By Jasmine Fung, Staff Writer

The summer after senior year of high school can be exciting and free-spirited. Without summer assignments or strict routines to hold down many graduating seniors, this summer is meant to be spent creating precious memories as they move on from high school. However, letting go of lifelong friends can be distressful and leave students in a helpless state. The upcoming summer would be the perfect moment in order to create those memories with their high school friends. In order to celebrate the end of their high school career and valuable friendships, many graduating students begin to plan their upcoming senior trips. From exotic destinations to local trips within California, many seniors may be wondering about how to talk their parents into allowing them to go on a once in a lifetime trip. 

One of the first things that comes to mind when discussing a potential vacation is the budget. Budget encompasses everything that will be necessary on the senior trip such as airfare, food, housing, and activities to partake in during the trip. All these factors add up and one must be careful in planning to make sure that they have enough money for their trip. Varying from family to family, some will be willing to lend some money to their kids for their senior trip. Others might be less willing and more strict about the money they throw around, unless their child can afford it themselves. For the seniors that find themselves in this scenario, getting and holding down a paying job can fulfill the fixed budget set for the senior trip, depending on destination and duration. The more time seniors make for themselves to hold down said job and make extra cash, the more money they are able to spend on their trip. Scheduling the trip later in the summer can allow more time to save up for a more expensive trip while planning a getaway earlier in the summer can restrict space for a larger budget. Similarly, organizing a local trip without costly airfare or luxury accommodations will be a lot easier to afford as well. From another perspective, a student earning and spending their own money can prove their sense of financial responsibility, capability, and independence–another important factor in their parent’s decision in not only allowing them to go, but deciding if they can trust their child to be accountable for any monetary amount that they may let them borrow.

Besides financial management, other behaviors could also factor into parents’ permission regarding a senior trip. If a student has created an irresponsible and reckless image, their parents’ decision will be negatively influenced by their previous pattern of conduct and demeanor. While it may be hard, seniors who want to effectively convince their parents can start by doing things that they might not normally do without being asked to first. If students are able to present themselves as capable, functioning people in the real world, parents will be more likely to be persuaded to give their permission. Simple things such as doing more housework or showing improvements in your grades can go a long way to show your parents your commitment and effort into convincing them to let you go on a senior trip.

However, none of this matters if parents are not guaranteed their child’s safety. Travelling to far destinations without a guardian present could set alarms off, especially if parents are not clear about the details about the trip. Providing a detailed plan about the places and activities will reassure parents about the overall safety of the trip. Including parents’ opinions about factors such as hotels and method of transportation in the planning of the trip can also give them a sigh of relief knowing that they were involved in the planning process and are knowledgeable about the itinerary. Another method to talk through to parents is compromising with their requirements such as calling or texting everyday or maybe the duration of the trip. For parents, letting go of their child on a vacation alone with other people might not be easy, but making efforts to alleviate their worries regarding safety and security could possibly convince them to give their permission and support. Perhaps another option, though unpopular, may be that your parents accompany you on your senior trip. They would not always be with you during your trip , but would be within reach if anything were to happen. Seniors may not want to go this route, but senior trips are all about compromising to see   the possibilities of your endeavors. All together, a senior’s safety comes back to the reliability and maturity of the senior. If their parents can trust them with going on a trip by themselves, the issue of safety becomes one of less concern even when safety is the top priority.

There are countless ideas for where to take your senior trip and they range from grand luxurious vacations to small getaways to the next town over.  Locally, there are many great places to take a senior trip. The more obvious spots are amusement parks such as DisneyLand, California Adventure, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. There is also room for taking a trip to the beach in Half Moon Bay or even visiting the aquarium in Monterey. If you are looking for something more exotic and have a larger budget, anywhere outside of the country is an ideal destination. There are the warm and sunny Carribean islands or maybe you’re looking for a  tour of the numerous museums in Europe. Anywhere you travel can have the potentials of a great senior trip; it is just a matter of planning carefully and enjoying yourself no matter what may happen. Wherever you may want to go and have the means to do so, there are always alternatives and ways to make your senior trip one of the most memorable experiences of your life.   

Nevertheless, senior trips don’t have to be grand, expensive, and exotic. Spending quality time with friends and creating lifelong memories will be the end result regardless of the destination. Going with good, trusted friends will ensure a wonderful time without needing to spend too much money or going to far places. At the very least, travelling and hopping around the Bay Area can still bring new experiences and memories in place of a traditionally planned senior trip. At the end of the day, a senior trip is about making memories with best friends and reminiscing about the time left before everyone begins to move on from high school and start a new chapter.