Graduation Day is the day you can say ‘I’ve done it’, a milestone in your
life. Graduation is a transition between childhood and adulthood, a final
farewell bash after the years of school.
Graduation ceremonies can be a solemn occasion or time for celebration. It’s
time to bid good-bye to the ‘seniors’ or outgoing students. As the graduates
come out with stars in their eyes & dreams in their heart, share their joy and
let them know how proud you are, so reach out to your newly graduated son/
daughter/ grandchild/ friend/ sibling/ senior/ dear ones with ecards, gifts and
wish them good luck for their future endeavours.
Graduation is
the true beginning of the ‘rest of our lives’. For one evening, it's
celebration, and then childhood is left behind & all set to enter a world of
independence and adult responsibilities.
A graduation ceremony is a cultural tradition termed as a rite of passage, a
ritual or ceremony that marks one stage of a person's life to another. Each
culture either creates it's own rite of passage ceremony, or acquires one being
handed-down (tradition) or both; and, will form a new ritual based on the
current moment. The graduation ceremony dates back to the 12th century. Some
feel it began with scholastic monks with their ceremonies in robes and has
evolved to fit the society in which it is celebrated ever since.
There are two ceremonies Baccalaureate & Commencement. The baccalaureate
ceremony is considered the highlight of the school year. It is especially a time
to formally recognize the achievements of students who are in honor societies
and who have earned academic excellence. In other words, it's for those who
truly studied, did not cheat or steal ideas off others and truly were honest and
worked to be the best of what they could be.
The commencement is when the graduates are handed their diplomas and walk across
the stage and flip the tassels on their hats upon receiving their degrees and
handshake. However, with some schools having both the ceremonies is too
expensive and a lot of work, so the baccalaureate is blending with the
commencement, sometimes making it a long event.
After the ceremony, graduates head home for a day of much needed rest, and then
many rush to the local photo shop to have their films developed. Many meet in
the days to follow, for other graduation parties and to exchange photos. Grads
recognize commencement as a celebration of academic accomplishments and, just as
important, a time to commemorate the friendships they had formed.
