Graduation

 

As the tassels move from right to left, we celebrate the closing of a chapter in a student’s life. Whether they’re going to high school, off to a college or into the workplace, they have achieved this status, and will forever be able to put on their resumes, graduate.

 

Thousands of students graduated from colleges around the country these past few weeks. Locally, Hinsdale South graduated 386 last night, and Hinsdale Central will graduate 721 students during its ceremony this evening. Two hundred forty-eight students from Hinsdale Middle School and 227 from Clarendon Hills Middle School will celebrate at a graduation ceremony hosted at Hinsdale Central on Monday, June 4.

 

The graduates have worked hard, and now they will celebrate. If you haven’t noticed, parties are going on everywhere. There will be lots of balloons and plenty of cake. These parties are not just for the families of the graduates you deserve one too.

 

Everyone who paid a property tax bill lately has earned the right to some celebratory cake. At a recent trip to Jewel-Osco at Holmes Ave. and 55th Street, it appeared they were beefing up on supplies; balloons and cakes were everywhere. Sue’s Cakery in downtown Clarendon Hills has been baking up a storm, and is doing its best keeping up with the demand.

 

Besides cake, what is the appropriate gift to give a graduate close to your family? I’m sure plenty of insightful and personalized gifts come to mind, but unless it’s laced with some “greenery,” it may not be as well-received. Money is the number one gift choice for kids these days.

 

The last time I checked at Joelle’s Hallmark Shop, there were plenty of money cards for sale. But if you want to be creative (and receive a big smile), give them big bills and make them work to get them. The Hallmark Web site demonstrates how a clear jar can be filled with bills wrapped in personalized messages tied up by a ribbon. This will go over well.

 

I especially liked the idea of filling clear balloons with some U.S. currency Hamiltons, Jacksons, Grants and Franklins. They will certainly enjoy popping their gifts to get to the prize.

 

All of the partying and gift-giving can be stressful too.

 

I recently spoke to John Adams, a Clarendon Hills resident, about managing this stress throughout the festivities. He and his wife Sherri raised their three children on Bonnie Lane (all of whom have graduated from Hinsdale Central). John told me, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and don’t get caught up in the drama that happens during graduation.” He said that they decided during the last high-school graduation celebration to take a step back and just observe, and enjoyed the important moments. They didn’t worry about getting the perfect photos they captured them in their minds.

 

Some parents are hoping this is the moment the graduate gets a celebratory push out of the nest. For Amy and I, we have an eighth-grader who will soon move that tassel from right to left, and then hold on for another four years before he flies that nest.

 

But I like how Dr. Seuss said it best:

 

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

 

Mike is a Clarendon Hills resident; husband; Indian Princess; Indian Guide Dad; a Coach; an “old” football player and a real estate broker. Mike’s columns are usually crafted about the buzz in and around the area. It sometimes has a spin on real estate or cultural information, highlight a new business or announce school happenings. He might include a “get-to-know” about some of our interesting residents, or maybe a little about history. Whatever it is, it is sure to be about the “Talk of the Town”.