How do you feel about graduations?

I skipped all 3 of mine & would skip them all in a heart beat again.

I see them as a money grab & a total waste of time. Honestly, what do you get out of it? Besides showing off... Nothing, IMO... Getting the diploma in the mail was good enough for me.

I view weddings the same way. Why do I need to spend thousands of $$ on a party? Sorry, shouldn't my love & me be enough? However I will do the whole wedding thing if the event meant that much to my partner, but I'd still rather not... such a waste of money, IMO. Going to a JP for the tax benefit, is good enough for me.

I did the whole high school graduation thing. Everyone did, I guess it never occurred to any of us that skipping it was an option. It was ok, I didn't mind it. It's kind of fun with all your friends.

I also did the whole college graduation thing. My parents came 1400 miles to watch me graduate. I really couldn't have cared less by then and would have gladly skipped it. But, seeing as I was the first person in my family to ever graduate from college, they were very excited and proud. Also, they helped pay for my degree, so I figured I owed it to them, if it's what they wanted. It was boring and a hassle, and if it wasn't for my parent I wouldn't have attended.

If he doesn't want to walk, then he doesn't walk. Not sure it is that big of a deal, and yee-haw! no boring speeches.

BUT, I do feel something should be done to celebrate the event. An informal gathering, a picnic, whatever. Something that sets the day apart from others.

Like others, I, too, got my degrees that very day. If you didn't attend, it was mailed. I don't think I would be inclined to spend $100 just to participate, he he he...those schools got enough of my money. (Though, I did attend both my BA and JD ceremonies). Prolly wouldn't do it today. Good thing I am not planning on any more learnin'!

As for making him tell the in-laws...not sure I follow. Why not, when YOU are asked, say, "He has decided not to participate...not a huge deal to us"...as long as it isn't. Why pit the in-laws against your son? (WE want him to do it, he won't do it...so, go ask him why he won't do it...).

Glad to see its not such a big deal to others too :)

My son isn't one to revel in the limelight. He puts more importance on his running accomplishments than his educational ones. He plans on going to get his Masters, so he thinks its silly to mark graduating one school to move on to another. I understand his feelings completely.

Huuby and I already planned on throwing a nice family party to celebrate his graduation.... we feel that is better than sitting on uncomfortable bleachers, surrounded by crowds of people, to catch an itty bitty glimpse of him as he walks up on stage to collect his degree. Why is it better? Because we're able to spend time with him, talk to him about his future plans, and the whole family can do the same. On graduation day, its all hurry up and wait. Then stand around and wait some more. We might be lucky to get ten minutes' worth of photos. If thats all my inlaws want, we can borrow a gown and pose for photos! ;)

At the school I worked at, the diploma's were held onto until the gowns/robe's were turned back in... that was the reason for that. Reckon the graduates weren't to swift on turning the gowns back in.

I'll be the first one to graduate from college on my Mom's side, so to her it's a big deal and wants me to walk. My graduation will only cost $30 for the cap/gown/tassel and will only last an hour and a half, so it's not a big deal to walk. If it was $100 I probably wouldn't want to do it and would enjoy a dinner or picnic with family instead.

We receive our diplomas in the mail 2-4 weeks after the ceremony.

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Originally Posted by catnapper

Huuby and I already planned on throwing a nice family party to celebrate his graduation.... we feel that is better than sitting on uncomfortable bleachers, surrounded by crowds of people, to catch an itty bitty glimpse of him as he walks up on stage to collect his degree. Why is it better? Because we're able to spend time with him, talk to him about his future plans, and the whole family can do the same. On graduation day, its all hurry up and wait. Then stand around and wait some more. We might be lucky to get ten minutes' worth of photos. If thats all my inlaws want, we can borrow a gown and pose for photos! ;)

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THAT sounds like a plan! Want me to look and see if I still have my JD gown??? LOLOL...

If the person graduating that I was there to see graduate's last name began with an "A", no problem. If it begins with a "Z", I'll pass.

Graduations are B-O-R-I-N-G!!!! I'd rather go to the post-graduation celebration. LOTS more fun!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by catnapper

Huuby and I already planned on throwing a nice family party to celebrate his graduation.... we feel that is better than sitting on uncomfortable bleachers, surrounded by crowds of people, to catch an itty bitty glimpse of him as he walks up on stage to collect his degree. Why is it better? Because we're able to spend time with him, talk to him about his future plans, and the whole family can do the same. On graduation day, its all hurry up and wait. Then stand around and wait some more. We might be lucky to get ten minutes' worth of photos. If thats all my inlaws want, we can borrow a gown and pose for photos! ;)

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Now that is a plan :)
When I accomplish something I love hooking up with friends & going out for dinner or drinks at a pub (well, I'll drink pop & they'll do all the drinking LOL). But to me, thats far more fun.. If there are no friends around, then I go to McDonalds for a double cheese burger combo, & share my fries with Digi & Cam. Thats what I did when I received my Security certificate in Jan & again last week when I got my Security Licence. I might get to do it today (maybe tomorrow) if I get hired from the job interview I'm leaving for (right now). WOOT!

I think I still have my hood from my last university graduation (that I did not attend). So he could look "real official" :D if he wants a little encouragement for the next degree!

I went to a large school (Univerosty of Cincinnati). I chose not to attend the full school graduation, where they basically said "College of Engineering, Please rise" and everyone clapped for the graduates. Instead, I went to the smaller ceremony just for the College of Arts and Science, where they called individual names and everyone walked across the stage. I may have missed out on the big speaker (don't recall who it was) at the "Main grduation" but would rather have been with the smaller group. (They were on different days, I could have done both).

Of the four of us kids, mine was the only college graduation my Dad got to attend. He worked rotating shifts, so missed both my older siblings' graduations from a huge University, where there was plenty of pomp and circumstance, speeches, etc. I went with Ma in his stead to my big sister's graduation.

My college - Mass Art - was a much smaller graduation, and because of the rain that day was held in a humid gym, and instead of the huge orchestra my sibling's graduation had, there was a hired oompah band, playing "When the Saints Go Marching In." Yes, we wore caps and gowns, the cheapest imaginable ones, some kind of polyester, and nary a one was unadorned - it was art school, after all. The most impressive were the industrial design majors, which tended to have seriously crafted structures on their mortarboards. It was not a typical college graduation, but it was unique, and dad got to come!

The Archies (architects) at RPI would always do some kind of theme. For my BS graduation, Harrison Schmidt the astronaut was the main speaker; they did a space theme. When GB Trudeau ("Doonesbury" comic writer) did my PhD graduation they came as giant pencils! Only grad students actually walked across the stage.

my daughter would be much the same i think as your son, she just is not in to that sort of thing, however secretly when and if the time comes i would love nothing better than to see her graduate, all decked out in hat and cape, i would be very proud, but again i think it is up to them, it is their life.

Just like my girl never went to the school balls, i think you call them proms over there, i was so disappointed, but it was her choice, you cannot live through your kids, they have to make their own decisions, glad you are with him on this and not pressing him, the inlaws will get over it, too bad i say.

BTW congratulations to your son, what a great achievement, that is probably all he needs, the fact he has passed and done so well.