Does anyone really want to attend a graduation?
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Anonymous
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No one actually wanted to attend my college graduation (including me), but my family was so caught up in thinking they should be there that they all went and it was stressful and miserable. My mom is still dissatisfied and talks about it every year during graduation season. She had never been to her college or grad school graduations because she finished requirements early/late. I think she was irrationally expecting a graduation to be like a birthday party and just a celebration of her child, and even though she knew it wouldn’t work like that, she was shocked that it was also about thousands of other kids and families.
Anyway, I still had guests at my professional school graduation and I’m not sure if that was the right move. I helped preside over a graduation for the 3rd time (think board of regents kind of person, not chancellor or president) last month and felt ashamed to feel unmoved this year. Graduation is long and dull. The graduates looked bored. Families were tired. I can’t figure out who graduation is for! |
Anonymous
| College graduations are endlessly dull plus local hotels usually have a 2 day minimum. ( This is the final attempt to extract $$$ from you). If you plan to include the grandparents, prepare for lots of walking (parking seems to be miles away) and waiting, potential rain and bring sunscreen and water. |
Anonymous
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I'm skeptical . . .
First, most graduation ceremonies have limited seating and tickets available and have no room for cousins and extended family members. Second, most families don't expect distant cousins to attend college graduations regardless. I've never heard of such a thing. So I have to wonder if OP is exaggerating about what's going on here. |
Anonymous
| No. Such a waste of time. Other than parents, no one needs to go through that. |
Anonymous
Would they drop everything and buy air-tickets, rent hotel and car to attend your child's graduation? |
Anonymous
| I don't think there's a hard rule on this.. I will say as an aunt, cousin I have gone and been happy to attend. |
Anonymous
| yes...if MIT |
Anonymous
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Unless grandparents are local and healthy, there is no need to bother them, may be if its a first ever person in whole family ever graduating.
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Anonymous
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As a very loving aunt, I never ever wanted to attend any graduation because between DH and I, we have a dozen siblings and two dozen nieces and nephews.
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Anonymous
Ignore the troll. They're just being contrary for the sake of it. |
Anonymous
| May be if you are childless and have just one sibling and they have only one child. |
Anonymous
No. Its a legit question. Would her aunt do that? If not then she has no right to chastise OP. |
Anonymous
| If kid is valedictorian or class president and giving a speech then may be but not if kid is one of the thousand walking the HS stage doing the bare minimum. |
Anonymous
| I'm surprised that your cousin even had enough tickets. Might depend on the school, but a lot of colleges only allow students a handful of tickets to the ceremony. Or is this for a party? |
Anonymous
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To the question in the title: YES! I love graduations; they're my favorite life celebration.
But I'm not flying to go to one unless it's, like, my own kid. I went to my nephews but it wasn't expected and it's driving distance. |