Graduation

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

High School I can see, but College. Seems like a big waste of time IMO. Been there done that.

I feel the opposite way. A university degree is much more special than a High School diploma. I've gone to both of my University-level convocations, and I don't regret it. You should celebrate your achievement.

(of course, I may be biased, since I don't actually HAVE a high school diploma.... )

[moon]

I didn't go and don't regret it at all but that is my type of personality and wouldn't necessarily recommend it for everyone.

I felt university was a huge waste of time, other than the social aspects and getting to meet a ton of people. I felt most of the classes were a waste and once I had my degree that I hadn't really accomplished much so it wasn;t a big deal for me to get my degree.

I would imagine, based on many of the comments of people who skipped and wished they didn't now, that if you do feel that feeling of accomplishment that it may be worth it for you to go.

I went to my wives and it was brutal. I was proud to see her get her degree and to see how happy she was but that lasted 30 seconds and the rest of the hours were pointless and long.

I guess the easiest thing to say though is that by going you at worst waste a few hours by skipping you may regret it for a long time after.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I feel the opposite way. A university degree is much more special than a High School diploma. I've gone to both of my University-level convocations, and I don't regret it. You should celebrate your achievement.

(of course, I may be biased, since I don't actually HAVE a high school diploma.... )

I disagree. High School Diploma is much more sentimental. You spend 13 years in the public school system. Coming out of it with nothing would just suck and drive me nuts.

[Engine09]

I skipped mine, left for my vacation instead. Had much more fun in Southern California and New Mexico.

School is over, who cares.

[Igottago]

I didn't go to mine, and dont regret it at all.

[calf]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Calf......Haskayne ceremony, right? Where do we have to be and when? I lost my sheet that was mailed to me.

I have no idea at all...I'll check when I get home & will PM ya

[STeeLy]

I'm about to Graduate from High School and move on into University. The thing is, High School graduation is like the last graduation for a lot of people (There are many of us who will not attend any sort of post secondary institutes) I would tend to think that for those people, high school grad is very special, for those who go onto University though, you would think that one is special because that may possibly be your last grad... and also because that most people you know from high school didn't go through with it.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

I disagree. High School Diploma is much more sentimental. You spend 13 years in the public school system. Coming out of it with nothing would just suck and drive me nuts.

I'm with Iowa on this one. Finishing high school did not feel like a huge accomplishment to me. I was bored out of my mind through most of high school and aside from a few close friends could care less about the rest of the student body. Finishing my BSc. however was pretty awesome. The day of convocation was the last time I would see many of the people from my classes before we all went off in different directions. I really feel like high school didn't do much to shape me as a person but university helped me grow up and make my own mark in the world.

People can bad-mouth a university education all they want but for me I think it was the only solution. Not one regret. . . maybe that's why I'm still at university .

Back on focus though. I would really recommend going to your convocation. Yes it will be long and yes it will be boring but think of it as another chapter ending in your life while another begins. Like others have said you may never get another opportunity like this.

Edit: I just remembered that I never actually got a high school diploma either. I know I had all the requirements for entrance to university but as to a paper diploma nothing to be found . . . ah well.

[JBR]

Scream YEAHHHH BAAABBBBYYY when you get your degree.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I went to my masters graduation this past week, and wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Now Dal divides up the convocations, so only the Faculty of Management went last Tuesday, and only the graduate students in the afternoon (undergrads in the morning). What this did was keep the generic speeches short as the president, et al would be so repetitive they'd keep it short, causing them to inturn tell the dean to keep his short, and the validvictorian. The chancellor didn't speak, and there was no salutorian, no special awards, just calling out our names, getting our degree, pictures taken, and sitting down. Our class goofed off, fooled around, joked, laughed all before the event, chuckled to ourselves during, and all got together for drinks that evening, it was really great.

Also you could do something to be remembered, such as taking your OWN picture with the chancellor, which I did it got quite the laugh from the crowd. I went back to my class mates with thumbs up, laughter, and praise for the stunt. I had some random graduate's grandfather come up to me in the main lobby after the ceremony and ask if I was the guy who took his own picture, then went on for about 5 minutes about how great that was and how he loved it.

In short, if you're a small class, go, joke around, and goof off the whole time with your firends. Bring an extra digital camera to record things form both points of view (the student, and give one to the 'rents) and think of it as a lecture where you have to entertain yourself.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Calgary Flames

I disagree. High School Diploma is much more sentimental. You spend 13 years in the public school system. Coming out of it with nothing would just suck and drive me nuts.

