Erin Yarwood is a journalism senior and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
Graduation weekend marks the end of an era. It’s the celebration you’ve been waiting for, or the one you’ve been dreading. Either way, it’s a big deal and you (and your friends and family) need to soak up every last memory before you toss your cap.
Here’s your essential Grad Weekend Bucket List to make the most of the chance of your achievement. You deserve it!
- Take Your Grad Pics
Cap. Gown. Rolling green hills. Your best friends. By grad weekend, most of the graduating class had already taken their formal graduation pictures. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring a digital or film camera everywhere you go. Besides, the candids are always better.
- Morning Bar Crawl
SLO bar crawls are a rite of passage, and a morning of graduation bar crawl is a time honored tradition. It’s the perfect time for one last early morning cheers. Rally your crew, including your family members that you can convince, and hit the bars early. Bonus points if you take a shot with your grandparents. The earliest ones will be open at 6 a.m. on Saturday.
- Host a BBQ with the Fam
A beautiful weekend in SLO calls for an afternoon in the sun with a hot dog or burger. Whether it’s your parents, aunt and uncle or family friends, host a casual BBQ to celebrate with the people who have traveled from near and far to support you. Or, if you’re feeling lazy, bring in food from SLO barbecue classics like Firestone or Old Slo BBQ.
- Toss Your Shoes
This symbolic tradition is a must. All those shoes on the power lines around SLO were students here, too. Tossing your shoes on the wire near your house or campus is a symbol of the end of your student journey, until they’re taken down by public services. Don’t forget to sign your name on them!
- Eat Your Favorite SLO Foods
You can’t graduate without one more bite of your favorite SLO staples. Especially if it’s on Mom and Dad this weekend. Whether it’s tri-tip or pulled pork at Firestone, a High Street sandwich, a burrito from Taqueria Santa Cruz or one last SloDoCodonut, make sure to indulge in the foods that fueled you throughout your time at Cal Poly. Consider it a farewell tour.
- Sell Your Furniture
On a completely different note, it’s time to move out. You’ll probably want to get this one done before grad weekend. Having less furniture is going to make moving out a lot easier, and you’ll get some cash in your pocket too. Remember when you were moving into your first off-campus apartment and got a killer deal on your couch? Now is the time to pay it forward.
- One Last Sunset
One of my favorite things about SLO is the sunsets. Go to Avila for a sunset swim one last time. Or sit on a bench at Shell Beach and take it all in. Prefumo, the P, Bishop’s; the options are endless in SLO.
- Hug Your Friends
The hardest part of leaving isn’t the finals or the packing, it’s leaving the people. Hug your friends and show each other some love. You are going to be scattering to different cities and jobs, so make the most of it while you can. Graduation doesn’t have to mean goodbye forever, but you should probably still squeeze your friends a little tighter this time.
However you celebrate graduation weekend, make the most of it. Graduating from Cal Poly is an incredible achievement, and you deserve to celebrate your special moment with your loved ones. Congratulations!
