The Extended Definition
of
Graduation
Graduation Season is approaching quickly and for some, has already begun. It's the time of year where we often think back to the cliche movie scenes with the hundreds of graduates throwing caps in the air and smiling.
Graduation is the receiving of an academic degree or diploma often times with a large ceremony. For others, graduation may be known as commencement, promotion, or simply ceremony. Commencement is often used as it marks the beginning of students' new lives in the world and the beginning of their professional life. Generally, during these long ceremonies parents and friends attending fill in seats and sit for long hours watching as each student receives their academic degree or academic award. Most often these ceremonies begin with the graduates walking down the aisles to their seats while the accompanying orchestra or band or symphony plays pomp and circumstance. It's the graduation song. In some cases, students are already seated beforehand. Following the entrance, everyone rises for the pledge, and remains standing when the national anthem is sung by the choir or a vocal group. The ceremony officially begins with an introduction and welcome talk and is followed by speeches given by faculty, students, and at colleges and universities often guest speakers. Awards as well are distributed as recognition for students excellency or contribution to the school.
After high school and college, you may be parting ways with some of your closest friends, but it’s sometimes good to keep in mind that almost everyone comes home for the holidays, and you’ll always have their phone number for a random chat. It’s always sad to see friends come and go, but that’s a part of life.
That being said, graduation can still be an emotional experience. In the long ride that is graduation, emotional highlights may include: receiving your degree or diploma, the choir singing, a classmate’s speech, a faculty's speech, or even simply a friend squeezing your hand while you two sit side by side waiting.
To those graduating soon, graduation, commencement, whatever you wish to label it as, it’s going to be boring, and it’s going to be exciting, and you’re not going to be ready for it. Congratulations, you made it.
Nicole Stetsyuk