1 . How to plan a graduation party step by step

Is someone in your life about to graduate from school?     1     . So It is very important to get started by studying this party planning list.

Determine your budget

    2     . Determine how much you’d like to spend on food and drinks per person, plus the cost of the decorations, entertainment, and location rental. You can use an online party budget calculator to help you easily estimate your costs. If possible, co-host a party and share expenses with two or three families, all of whom have a graduate from a similar school or situation.

    3    

Determine if you or the guest-of-honor want to invite the entire graduating class to attend, a large bash of your closest friends and family, or whether it will be a more intimate family party. It’s perfectly acceptable to invite a few special guests to a graduation party, such as beloved teachers, coaches, or other faculty members. It’s also up to the host whether or not children of guests can attend.

Choose a location

Throwing a party at home may save you money, it’s easy to personalize, and it can be a welcoming and comforting place for others to gather. On the other hand, having a party at home is the labor and time that goes into cleaning your house before and after the party. The advantage of having a party at a restaurant or other venue is the ease of relying on an on-site manager or planner to handle the details, including the clean-up, which lets you have plenty of time to socialize.     4     .

Pick a party time

Timing can be tricky when it comes to graduation parties. May and June are often the busiest months for most families of graduates.     5       . One solution can be to combine a summer holiday with a graduation party when your family might be traveling to get together, such as on Memorial Day weekend, Father’s Day, or July 4th.

3 . I did return to college. But the pressure of a full-time job and college classes was hard to bear.

One Friday afternoon, a co-worker asked about my weekend plans. I tried to avoid these conversations because I had no money and schoolwork was demanding. To prevent any further conversation, I said, “Oh, I am taking a mini vacation, just a little weekend holiday.” There was surprise but no further conversation.

“What a cheat I am,” I thought. “And they will want details on Monday. It will just stress me more when they all find out that I lied.”

On the long drive home from work, I made a plan. I could pretend I was on vacation and never go anywhere. At home, I pulled down all the shades, checked my messages and shut off the phone. Then I jumped in the shower and put on sweats. With some snacks in my easy reach, I took out three books that I had been anxious to read for the past months. “Well, I am on vacation. This can be my imaginary holiday. I will check in with the world on Monday morning,” I said to myself. Then I cracked open the first book. By Sunday evening, I was well into the third book.

When the alarm went off on Monday morning, I dressed, had breakfast and went to work. I was busy when several co-workers came by. “Wow,” they said, “you must have had a great vacation. You look so rested.” It wasn’t until then that I realized I wasn't stressed anymore.

“Maybe,” I told them, “it was just an imaginary holiday.” They laughed and went off to their desks.

I did graduate from college eventually and got a job with some paid vacation. But I still take imaginary holidays where I turn off the phone and electronics, tell everyone that I will be “away” and spend a weekend reading.

I have decided that imaginary holidays are one way I can take care of myself. Perhaps that was part of my college education.

4 . Summer is coming. Are you looking for a part-time job? Here are some possible options.

Lifeguard

Are you a strong swimmer and a good communicator? Would you like a challenge? We are looking for lifeguards for our busy summer season. No experience is necessary as you will get two weeks of training before you start the job. As well as being physically fit, you need to be available for work Mon-Fri, 7- 11 a.m.

Store assistant

We are looking for store assistants for our busy gift store. Applicants need to be reliable, friendly, and enjoy speaking to customers. A second language is preferred as many of our customers are tourists from other countries. The positions are part-time and you need to work from Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Fashion designer

Are you interested in the latest styles? Are you creative and good at art? If so, Dresswise is looking for a young person to create new looks for our teen department. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in the clothing industry. You will need to work four days a week and we’ll pay you for each design we use. We’ll also give you samples of your designs to wear.

Game tester

Are you into technology and creative? Would you like to play and test educational games and get paid for it? This is an exciting part-time job for somebody who loves playing games. We offer flexible hours. If this is for you, write a description of your favorite game and why you like it in no more than 150 words.

If you are interested in any of the above jobs, please contact us at studentunrion @campus.com.

5 . A weekend workshop helping mums of children with a disability to recharge and relax has been praised as a success.

The mothers’ Weekend Workshop, coordinated by Disability Services Queensland’s Mount Gravatt Family and Early Childhood Services team, was held at Binna Burra in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Disability Services Queensland speech pathologist Jenny Henley says the weekend, attended by nine women, was a highly positive and rewarding experience for all involved.

“Parents and carers of children with a disability often have to deal with stressful and difficult situations,” she says.“They seldom have the opportunity to take a break from the daily pressures of everyday life.”

“This workshop was designed to give them some well-earned respite (暂时的休息) in a supportive and stress-free environment.

“We also aimed to give them an opportunity to network and learn new ways to keep their own physical and emotional health, as well as that of their partners and children.”

The activity-filled weekend included icebreaker activities, art and craft periods, massages, and a popular parent-to-parent workshop.

The workshop and open discussion periods provided parents with a supportive environment where they could talk about the highs and lows they experience as parents of children with a disability.

“Parents reported feeling more energized and better positioned to face their day-to-day lives,” Jenny says.

Following the weekend retreat (静修), most participants, their partners and children met again socially, eager to continue and develop their new support network.

Given the demand for places on the Mothers Weekend Workshop, Disability Services Queensland is planning to organize a similar event in 2018.