Graduating from Grade 12 is an exciting time for most students, their families and friends.
It finishes the first book in the series of their lives and now the next book will start, bringing more exciting and new things to their lives.
For months now, moms have taken their daughters shopping for the elegant formal gown and their sons have gone for fittings to make sure their suit is tailored exactly right.
The valedictorian is chosen, scholarship recipients are named, and awards will all be handed out the night of the big event.
Some schools will have a banquet, while others might have a parade with the graduates, and some will have an evening at the school. A formal photo will be taken, and it will hold memories for years to come.
The evening will consist of speeches, and thank yous to teachers and families for everything they have had to endure while the student went to school. Parents, grandparents and friends will sit in the audience feeling pride and other emotions running high as they see their child take a step into adulthood.
It is this night that will alter the path of many families as graduates go off to college and university. Some will remain close to home, while others travel far away and can only be reached by a phone call. This can be a scary time as students leave their families and friends behind to further their education in the career path they have chosen.
As the students are given their diplomas and the evening ends, it is time for the after-graduate party. The after-grad location is carefully selected and back in the day when my kids graduated, the location was top secret so the party would not be crashed by uninvited guests. I am not sure if the same rules apply today.
Vehicle keys were given to the adults in charge, and no one went home until the following morning when everyone was cleared to go. An abundance of food will be supplied, but there will also be plenty of alcohol.
First of all, the legal drinking age in Saskatchewan is 19 years of age, and most students graduating are under this age.
I do not mean to put a damper on things, but most parents try to discourage their children from drinking, yet at the graduation parties it is an accepted occasion.
According to a press release sent out by Drug Free Kids Canada, over half of the eager graduates will consume four to five drinks on this evening, which would push them highly over the legal limit for driving. This alarming number is 2 1/2 times higher than the national average for similar behavior at other times of the year.
That is a shocking number and one I feel is not necessary.
Who supplies the alcohol for these parties and are keys still taken away upon entering the premises?
Those who hold the party at their place, do you realize that if a student leaves the party and gets into an accident, you are liable?
We all want our kids to stay safe and enjoy their graduation, but they also need to remain smart about how much they are going to drink at this event.
It can lead to so many things. Drugs can also be a factor and this all might be regrettable later, but once done it cannot be undone.
So do your part in ensuring that all these students stay safe during and after the graduate party.
Be firm on the rules. Students do not drink and drive. If you need to go home, call a family member.
There were many times I received a call in the early morning hours to pick up kids. Of course I was not happy being woken up, but was sure happy that they felt comfortable calling me for a ride.
We all want our graduates to be able to have a healthy and fantastic future.
