She sits quietly, underneath the baking sun
Her gown heavy on her shoulders, as she scans
The stands for a face she knows, anyone friendly
To gently cheer her on, to make the weight
Of cap and gown so worth this agony.
They’re calling names as sweat begins to trickle
Down the slender line of her aged and curving spine,
These clothes that have been worn by hundreds,
Smelling musty, their history palpable,
She just wishes that the heat would die,
Its sting taken out of this enfless day,
That the photographs would be taken
So that she can shed these layers like
A butterfly, spreading its wings and taking flight,
A new world there, in the sepia images,
A fleeting moment, before she begins the fight.
I try to stay off Facebook as much as I can because it just makes me angry, but when I have taken the time to sneak a peak recently, I have noticed that there have been loads of graduation photos (please note, these do not make me angry).
I do love a good graduation and I wish that we did it for more than just finishing university. I know that in other countries kids have a graduation ceremony at the end of almost every stage of their school career.
Here, we do have the big shirt signing event that is normally done out on the school field at the end of secondary school. We wear uniform in this country, so it’s fun to get our school shirts signed by all our friends and teachers on the last day. As a teacher, I’m looking forward to having a Year 11 class so that I can do the whole shirt signing thing as a grown up.
I do feel sorry for some of the people who have had their graduation ceremonies over the past few weeks as I can imagine that it was incredibly hot. Wearing those caps and gowns must have been unbearable.
I do hope that despite the weather, that they all had fun. For my first graduation the moment felt so overwhelming as I’d studied with a baby in tow, and it felt like such an achievement to get to the end. It was also held at The Barbican in London which has had so many amazing people and orchestras perform there.
Much Love
Rachel xx
Margot Kinberg
I’ve been to a lot of graduation ceremonies, and you’re right about the temperature! We’re always strongly advised to wear lightweight clothing under those robes… Anyway, What I love best is the graduation where you see that kid who’d almost given up on herself actually walk across the stage and collect her degree scroll. That look of triumph is not to be matched. Many of my students are non-traditional students, lots of whom are parents. So I’ve also seen (and loved!) parents carrying their babies and toddlers across the stage with them – it’s so meaningful, I think.
patientandkindlove
That is the cutest thing ever. Your family do also pay for your studying with all the time it takes and all the tantrums you throw because of the stress. It’s lovely for them to share in the moment.