The Pros and Cons of Attending Your Graduation Ceremony

With graduation season coming up, you might be debating whether it’s worth attending your graduation ceremony.

Graduating is a significant achievement that deserves to be celebrated. However, the reality is not everyone wants to attend a big graduation ceremony with many other students.

This raises the question…

Do I Need to Attend My Graduation Ceremony?

Attending your graduation ceremony is not mandatory. Many students will skip the commencement ceremony for various reasons. As long as you’ve completed all of the requirements, then you will graduate.

The purpose of a graduation ceremony is to celebrate the students who completed their academic programs. If you prefer to celebrate your graduation differently, or simply be more low key, then you can do so.

In this post, I share the pros and cons of attending your graduation ceremony and answer the frequently asked questions about graduation ceremonies.

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Pros of Attending Your Graduation Ceremony

Here are the pros of attending your graduation ceremony:

Graduating is an Achievement that Deserves to Be Celebrated

Graduating takes years of hard work, so it is an achievement that deserves to be celebrated. Walking across the stage and accepting your college or high school diploma is a great way to signify the end of a chapter in your life.

The graduation ceremony is a way of honoring those who have worked hard and have completed their academic journey. One of the best feelings ever is walking across that stage and receiving your diploma.

Your Family May Want to See You Graduate

One of the reasons that many graduates attend commencement ceremonies is because of their family members. For many families, seeing their child or grandchild graduating is a lifelong dream and they are filled with pride.

Attending your graduation ceremony, or convocation, is a chance for your family to celebrate the special occasion as well.

One of the pros of attending your graduation ceremony is that your family will be able to see you walk across that stage and receive your diploma on graduation day.

You Will Create Lifelong Memories

It may not seem like a big deal at the time. However, your graduation will be time you’ll always remember. Whether it’s a college or high school graduation, the commencement ceremony will be memorable.

Graduating will be one of the last times that you’ll be around your classmates, and even on your high school or college campus. Receiving your diploma is an extraordinary moment in every high school and college student’s life.

The truth is that you probably won’t regret taking the time to attend your graduation ceremony. However, you may regret not attending your graduation ceremony, because you will never know what it is like to receive your diploma on graduation day.

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It’s a Good Way to See Your Friends

At the moment, it may feel like your high school and college friendships will last forever. However, once you graduate life moves on, and it becomes tough to see your friends regularly.

Whether you realize it or not, graduation will be the last time you see many friends and classmates. Attending your graduation ceremony is an excellent way to spend time with your friends and celebrate the special moment together.

If you’re planning on attending your graduation ceremony, be sure to take lots of pictures together and keep in touch over social media!

These Are Your Final Moments as a Student

Your graduation ceremony will be one of the last moments you will have in your high school or college career. Walking across that stage will be one of the last memories you’ll have from this chapter in your life. So, this is a time to take in, enjoy and reflect.

Even though some parts of the ceremony can be boring, try to enjoy the big day. A lot of hard work and determination went into graduating, so it’s essential to enjoy the process and take in your final moments as a student.

Cons of Attending Your Graduation Ceremony

Here are the cons of attending your graduation ceremony:

Graduation Ceremonies Cost Money

While it’s not something many students think about, graduation day costs money. There are fees for renting or buying a graduation cap and gown. In addition, you may need to pay a fee for the convocation ceremony or reception. There are other general fees like transportation or getting your hair or nails done.

If you or your family are on a tight budget or want to avoid spending the money, remember that you aren’t required to attend your graduation ceremony. You will receive your diploma in the mail, so you only have to attend the event if you are going for the experience.

Tip: If you don’t have the funds for the graduation ceremony and would like to attend, check to see if your school or community has a fund to help.

Graduation Ceremonies Are Time-Consuming

One of the potential downsides to attending a graduation ceremony is that it will be a long day, and you may even find it boring. The mix of long speeches, and hundreds or even thousands of students being called is a very long and tiresome process!

During the graduation ceremony, you will be seated the whole time as you wait for your name to be called. After you walk across the stage, you will have to wait for the remaining students’ names to be called before you can leave.

There may be awards given out as well, and speeches.

If you don’t care about the graduation ceremony, you may find this process incredibly boring. Whether you attend the ceremony or not, you will still receive your diploma in the mail.

You Will Avoid Large Crowds

If you’re not a fan of being in large crowds, you will not enjoy graduation. The graduation ceremony will have hundreds if not thousands, of students and their family members.

Being around lots of people just isn’t comfortable for everyone. If you have social anxiety and being around so many people in one space makes you nervous, this may be a reason to skip your convocation ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is College Graduation a Big Deal?

Graduating college is a big deal and a milestone that deserves to be celebrated. In fact, not many people can say they’re a college graduate and you should be proud of yourself!

A lot of hard work goes into graduating college, so attending your graduation ceremony is a good idea. If you’ve taken the time to study and graduate college, it’s worth your while to attend the graduation ceremony.

What Is the Etiquette for Graduation Ceremonies?

Graduates should stay for the duration of the graduation ceremony. This is an excellent opportunity to talk with your classmates, teachers, or professors. Once the graduation ceremony is complete, you can thank your family and other guests for attending the special occasion.

Should You Dress Up for College Graduation?

Although you will wear a cap and gown on graduation day, you should still wear a nice outfit. The dress code can vary depending on your college. However, dressing in nice clothing or business casual is always appropriate.

If you’re a guy, consider wearing a suit or a dress shirt with dress pants. College girls may want to wear a dress or dress pants and a nice top.

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Final Thoughts on The Pros and Cons of Attending Your Graduation Ceremony

Your graduation ceremony is a once in a lifetime event! If you’re still debating on whether or not to attend, it really comes down to preference.

The reality is that most people who attend their graduation ceremony are happy they went, in the end. However, there are many people who regret skipping their graduation ceremony. Unfortunately, you won’t get a second chance.

In this post, I shared the pros and cons of attending your graduation ceremony and I answered frequently asked questions about graduation ceremonies.

Will you be attending your graduation ceremony? Please let me know in the comments below.