First, try going to the guidence counsellor and explain that due to your parents' divorce and father's remarriage, you have a large family circle and are in a difficult position trying to satisfying everyone's interest in being there that day. Ask if it is possible to have just one more ticket. Maybe you'll have to talk to someoneone else in administration, but keep trying. Also, see if any of your friends will have an extra ticket. Just one more ticket means that everyone is happy and you can avoid hurt feelings -- including yours.

That is a far better solution than Prudie's.

perhaps someone could even be persuaded to sell a ticket if they didn't just want to give it away. nothing like a financial incentive. lots of people find themselves in this boat each year, and i wish families would be more understanding of the stress they put on the graduate who should be celebrating their achievement and not worrying about how to make peace between the family....

Good advice to get another ticket. I wouldn't hold my breath on the school bureaucracy coming through for her, though. The phrase "if we did it for you, we'd have to do it for everyone" springs to mind.

Among her friends there is probably at least one extra ticket kicking around. That is, if they are really her friends....

Or, go find some loner with extra tickets and get one of his.

A lot of times, graduates are asked to turn in tickets they don't plan to use. There may well be a spare. Or as stated before, buy one from an only child of non-divorced parents with no other relatives.

When I graduated high school, we were allowed 2 tickets each and had to apply for more on a lottery basis.

When I graduated college, we were allocated 4 tickets each and had to apply for more on a lottery basis.

When I graduated grad school, same again.

I think this irritated graduate should count his or her blessings that 1) they were lucky enough to go to college, 2) they are lucky enough to have a loving family who are all clamouring to be there for the graduation and 3) they've got as many tickets as they do.

Oh and for grad school I had to pay for all of my guests' tickets. Obviously I never told my guests that (except my boyfriend!) because it would be remarkably poor taste but i'll add on a 4) they're lucky they don't have to pay for the privelege.