Graduation is the final send-off before the seniors begin to pursue their dreams. It is seen as a privilege and it shouldn’t be taken for granted as it is the last high school event that seniors get the chance to attend. Students, especially graduating seniors, tend to go all out at the end of the school, but in order for them to have fun times and be able to make happy memories, there are some key tips that everyone should follow to truly have the best end of the year of their lives.
The Dangers
As revealed by Primo Prevention, there are many risks and hazards at end of the year events for seniors. Whether it’s to try something new or being pressured to come out of your comfort zone, it can be hard to say no in big crowds.
Alcohol is one of the most common risks. No matter if the consequence is being stuck in a drunk driving accident or getting caught up with alcohol poisoning, alcohol is a major concern at end of the year parties. Being aware of your situation, like planning a ride or sleeping over, and intake can save your life or others. In the article by Primo Prevention, it was mentioned that “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 20 percent of high school students have ridden with a driver that had been drinking.” Not only this but in the same article, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there are 48 teenagers who die during a regular prom weekend.
Unfortunately, drugs are also something to be aware of at end of the year events. The consumption of drugs is a big problem, no matter what the drug is. Some common drugs are ecstasy, prescription drugs, marijuana, and some other stimulants. The reason for students and teenagers taking drugs is simply the fact of wanting to fit in with their friends and to have a good time. There are many injuries during the event, some tend to come from overdosing and impaired judgment. Again, it may be impossible to avoid drug or alcohol use at events, so awareness of who you are with and what they are doing can save your life or others.
Not only are alcohol and drugs a big problem, but so is dating. Everyone wants to be able to end the year with memories and on a high note, but getting caught up in the moment can lead to major incidents. In Primo Prevention’s article, it is said that end of the year events are “notorious for sexual assault and harassment incidents. From people taking advantage of someone who is intoxicated to purposefully drugging other students, sexual assaults can happen…”
Overall, a majority of seniors will be safe and make amazing memories at the end of their senior year. It’s important to remember how to be safe and keep those safe around you.
For Students
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wrote an article about how students can be careful when they are driving between end of the year events. The most important ideas that the article had mentioned were that teens should be driving sober. Not only is it illegal for teens to be drinking, but no one should be getting in a car with someone that they know might not be the most sober. Everyone should buckle up when in a vehicle, whether you are driving or in any of the passenger seats, it is safest to have your seatbelt fastened. In general, all passengers should be alert and paying attention whether they are driving or not; an extra set of eyes can ensure safety on the roads. Don’t get distracted while driving and make sure that you are awake enough by the end of the night to drive.
Life360’s article introduced more information about how teens can be safe celebrating graduation. The basic tips that were stated were to keep close to your friends, properly plan rides to wherever you will be going for the night, know your limits if you do find yourself drinking, and share your location with your parents (along with keeping your phone charged and handy) in case something unexpected happens.
Lastly, in an article by Communities for Alcohol and Drug Free Youth it also stressed that anyone attending end of the year parties should make sure that they plan their entire night out. Along with having a solid plan, it would be ideal for teens to get the right amount of sleep, make sure to be in school, and overall be aware of their surroundings and any of the risks that they may be taking.
For Parents
When looking back at the NHTSA article, parents were given very descriptive and important information that could help them make sure their teens are safe when attending events. Parents were given the ideas to call a cab for their teens to avoid possibilities of getting stuck driving after drinking, make sure that boundaries are set in place in order to be able to still keep teens safe, and to offer to host parties (which don’t have to be fully blown out, can also just be a few friends to make sure that there is supervision).
From the Life360 article, the key takeaways for parents were to cover all of the possible dangers that may come, build trust as a parent with your teen so they know that they can call you even if it’s something bad, make sure to check in, along with share and confirm locations of parties and other post graduation events, and to plan out rides to and from parties plus other destinations (if there may be any).
To conclude, Communities for Alcohol and Drug Free Youth has stated that parents should know and have contact with the group that your teen will be surrounded by, be sure that your teen has their phone charged and are reachable, and make sure to know if any plans are changed.
Be sure to be prepared, and all your end of the year events should be fun and enjoyable for all. Don’t ruin these amazing times for yourself and for others because you did not know how to stay entertained in a safe manner.
