Do you hang your diplomas? At the office? Home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have our hanging in our home office. Got them all very nicely framed. All very simple, but with some coordinated matting. I have an actual motive behind displaying the diplomas and that is that I want to demonstrate to my children that education is important to our family. The home office isn't a super-public area of my home, so I don't feel like we're bragging, but we're very proud of the achievements and want to share that with our family. Our children's sports trophies and certificates from school also get displayed in the den (not necessarily framed, but on display).

I'm one of the posters who's not keen hanging up diplomas.

That's a different way to look at it and I can see your point. However, I'm still not sure I'd buy it. I definitely plan to instill the importance of education in my DS, but I still think it's possible to do this without having to show-off my and DH's diplomas. I guess I see my diploma as just a piece of paper. I am where I am as a result of my work experience, some luck, supportive parents, etc. Most definitely not as a result of just my diploma. If I were to hang up anything, maybe it should be my resume and my parents' pictures?

I don't really see how hanging up a diploma is going to emphasize education any more than supporting my child in school. It's almost a form of materialism. "Go to college so you can get a nifty diploma and I'll frame it and hang it up. So you can be just like mommy and daddy with a fancy frame and everything."

NP here. I don't think that this is at all what the PP was saying. I actually have considered doing the same - placing DH's and my diplomas (undergrad and grad) on the wall in basement near our home office. I think it sends a subtle message about values and aspiration. You sound like you have a lot of resentment about this.

Our advanced degrees required a great deal of work, and I think we absolutely have the right to be proud of it. And I don't think more or less of anyone who does/doesn't hang theirs up. To each her/his own. I have mine hanging in my office currently, across from my desk on a wall that is inset - not obvious to others, but they are a physical reminder to me of what I can achieve, and of the value of persistence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have our hanging in our home office. Got them all very nicely framed. All very simple, but with some coordinated matting. I have an actual motive behind displaying the diplomas and that is that I want to demonstrate to my children that education is important to our family. The home office isn't a super-public area of my home, so I don't feel like we're bragging, but we're very proud of the achievements and want to share that with our family. Our children's sports trophies and certificates from school also get displayed in the den (not necessarily framed, but on display).

I'm one of the posters who's not keen hanging up diplomas.

That's a different way to look at it and I can see your point. However, I'm still not sure I'd buy it. I definitely plan to instill the importance of education in my DS, but I still think it's possible to do this without having to show-off my and DH's diplomas. I guess I see my diploma as just a piece of paper. I am where I am as a result of my work experience, some luck, supportive parents, etc. Most definitely not as a result of just my diploma. If I were to hang up anything, maybe it should be my resume and my parents' pictures?

I don't really see how hanging up a diploma is going to emphasize education any more than supporting my child in school. It's almost a form of materialism. "Go to college so you can get a nifty diploma and I'll frame it and hang it up. So you can be just like mommy and daddy with a fancy frame and everything."

NP here. I don't think that this is at all what the PP was saying. I actually have considered doing the same - placing DH's and my diplomas (undergrad and grad) on the wall in basement near our home office. I think it sends a subtle message about values and aspiration. You sound like you have a lot of resentment about this.

Our advanced degrees required a great deal of work, and I think we absolutely have the right to be proud of it. And I don't think more or less of anyone who does/doesn't hang theirs up. To each her/his own. I have mine hanging in my office currently, across from my desk on a wall that is inset - not obvious to others, but they are a physical reminder to me of what I can achieve, and of the value of persistence.

I am with you NP. I feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have our hanging in our home office. Got them all very nicely framed. All very simple, but with some coordinated matting. I have an actual motive behind displaying the diplomas and that is that I want to demonstrate to my children that education is important to our family. The home office isn't a super-public area of my home, so I don't feel like we're bragging, but we're very proud of the achievements and want to share that with our family. Our children's sports trophies and certificates from school also get displayed in the den (not necessarily framed, but on display).

I'm one of the posters who's not keen hanging up diplomas.

That's a different way to look at it and I can see your point. However, I'm still not sure I'd buy it. I definitely plan to instill the importance of education in my DS, but I still think it's possible to do this without having to show-off my and DH's diplomas. I guess I see my diploma as just a piece of paper. I am where I am as a result of my work experience, some luck, supportive parents, etc. Most definitely not as a result of just my diploma. If I were to hang up anything, maybe it should be my resume and my parents' pictures?

I don't really see how hanging up a diploma is going to emphasize education any more than supporting my child in school. It's almost a form of materialism. "Go to college so you can get a nifty diploma and I'll frame it and hang it up. So you can be just like mommy and daddy with a fancy frame and everything."

