Graduation is like a doorway from one phase of your life to another phase. This one event can transform people into many different phases. Whether you go from a high school senior to a college freshman, a senior undergraduate to a freshman graduate, or an undergraduate into the working field these are all very big thresholds one passes through.
With graduation being such a monumental moment in one's life, obtaining a couple graduation tips to make the most of the usually boring but extremely rewarding ceremony is never a bad idea!
1. Do not fall behind on your work.
Knowing graduation is coming can sometimes cause us, students, to slack off in the schoolwork department. It is really important to keep those grades up even in the last few months of this education threshold. Just keep pushing through that senioritis!!
2. Enjoy all of the "last this" and "last that."
Senior years are always full of you saying "oh this is my last pep rally" or "this is my last time eating a sandwich under this tree." Nevertheless, it is your last time doing it so enjoy it and remember it.
3. Practice walking in your shoes beforehand.
You will be doing a lot of walking on graduation day, and some of it will be in front of lots of people. If you decide to wear those 6 inch high heels, practice walking in them first so you do not become the topic of everybody's conversation after the ceremony.
4. If you are giving a speech, please make it short.
It is pretty typical that the headmaster, valedictorian, salutatorian, and a guest speaker will give a speech. If you are bold enough to be able to make a speech in front of everybody, keep it short and sweet. I promise after 5 minutes of you talking about "how we made it" and "wow we really did it", people will start zoning out.
5. Take lots of pictures.
I know taking multiple pictures with multiple people can be annoying, but today is a day to remember. You will show people you care about these pictures so just entertain your mom when she wants 25 different pictures of you and your cousin you've met maybe 3 times.
6. Try your hardest to stay in the moment.
I know graduation can quickly become nap time, but try your hardest to be present and listen to the speakers. Maybe you will actually learn something!
7. Thank those who really impacted your learning experience.
Whether it was your parents, a professor, friends, etc make sure you take time to genuinely thank those who helped you to where you are today. Who knows if you could have done it without them!
8. Make sure you look good.
Graduation day is a lot of pressure to look good and it is an emotional day! Maybe go for waterproof makeup ladies just in case the waterworks show up.
9. Decide a spot with your family to meet after the ceremony is over.
A very smart idea is to decide an area to meet your family after the ceremony. There will be so many people rushing through the doors to meet their graduates just like you will be.
10. Take a second to applaud yourself.
You did it!! You finally made it!! You will hear that a lot, but make sure to sit there and really be proud of your accomplishment!
11. Do not do anything stupid on stage.
You may think "oh yes this is a wonderful idea, everybody will remember me", but please refrain. Unless you can actually pull off something smooth and memorable (which you probably can't), just keep walking.
Hopefully, you now feel a little more prepared for your big graduation day with these 11 graduation tips! Best of luck and congratulations for stepping into your next phase of life.
