How to Stay Entertained at a Graduation Ceremony

Years ago, graduation ceremonies moved along rather quickly, because the class sizes were smaller. Today, some high schools have more than 750 students graduating each year. Each student needs to have her moment of hearing her name called, taking the diploma in hand and crossing the platform. Watching hundreds, and even thousands, of other graduates take their diplomas can seem like a long, boring process for some of the people attending the graduation ceremony. However, it is possible to stay entertained at a graduation ceremony with a little preparation. Read on to learn how to stay entertained at a graduation ceremony.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cell phone
• Pen
• Paper
• Crayons
• Coloring books
• Small toys
• Portable game player
• Ipod
• Portable DVD player
• Headphones

1. Find a small bag to carry some of your supplies with you to help you stay entertained during the graduation ceremony.
2. Pack the bag with any or all of the following: pen, paper, portable game system, iPod, portable DVD player and headphones. If you have any other small hand-held games you like to play, pack them too.
3. Arrive early enough to have your choice in seats. If you have small kids with you, consider sitting as close to an exit as possible so that you can take the kids to the hallway as needed.
4. Enjoy the music at the beginning of the graduation ceremony if it is performed live.
5. Listen closely to the speaker. You may even want to jot down a few notes if he says something you feel is worth remembering in the future. Universities usually have very successful people deliver speeches, which can be a good time to learn something from a proven success story.
6. Break out the toys and games to stay entertained once the announcers start calling out names. Make sure you know when your graduate will walk across the stage by keeping track of the progression of names. If you have headphones on, keep the volume low so you can still hear what is happening.
7. Use the paper and pen to draw or play an old-fashioned game like tic-tac-toe.
8. Text message friends or play a game on your cell phone.
9. Put everything away with about 30 names left on the list so you are ready to go when the ceremony ends.

Tips & Warnings

• For younger kids, bring along some coloring books and small toys they will enjoy as names are announced.
• Bring some small snacks for kids if the graduation ceremony lasts more than two hours. Once kids get hungry, they often let the world know about it. Avoid sugar-based snacks and candy that will only energize the kids.
• Get a couple of headphone jack splitters so more than one person can watch a movie, listen to music or listen to a game.
• Make sure the batteries are fully charged or brand new to provide you with hours of entertainment. You don't want to start your hand-held game system only to watch the screen fade after 10 minutes of playing.