Graduation experience?

[Anonymous]

Wondering if others had a horrible experience with graduation?
Elderly relatives jammed in backseat, some feeling car sick for the 1 hour drive to get to our local hs graduation.
. It took an hour to get there since traffic was at a crawl beginning at the exit all the way to the parking lot.
Inside, certain groups of people spoke to each other or were on their phones throughout the entire ceremony. People brought their toddlers and babies and didn't get up and exit when those children were crying and or screaming.
The grads were made to sit in a hallway without a/c for nearly 2 hours.

The crowd all exited through the same door and people were literally body checking each other to get through the crowd. Not once or a couple. Alot.

There was no area for pics so we had 5 minutes to greet the other grads and take pics before the rain started pouring down.
We lucked out and were able to get right on the highway (and into rush hour traffic) but heard others took 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

It was such a miserable experience all around.

[Anonymous]

Do you always complain about everything? Damned if they do, damned if they don't. MCPS just can't win at anything with you people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if others had a horrible experience with graduation?
Elderly relatives jammed in backseat, some feeling car sick for the 1 hour drive to get to our local hs graduation.
. It took an hour to get there since traffic was at a crawl beginning at the exit all the way to the parking lot.
Inside, certain groups of people spoke to each other or were on their phones throughout the entire ceremony. People brought their toddlers and babies and didn't get up and exit when those children were crying and or screaming.
The grads were made to sit in a hallway without a/c for nearly 2 hours.

The crowd all exited through the same door and people were literally body checking each other to get through the crowd. Not once or a couple. Alot.

There was no area for pics so we had 5 minutes to greet the other grads and take pics before the rain started pouring down.
We lucked out and were able to get right on the highway (and into rush hour traffic) but heard others took 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

It was such a miserable experience all around.

No, our elderly relatives watched it comfortably at home on the livestream.

Yes, it rained. That's not MCPS's fault. Given the tornado warnings, I'm glad the graduation was inside and not in the football stadium.

Yes, there were babies and children being babies and children at this public, family event. Yes, not everyone behaved ideally at this public, family event.

Yes, there was car traffic when lots of people were trying to get to a parking lot in their cars, at the same time as lots of people were trying to leave that parking lot in their cars. Also yes, there was car traffic when lots of people were driving home from work. That's just basic physics.

My child, who can complain about anything, did not complain about sitting in a hallway without AC.

You know those speeches at the graduation ceremony about life being what you make it? You might give that a try.

[Anonymous]

Ditto to the PP.
Just stop. The amount of complaining about graduation is mind-boggling to me.
Had the graduation been at the school on the football field it would have been just as hot and humid. And maybe even rain during the ceremony.
Don’t like the plans? Don’t go. Easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if others had a horrible experience with graduation?
[/b]Elderly relatives jammed in backseat, [b]some feeling car sick for the 1 hour drive to get to our local hs graduation.
. It took an hour to get there since traffic was at a crawl beginning at the exit all the way to the parking lot.
Inside, certain groups of people spoke to each other or were on their phones throughout the entire ceremony. People brought their toddlers and babies and didn't get up and exit when those children were crying and or screaming.
The grads were made to sit in a hallway without a/c for nearly 2 hours.

The crowd all exited through the same door and people were literally body checking each other to get through the crowd. Not once or a couple. Alot.

There was no area for pics so we had 5 minutes to greet the other grads and take pics before the rain started pouring down.
We lucked out and were able to get right on the highway (and into rush hour traffic) but heard others took 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

It was such a miserable experience all around.

Yes MCPS forced you to cram grandma in the back seat. This is 100% a YOU problem.

Nothing would have made you happy.

[Anonymous]

Yes, MCPS forced you to jam your elders into your tiny car, and forced you to not plan for traffic. Then MCPS changed the weather so that rain would come just at the wrong time. And MCPS told the babies to start screaming in your ear. It also forced you to want to get up and leave at exactly the same time as 99% of the audience, not earlier, not later.

My son's graduation last year was at UMBC. Plenty of room to take pictures, and adequate A/C. We left a little before the end to avoid the crowds. I didn't mind the drive from Bethesda, or the crying babies.