I'm not sure graduating grades 1-9 is anything to get hyped about. Really, you can barely think rationally at those ages, and so school wasn't that important in life except to meet friends, most of which probably don't stick around that long. While high school was sentimental for capping off the 'kid' years, it wouldn't even come close to the amount of effort / hard work / sentiment that went into completing a post-secondary degree, especially if you took it seriously and participated in extra-curriculars while you were there.

University is much more meaningful, and far more satisfying. I suppose in my opinion (and this is JUST my opinion), most people ocme out with high school diplomas, while a post-secondary convocation is for the minority of people in this world. That seems to be more self-fulfilling.

[Reaper]

To each their own, I guess.

On that note, if you value your education (or are simply glad to be finished) then you will probably appreciate the recognition that comes with convocating.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

The problem with that though is that my parents won't be there for various (stupid) reasons. So, there won't be anyone in the audience there to see me, unless I force my friends to go.

EG, if that's the case, I personally wouldn't have gone. Like many people have said, then I guess it depends on:

1) How close you are to people in your faculty: Is it tight knit, and a small circle? Remember they may be stuck doing family stuff so they may be too busy to hang out with you.

2) Do you want to go for that sense of closure? For me, because I had so many more years of professional exams and indentured servitude ahead, it was really just the 1st Intermission - wasn't a big deal to me.

3) What's your school like? Can't remember which school you're at but I know for some Eastern Universities, a trip into Convocation Hall has it's own special meaning. At UofC you troop into a gym, the same gym where my High School convocation was, so really, it had zero "moment" factor to me. Now if there was some sort of grand hall / Knights Templar ceremony / gee whiz ceremony, I would have gone as I would not have wanted to miss that.

Regardless, congrats!

[calf]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

2) Do you want to go for that sense of closure? For me, because I had so many more years of professional exams and indentured servitude ahead, it was really just the 1st Intermission - wasn't a big deal to me.

Sums up my feelings right now too. But, I have this sense of duty & spite, so it has to be done. Plus, some time off work can't be too bad...

[jolinar of malkshor]

I went to both my college grad and my University Grad. I was friends with a lot of people so we made a fun time out of it. If you dont know to many people it will be really boring.

[flamefan74]

Didn't go to mine and I don't regret it. Most of my class ended up going to a quiet pub and hanging out there instead. My class was a close knit group and we thought it was better to spend our last day together in a bar rehashing stories than sitting around a gym for several hours. And most peoples families weren't there. But if most of my class went, I would have went too.

[Pagal4321]

Oh god, I gotta go to mine on Tuesday and I don't think I'll enjoy it too much. Doing it STRICTLY for my mom, as my dad doesn't give two ****s.

Should be interesting....listening to a nice long speech from Harvey.
calf, when's the Haskayne convocation?

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

EG, if that's the case, I personally wouldn't have gone. Like many people have said, then I guess it depends on:

1) How close you are to people in your faculty: Is it tight knit, and a small circle? Remember they may be stuck doing family stuff so they may be too busy to hang out with you.

2) Do you want to go for that sense of closure? For me, because I had so many more years of professional exams and indentured servitude ahead, it was really just the 1st Intermission - wasn't a big deal to me.

3) What's your school like? Can't remember which school you're at but I know for some Eastern Universities, a trip into Convocation Hall has it's own special meaning. At UofC you troop into a gym, the same gym where my High School convocation was, so really, it had zero "moment" factor to me. Now if there was some sort of grand hall / Knights Templar ceremony / gee whiz ceremony, I would have gone as I would not have wanted to miss that.

Regardless, congrats!

1) Well if I had graduated the year that I was supposed to graduate, I would have been very close to the grad. class, but I am graduating late, so I don't really know anyone. So, they are tight knit, but I am just not a part of it.

2) I don't think I need closure. When I walked away from my school after my final exam, it felt like that would be the last time I would ever be there, and I was okay with that.

3) I go to Carleton and they apparently have a special area set up for each ceremony. They divide it by program so I wouldn't have to sit through hours of complete strangers from other programs. From the ceremony that I went to last year for my friends grad though, it was really nice.

I doubt I will end up going. I think I am done with it and more than ready to move on. If my parents would have been there, I might have considered it, but since they won't be there, there's no point.

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

[flames_fan13]

I wasn't going to go to mine a couple years ago, but my parents said they wanted to come so I bought them tickets to come. When the day came nobody showed up, I still went but after the ceremony it was kind of boring watching all my friends family congradulate them while I had nobody there and it sucked. So if your parents aren't going to be there I wouldn't reccomend going.

[theJuice]

Hm..interesting thoughts, but I know when I end up getting mine (University), I'll probably end up going, as many said, if just so that I wouldn't regret it years to come. Its just a few hours of your life.