A Guide To Everything You Need To Know About Graduation Day

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Graduation day is a ceremony a university holds to confer students with degrees. However, it takes more than getting a degree on graduation day. It is all about preparation for the university and students to turn it into a memorable event. Hundreds of students and families will be packed to celebrate the most awaited day. All that burst of excitement with talks on future prospects and mixed emotions. It’s a day of your accomplishment, so make it a day to remember! You can get those nervous butterflies off your tummy as we will guide you on how to go about your upcoming graduation day!

Importance of Graduation Day: When Graduation Day is Celebrated?

The graduation ceremony is sometimes called commencement, congregation, convocation or invocation. Graduation day marks the beginning of your academic journey and the start of your future. Countries like the US, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom etc. celebrate this occasion in many ways.

Graduation day is the day to bear the fruits of your academic achievement.

It represents the day of your personal growth and the ability to understand the world.

This day brings together all your supportive network and happiness for your future.

It has a lifelong significance in your life, society, culture and the world.

What is the typical university graduation tradition?

The tradition of celebrating differs in many countries and cultures.

For example, The United Kingdom celebrates at the university level. The United States and many others occur at high schools where no higher education qualifications are conferred upon the graduates.

The standard way of celebrating graduation day are:

1) Wearing cap and gown: The long-standing attire for graduation day is caps, gowns and a hood.

2) Academic Procession: This is the formal entry stage led by faculty members and administrations.

3) Commencement address: This is the delivery speech given by a prominent guest speaker to inspire students with words of wisdom.

4) Presentation of the degree: This is a momentum and prestigious time of the event. Students are called to the stage and awarded a diploma or degree certificate.

5) Turning off the cap: Before graduation, caps are tassel on one side and moved to the other after graduation as a symbol of achievement.

6) Awards and Honors: On this day, excellent students are also awarded magna cum laude, cum laude, or summa cum laude, as well as various academic and leadership awards.

7) National and University Anthem: This is sung as a symbol to honor the nation and university.

8) Throwing off caps: This is done in some cultures and universities as a gesture of conclusion to the 1occasion.

10) After-party reception: There’s usually an after-party where families, friends and faculty gather and celebrate.

How do you prepare for Graduation Day?

It’s essential to prepare well before going to the ceremony. Here’s a checklist of how to prepare for graduation day:

Keep all your academic documents ready for the upcoming day.

Re-check all the details like date, time, place and instructions provided by the university.

Order the graduation attire and follow the guidelines on styles and colors.

Arrange for transportation if you live in off-campus accommodation.

Prepare your thank you speeches for your families, faculty, and friends.

Arrive on time and follow the ceremony etiquette.
Enjoy the day!

History of Graduation Day

Graduation day customs have their beginnings in the archaic colleges of Europe, where Latin was the language of researchers and degrees were given by guilds of masters. Some of the normal components of graduation day, like the graduation outfit, the stylized mace, and the melody “Fanfare”, have developed throughout the long term and differ by culture and country.