[Anonymous]

Dear OP,
I understand being disappointed when you’ve envisioned a very special event and reality doesn’t match that vision. DD graduated college and due to our seating, we couldn’t make her out in the crowd. They didn’t even call the nearly 1000 students in alphabetical order so we had no idea when she would reach the stage. It was disappointing to not have the moment I pictured of watching her approach the stage with my camera at the ready and then watching her walk. But it was infinitely better than 2020 when there was no MCPS HS graduation. I was overcome with emotion to just know she was getting to experience what she had been denied. I didn’t care about anybody else in that arena or the traffic or the parking. We left grandpa at home because he was concerned about a long car ride. But initially our plan was to take 2 cars so everyone fit comfortably. I think instead of focusing on what went wrong at your child’s graduation, it would be helpful to focus on the positive. Your child reached a very special milestone. You were able to witness your child walk. Grandma was able to join you on the special day. None of the venues MCPS uses are convenient. None are without traffic. That’s just something every parent should expect. As for the non-AC hallway, I think it’s reasonable to mention that to administration so they can keep it in mind as they plan next year.

[Anonymous]

At least you didn’t have to sit in the heat on stadium bleachers, or have the day rained out (my own parents would have hated this option the most). Or fight for parking and walk for blocks, or take public transportation, for a ceremony at DAR. At least the venue was large enough to allow enough tickets for the grandparents to attend.

There are downsides to all the graduation choices, I’m afraid. It’s been hashed and rehashed on this board, but as long as each individual massive high school has to fund their own ceremonies, there are no perfect answers. Nothing will ever be ideal for every family, even ones not prone to carsickness.

I’m sorry OP had a bad day—these extended-family events can be a bit much sometimes, I know—but I hope they didn’t let that irritation spill over and spoil the day for their graduate.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP at 9:26, and I'm feeling a bit bad about my crabby response...

But really, I didn't expect much - it's a high school graduation, not a Nobel Prize ceremony or whatever - and I was pleasantly surprised. I can sincerely say that it was a lovely experience. At UMBC on Wednesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if others had a horrible experience with graduation?
Elderly relatives jammed in backseat, some feeling car sick for the 1 hour drive to get to our local hs graduation.
. It took an hour to get there since traffic was at a crawl beginning at the exit all the way to the parking lot.
Inside, certain groups of people spoke to each other or were on their phones throughout the entire ceremony. People brought their toddlers and babies and didn't get up and exit when those children were crying and or screaming.
The grads were made to sit in a hallway without a/c for nearly 2 hours.

The crowd all exited through the same door and people were literally body checking each other to get through the crowd. Not once or a couple. Alot.

There was no area for pics so we had 5 minutes to greet the other grads and take pics before the rain started pouring down.
We lucked out and were able to get right on the highway (and into rush hour traffic) but heard others took 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

It was such a miserable experience all around.

Sorry, but if you know that anyone has issues traveling, then they don't travel. Or you go the night before and stay in a hotel. This is definitely on you knowing what works best for your people. I love blaming MCPS for a lot of things, but this is one that isn't their responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if others had a horrible experience with graduation?
[/b]Elderly relatives jammed in backseat, [b]some feeling car sick for the 1 hour drive to get to our local hs graduation.
. It took an hour to get there since traffic was at a crawl beginning at the exit all the way to the parking lot.
Inside, certain groups of people spoke to each other or were on their phones throughout the entire ceremony. People brought their toddlers and babies and didn't get up and exit when those children were crying and or screaming.
The grads were made to sit in a hallway without a/c for nearly 2 hours.

The crowd all exited through the same door and people were literally body checking each other to get through the crowd. Not once or a couple. Alot.

There was no area for pics so we had 5 minutes to greet the other grads and take pics before the rain started pouring down.
We lucked out and were able to get right on the highway (and into rush hour traffic) but heard others took 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

It was such a miserable experience all around.

Yes MCPS forced you to cram grandma in the back seat. This is 100% a YOU problem.

Nothing would have made you happy.

OP, why didn't you retain a limo? Your elderly relatives can't drive anymore and each school saved a few dollars by having the ceremony in a different county. This is your fault. You should have purchased a 3rd car or hired a limousine like an upstanding citizen.

[Anonymous]

Another thread about graduation? What the F is wrong with this crowd???!!! Be grateful. Complain to the grandma who has lost her hearing.

[Anonymous]

New things to blame MCPS for: grandma getting carsick, rain occurring, not having a “place to take pictures.”

[Anonymous]

The shoving afterwards was really something! I've been to drunken summer concerts that better behaved people

[Anonymous]

WJ? The traffic at Umbc campus was horrible both coming and going. The rain had everyone trying to depart at once, too. At arrival, grads were jumping out of jammed up cars to walk because they were threatened they would not be allowed to enter after 12:30. But at 12:30 and later, the grads still hadn’t even been allowed in. They were left outside and then eventually let in to stand in hot hallways for a very long time without water. There were annoyances as parents, which we anticipated and accepted, but it was the treatment of the grads that needs improvement. At least access to water needs to be addressed.
But the venue itself inside was spacious and fine. I’d prefer DAR but WJ is large. Is UMD too expensive?