interview Questions

Jenni Kistner

Since this will be your second round through graduation process and events, do you feel more or less pressure to meet the senior parent expectations (grad party, grad night, gifts, poster)? Probably less pressure. I know more what to expect and the time it takes.

Do you feel any pressure from your daughter to prepare for graduation? Maddie wants to be part of this process where as Tyler just wanted me to make all the decisions. She knows what she wants which makes it easier and we both are on the same wave length because we will be doing mostly the same as Tyler's.

What are your three biggest priorities to do for your daughter's graduation? Make sure she has all her credits, but really that is her responsibility. Applying for scholarships and she is still making a decision on what college to attend but has been accepted to all her top three choices. My main priorities is creating an album, poster and photo CD for her. I want to do that by mid April. I still need to order invitations which I will do in the next week.

Are you involved in any senior party commities, and if so, why? I am the chairperson for the Tickets/Publicity committee. I was co-chair for 2007 so I know how to do it. Why do I do it....I guess I just feel obligated to help out because I can.

Do you/when are you planning on making all the grad party arrangements?
I have reserved the tables and chairs and smoothie machine last month. I still need to order invitations which I will do next week. The food planning I will do in early May.


Can you elaborate on your duties in the senior party commity?
Promote the Grad Party in announcements, at lunchroom sales, in local papers, on district TV station; Sell and collect tickets, turn checks over to treasurer. Keep a list of all who reserved a ticket. Post list online; Order wristbands and print out labels for night of party to put on wristbands. Print schedule of events. Stuff lanyards with schedule, casino $, raffle tickets to hand out to kids; print out guidelines of party letter and put on chairs before grad rehearsal and go over expectations; Be in charge of getting all kids in the event quickly and efficiently; call parents of kids who don't show; makes sure kids who need scholarships for the ticket know how to get them. Go to monthly meetings and coordinate duties with rest of committee.



Bridget Handke

Since this is your first time going through the graduation process, can you specify on a couple major things that you didnt expect that are a big deal?
The most important component of senior year so far was the college application process. We did the college visits last year so we had that completed. My daughter did a great job in getting everything organized and out the door in time. There were moments of stress. The process was definitely was time consuming and another activity in our household that needed to be managed.


I also didn’t expect to have to start the party planning so early. I was advised to pick a date and order tables and chairs as soon as possible. I will soon be putting a list together of all the things we have to do for graduation. I might know more after that. The amount of work that needs to be done to our house is pretty big and fairly daunting. It might not all get done and I will have to be ok with that.

I didn’t expect Bravo to be as big a deal as it is. It’s a huge gigantic production that takes tons time for my daughter and to a lesser extent, us her parents. Since this is Jenny’s first time in Bravo, it has added a layer of complexity to the senior year I didn’t expect.

The entire senior year is extremely busy for both us and our daughter. She is often so busy we don’t get to see her much at night. She is learning to manage her time very well and it is good practice for when she goes away to college. For us her parents, it is just a peak at not having her around as much next year.

Are you involved in the senior committee, and if so, what do you do?
I am helping out on the ticket sale committee but this hasn’t taken too much time yet. I chose not to be a committee leader due to the other commitments in my life and I am happy with this decision.



How far are you in planning for my senior party?
We have picked the weekend and ordered tables and chairs. I have discussed the budget with my husband and we need to start researching costs. There is a lot left to do.


Are you feeling any stress of pressure to get this all locked in now?
So far there is only pressure from relatives wanting to know the date so they can plan their summer activities around it. Having out of town relatives come to the party may add to the stress on one hand, but could also relieve stress by having a lot of helping hands on the actual party day.


Are you excited to get it over with, or do you want to make it last?
I am not a party planner by nature so I look at the senior party as a task to do. I am neither looking forward to it nor dreading it. As far as the whole senior year goes, I am more conscious that my daughter won’t be around much next year so I am trying to savor every day and enjoy it. I would like to make that part last.



Dan Handke

Since this is your first time going through the graduation process, can you specify on a couple major things that you didnt expect that are a big deal?
The senior year in general is a big deal. It is a milestone event. Happy and sad at the same time. It makes a dad feel old and poor. I had no idea that the graduation party was such a big deal. It's mega expensive. And you tell me that most of the kids will show up just for the free food. I am considering charging a small admission fee. Or I may play the ukulele and sing so that no one over stays their welcome. The biggest deal of your graduation for me is that it is making me think back of fun times we had when you were a little girl -like chasing you around the house with the alligator head until mom made us stop, and of what a great person you have turned out to be.

Are you feeling any stress at all about graduation and everything that goes with it?
I was not until your mom told me how much it will cost.


How far are you in planning for my senior party?
Mom just picked the date a cpl days ago. She has ordered some furnishings so that all those kids who just show up for the free food will have a place to sit.


Are you feeling any outside stress or pressure (from other parents, the school, spouse, or me) to get this all locked in now?
No. Only to support mom with getting the must-have items locked in.


Are you excited to get it over with, or do you want to make it last?
Both. I look fwd to meeting more of your friends. I hope we get a chance to talk in the midst of all the action. It's been an exciting 18 years and I'm just beginning to realize how great it actually was.