<p>I dropped out of HS to enter college early, so I never saw that.</p>
<p>Anyhow though - I went through facebook pics of people and noticed how people still seem to hang around in their own little social groups even during high school graduation. I even notice that some others who dropped out to enter college early attend the graduation ceremonies of their friends - is this allowed? or something?</p>
<p>Is there a long list of names announced during graduation? Do people still cluster around in their old peer groups? At the end of it, are some of the people crying? Is it really seen as a significant occasion - given the fact that credential inflation has made HS degrees almost worthless?</p>
<p>Do I sound overly cynical? :p (Well, that's naturally my disposition, but I hope that I don't sound too weird)</p>
<p>And is it mandatory for students to go to HS graduation? What about college graduation? (honestly, no one in my family celebrates anything - but it's a sort of passive anti-traditionalism).</p>
<p>I was an usher at graduation last year. It was lame.</p>
<p>All they did was call people's names, and people went on stage. It was like they were lining up to get their pictures taken or something. People are usually seated alphabetically for convenience. And then there were some speeches about how great the valedictorian was, etc., and how we're tomorrow's leaders of the future.</p>
<p>I wouldn't attend my own college graduation if I could get away with it -- but I'll probably have to. At least graduation ceremonies are shorter than ISEF awards; once you've seen a nine-hour awards ceremony, it's much harder to complain about anything else.</p>
<p>The fun part is probably the afterparties, which I assume everyone in a given social circle would be invited to, including non-graduates.</p>
<p>I don't know about attending friend's grad ceremonies.</p>
<p>Everyones name was read off at our graduation (560ish names)</p>
<p>Our seating was assigned, but I clustered with my friends before and after.</p>
<p>I saw a couple girls crying, but a lot more of that happened at the end of the all-night party.</p>
<p>The HS degree is pretty much useless, but the ceremony gives the smarter kids a chance to get recognized with all their cords and such. Our 3 valedictorians gave speeches, and a couple guys played guitar. Also, my mom is the type that likes to document every moment of my life with pics/video, so this was really important to her.</p>
<p>I guess if you didn't go to high school for 4 years, it's probably not that important to you. For those of us that did, graduation signifies the ending of not only those 4 years but really our entire life up to that point. I had been going to school with these kids for 13 years (kindergarten, I didn't get held back lol). I was kind of sad, but life goes on.</p>
<p>Our graduation was mandatory unless you had a serious medical situation.</p>
<p>As for college graduation, that could be considered a real accomplishment depending on where you go, but if your family isn't that into it... cause it's just gonna be more of the same ceremonial stuff.</p>
<p>Yes. Slowly. It's the most boring thing I've ever had the displeasure to experience. I suppose if you are graduating, it could be kind of exciting. But if you have to sit through it in the audience, be prepared to hate graduation.</p>
<p>You walk in, people talk, vals/sals talk. We had our chorus sing a song, and our senior bel canto girls sing a song (sounds cheesy, but it was actually cool). Then they went through all 500 names. It is way more interesting graduating because you actually know a lot of the people and you can cheer for your friends. But, as an usher last year, after they got through NHS (which sits up front) I was basically done since I didn't really know anyone else. </p>
<p>The pictures you are seeing are more than likely before and after graduation, because you sit alphabetically. I know we aren't allowed to have anything with us, including cameras, and you wouldn't exactly be taking pictures during the ceremony. </p>
<p>I think the most emotional part is seeing your teachers, because the ones who really influenced me were there and it was just great for them to basically see you off. </p>
<p>For some people (at least in my area) it is really important because a number of people have parents and family that never graduated from high school, so it is a really big deal that their son/daughter is graduating. But, then you have other families who just know it is a stepping stone and it was always understood you would graduate and continue on to college. </p>
<p>A good number of people will come back and see the graduation, as well as people from other schools who are friends with those graduating. </p>
<p>I think it was a lot better than I was anticipating and I made many memories that night. Sure, it was just walking across the stage (and for me) giving a speech, but that doesn't make it unimportant or something to look down on. </p>
<p>And for you ushers, it is way more interesting when you are actually graduating!</p>
<p>Well, I am in orchestra, and we had to play at graduation, so I can tell you what happened.</p>
<p>The teachers lined up in across from each other in two vertical lines, and the seniors walked in groups of four between the two lines of teachers. When everyone was seated, the school district officials spoke, and then some of the class officers spoke. <em>All students that graduated with honors had to come up with a thesis statement in order to meet graduation requirements</em> and they called up all of those graduating with honors, and the IB coordinator read each students thesis statement out loud. Finally, all 430 seniors got their diplomas. The end!</p>
<p>I'm guessing you had to play Pomp and Circumstance, too, choclatelover03? </p>
<p>The symphonic band has to play that song during graduation for the seniors so I've seen what happens at our school's graduation.</p>
<p>The people who are in CSF (California Scholarship Federation, which is like our version of NHS), are in the front rows of all the graduating seniors. The valedictorian and salutatorian sit up on stage with the principal and other faculty. One of the administrators make a speech. The valedictorian makes a speech. Then the people who are in CSF are called up first to come up to get a piece of paper/certificate representing their diploma (I don't know why it's not their actual diploma). Their names are called, followed by what college they're going to attend. Then after the CSF people are called up, the rest of the people are called up by their names. After that, the band plays our Alma Mater with the choir accompanying us. Then the last few announcements/speeches and then they toss their hats and balloons fall down from a cargo net. </p>
<p>During my sophomore year, the monotony was broken by the fact that the seniors were crowdsurfing a blow-up doll (to the assistant principal's dismay) and throwing a beach ball.</p>
<p>Yeah, we had to play Pomp and Circumstance a bunch of times, too. Good thing this year I'm a senior and I don't have to play with symphonic band during Pomp and Circumstance because our graduating class is 500.</p>
<p>Parent here. I realize this thread is 5 years old, but the question is eternal.</p>
<p>Yes, many people find graduation to be a snooze-fest. But please understand that it’s not really all about you. Your parents have been taking care of you for 18 years. They’ve been by your side for all the triumphs and traumas of your school life. They made sure you did your homework, they attending parent-teacher conferences and back-to-school nights, they ran out to the store at 11 pm for some item you needed for your poster, they paid the fees for your EC, they help you practice for a presentation, they drove you to all those tests you did so well on, they staffed fundraisers and organized carpools and called in when you were sick. </p>
<p>Commencement is their chance to bask in your glory, their one and only chance. It’s their moment to look back on all the years, all the work, all the sacrifices they made for you, and feel that it was worth it. Let them have this opportunity to be proud of you. It means so much to them. A few hours of boredom, if that’s how it turns out, isn’t much to ask in return for everything your parents have done for you. Suck it up and do this for them.</p>
<p>And don’t forget to thank them, from your heart. You wouldn’t be going off to that great college if not for their love and support.</p>