NP here. I don't think that this is at all what the PP was saying. I actually have considered doing the same - placing DH's and my diplomas (undergrad and grad) on the wall in basement near our home office. I think it sends a subtle message about values and aspiration. You sound like you have a lot of resentment about this.

Our advanced degrees required a great deal of work, and I think we absolutely have the right to be proud of it. And I don't think more or less of anyone who does/doesn't hang theirs up. To each her/his own. I have mine hanging in my office currently, across from my desk on a wall that is inset - not obvious to others, but they are a physical reminder to me of what I can achieve, and of the value of persistence.

I am with you NP. I feel the same way.

Agreed. Good post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: NP here. I don't think that this is at all what the PP was saying. I actually have considered doing the same - placing DH's and my diplomas (undergrad and grad) on the wall in basement near our home office. I think it sends a subtle message about values and aspiration. You sound like you have a lot of resentment about this.

Our advanced degrees required a great deal of work, and I think we absolutely have the right to be proud of it. And I don't think more or less of anyone who does/doesn't hang theirs up. To each her/his own. I have mine hanging in my office currently, across from my desk on a wall that is inset - not obvious to others, but they are a physical reminder to me of what I can achieve, and of the value of persistence.

I'm the 12:36 poster that you quoted. No, I don't think I have any resentment about this.

Mostly, it bugs me when people take themselves to seriously, or think too highly of themselves. Not saying that being proud of your work is wrong, but keep in mind that it doesn't make you any better than anyone else.

I see posting your diploma along the same lines as driving a flashy car or carrying a flashy purse. Some people really feel the need to show off their money. Same here. Some people really feel the need to show off their education. As if having more money, or having more education makes them a better person.

DH and I both have advanced degrees, so believe me, I know how much hard work and persistence goes into getting an advanced degree.

But, do you believe that persistence is the only thing that you need to get a degree? This opens up a whole other can of worms, but there are tons of intelligent, hard-working people who are unable to obtain advanced degrees. Not because they're not persistent enough, but because their circumstances are different from yours. Whether it's financial reasons, cultural reasons, family reasons.

Consider yourself lucky. You had the means to take the time to go to school and pay for it (or take out loans). Some people don't. Does that make you better? Personally, I recognize that it mostly just makes your fortunate to be in the situation that you are in.

Your sense of self-worth shouldn't come from a piece of paper hanging on the wall, or the car you drive, or the purse you carry.

[Anonymous]

PP here - "too seriously" sorry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: NP here. I don't think that this is at all what the PP was saying. I actually have considered doing the same - placing DH's and my diplomas (undergrad and grad) on the wall in basement near our home office. I think it sends a subtle message about values and aspiration. You sound like you have a lot of resentment about this.

Our advanced degrees required a great deal of work, and I think we absolutely have the right to be proud of it. And I don't think more or less of anyone who does/doesn't hang theirs up. To each her/his own. I have mine hanging in my office currently, across from my desk on a wall that is inset - not obvious to others, but they are a physical reminder to me of what I can achieve, and of the value of persistence.

I'm the 12:36 poster that you quoted. No, I don't think I have any resentment about this.

Mostly, it bugs me when people take themselves to seriously, or think too highly of themselves. Not saying that being proud of your work is wrong, but keep in mind that it doesn't make you any better than anyone else.

I see posting your diploma along the same lines as driving a flashy car or carrying a flashy purse. Some people really feel the need to show off their money. Same here. Some people really feel the need to show off their education. As if having more money, or having more education makes them a better person.

DH and I both have advanced degrees, so believe me, I know how much hard work and persistence goes into getting an advanced degree.

But, do you believe that persistence is the only thing that you need to get a degree? This opens up a whole other can of worms, but there are tons of intelligent, hard-working people who are unable to obtain advanced degrees. Not because they're not persistent enough, but because their circumstances are different from yours. Whether it's financial reasons, cultural reasons, family reasons.

Consider yourself lucky. You had the means to take the time to go to school and pay for it (or take out loans). Some people don't. Does that make you better? Personally, I recognize that it mostly just makes your fortunate to be in the situation that you are in.

Your sense of self-worth shouldn't come from a piece of paper hanging on the wall, or the car you drive, or the purse you carry.

Okay, you are just odd. I am sorry, but you are. It is a diploma. On a wall. You are attaching WAY too much significance to it. Nobody is saying they are better than anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: It is a diploma. On a wall. You are attaching WAY too much significance to it.

Exactly. It's just a diploma. A piece of paper. Why all the fanfare? Why the double matted frame prominently displayed?

