / Vitamin C9.
  

With school districts across the country cutting summer school programs, what alternatives are available to parents who want to help their children avoid summertime regression and work on basic skills?
"Many children could use a little extra help in school and summer is a great time to get ahead or address problem areas," says Maria C. Montenegro, Center Director of the Huntington Learning Center of Chandler. "Certainly, learning doesn't have to stop because school is over. Summer is a perfect opportunity to boost your child's chances for success in school."
If summer school isn't offered at your child's school, try exploring other supplemental education alternatives--like a learning center. Montenegro lists the following advantages of supplemental education in the summer:
• Summer is an ideal time to fine-tune or improve skills. The hustle and bustle that accompanies the school year can be a great source of stress for many students who must juggle homework, activities, work and more. Without the pressure of typical school-year obligations--and seven or eight hours more free time each day for three months--many students are better able to reap the benefits of tutoring during the summer months.
• Your child is the focus. It's not unfathomable that a child who learns at a different pace or grasps concepts in a different manner might fall behind in a class of 20 or 30 students. At a learning center, teachers work with students individually or in small groups of three or four.
• Individualized teaching methods help get to the root of the problem. At Huntington, teachers perform an academic evaluation of each and every student before beginning instruction so that they can first understand the child's strengths and weaknesses. Afterward, a program of instruction is customized for the child--one that will meet his or her precise needs.
• Student progress is carefully measured. Inevitably in a classroom full of children, it is difficult for one teacher to closely monitor the progress of every single student. Quality supplemental education service providers measure student development at regular intervals and keep parents (and teachers, if requested) well-informed of their child's achievement.
Yet another advantage of working with a supplemental education service provider is convenience. "At Huntington, we accommodate families' schedules," says Montenegro. "If children continue to work with us during the school year, we're open weekends and evenings, too. Our goal is to give children the best education possible and we work with families to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible."
For more information, please contact Maria C. Montenegro at (480) 726-9100.
About Huntington Learning Center
Founded in 1977, Huntington Learning Center is the nation's longest-running supplemental education services provider. Today they continue to be an industry leader providing instruction in reading, writing, spelling, phonics, mathematics and study skills as well as SAT and ACT preparation to tens of thousands of students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Huntington prides itself on its unparalleled programs that help parents, caregivers and educators identify the gaps in skills and knowledge that can limit learning potential. Huntington's personalized programs of instruction enable children to excel. To learn more or to locate a center near you, call 1-800 CAN LEARN.