I agree. People are attaching WAY too much significance to a piece of paper by making such a show of it.

[Anonymous]

Okay, so the irony is, those I know who have amazing degrees from amazing places (truly, in everyone's eyes, not just their own) - they don't hang their degrees or talk about them. But there is one or two that well, you know, once a PIA.....

[Anonymous]

DH has his hanging in his law office, as do many lawyers in big law. mine used to hang in my office, but i stay home now, so i am thinking of putting them in our home office. my mom paid money to have them framed and i think i'll like the reminder that i used to be smarter and more intellectually engaged. no one goes in our office anyway, so it won't be too obnoxious. now...when i display the phi beta kappa certificate, that will be solely to brag about the acheivement that meant the most to me during the entire course of my education. judge away...i worked really hard in college for that piece of paper and i want to show it off!!!

[Anonymous]

DH (attorney) has his at work - as do most of his colleagues. For him its not about bragging as much as bonding/networking. He went to a school where fellow alumni feel a strong bond immediately...

My two hang at home in our basement. I SAH now, but the main reason we hung them is that we have them, they are already framed thanks to my parents, and honestly wall art is expensive!

I think its weird to think less of someone because they hang their diploma!

[Anonymous]

New poster here. My diplomas are up in my office (I'm a lawyer). People can see them when they come in and I can look up from my desk and see them as well. It seems that people who have chosen to display their diplomas are shy about the fact- I've hung it in a nondiscript area- is the common answer. Why not have it up and be proud that you do? I worked hard and at the end I received a handshake and a piece of paper. I feel no shame displaying my piece of paper. My dad was thoughtful enough to get them framed as a gift. It makes me happy everytime I see them because I remember the look on my dad's face- it was respect, pride, and love. I like that reminder. Yes, I don't need some paper on the wall to tell me my dad loves me but that's kind of what life is about. We're human- we treasure momentos and we mark milestones and moments that mean something to us. My diplomas are a tangible representation from that time in my life just as is a necklace my gramma. So, if you display your diploma, be proud. And, if you chose not to display, still be proud. It means a lot that we can achieve today what we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. My diplomas are up in my office (I'm a lawyer). People can see them when they come in and I can look up from my desk and see them as well. It seems that people who have chosen to display their diplomas are shy about the fact- I've hung it in a nondiscript area- is the common answer. Why not have it up and be proud that you do? I worked hard and at the end I received a handshake and a piece of paper. I feel no shame displaying my piece of paper. My dad was thoughtful enough to get them framed as a gift. It makes me happy everytime I see them because I remember the look on my dad's face- it was respect, pride, and love. I like that reminder. Yes, I don't need some paper on the wall to tell me my dad loves me but that's kind of what life is about. We're human- we treasure momentos and we mark milestones and moments that mean something to us. My diplomas are a tangible representation from that time in my life just as is a necklace my gramma. So, if you display your diploma, be proud. And, if you chose not to display, still be proud. It means a lot that we can achieve today what we do.

Well said. Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH has his hanging in his law office, as do many lawyers in big law. mine used to hang in my office, but i stay home now, so i am thinking of putting them in our home office. my mom paid money to have them framed and i think i'll like the reminder that i used to be smarter and more intellectually engaged. no one goes in our office anyway, so it won't be too obnoxious. now...when i display the phi beta kappa certificate, that will be solely to brag about the acheivement that meant the most to me during the entire course of my education. judge away...i worked really hard in college for that piece of paper and i want to show it off!!!

Okay, this is a HUGE red flag to me.

So, now that you stay at home, you're less smart and less intellectually engaged? You need your diploma to demonstrate how smart you are?

That makes no sense to me. You are the same intelligent person you were when you WOH. You don't need a piece of paper to remind you of that! Display away, but please don't feel that you're no longer 'smart' because you SAH.

[Anonymous]

I didn't hang up my degree.

I did hang up my online ordination certificate from the Universal Life Church.

[Anonymous]

I am proud of the work I did in undergrad and grad school and of the two degrees I earned. But in terms of accomplishments those don't really say much. Like a PP mentioned I am much more proud of the fact that I was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in undergrad, which I don't my believe my diploma shows, and of the full fellowship I earned in grad school, which was really competitive.

Beyond that, I see the degrees as a great foundation but my work experience, which really can't be hung up and framed, is also something I'm proud of. It's been 6 years since grad school and before that I worked 5 years out of college, so I have 11 years of work experience plus the work I did in grad school - that is really why I am able to do what I do in terms of my career.

FWIW I have no problem with people hanging up their diploma - I'm just explaining why I don't.