Is this how graduation ceremonies are now?

[Toddlerteaplease]

I have recently gained a degree as a part time student, through work. Gradation ceremony next month. I have just been sent a link so my family and friends a record a 30 second video dating how proud they are. It will be played during the ceremony. I personally can’t think of anything worse than having to sit through multiple videos. I’d this a common thing now?

Just listened to that- it’s beautiful!

I remember it well. I was there in 1985 is Princess Anne still doing it?

@Toddlerteaplease you could get Penelope to record you a message 🙂

Could you put that in a video please

Because I was asked to by the powers that be. There were a lot of things I wanted to do that I wasn’t allowed to do and vice versa.

No opinion on whether this goes on or not (now retired from nursing!) but just wanted to congratulate you on your award @Toddlerteaplease👩🏼‍🎓

I think I’m about the graduate from the same course… this hasn’t been asked from us thankfully and if it had I’d probably skip it and take a last minute holiday 😂

@excitingselfreliantLeadership and innovation in nursing?

Never heard of this, I’ve been to 3 in recent years, 3 different universities - 2 were very traditional, organ music, university choir, guest speaker with inspirational message, reception afterwards with Pimm’s etc, one was modern, think sports stadium, pop music, felt more like a rally than a graduation, names on screen, no messages though

I was thinking exactly the same thing. My parents would have been completely uncomfortable with this. As would I. I hate seeing and hearing myself on video!

I haven't a clue what you are talking about.

Congratulations on your achievement! It's even harder to get a degree while you're working. Well done.

Two DCs here that have just graduated.
This has never been asked.

Im assuming this is a small group (no way they’ll do that with 300 students graduating!). But even then, why??
I mean some people graduate WITHOUT the support of their family but rather DESPITE their family. What are they going to do? Apart from beimg painfully reminded how crap their situation is?

Oh no! I’m writing this reply before I’ve read anyone else’s response, so I can be totally honest….
what a waste of everyone’s time. It should be about the university commemorating the achievement of the student, not the family. How boring. Whilst I do care about people, I can’t eg arsed to see hundreds of vomit-worthy videos.

Or OP could make the most of it and have a spoof video sent in by family. Like….you were such a thick little toddler. We still can’t believe you’ve done it.

Is it an optional thing, maybe for families who can’t make it, overseas students etc?

I graduated last year as a mature student (yes at a North London institution Letsgetthiswrongagain) and had to sit through this cheese fest whilst people filed in to sit in a sweaty tent for hours.
It wasn’t fun.
Neither was the hijacking of the ceremony by political activists.

Care leavers spring to mind.

What about students without families? I have already mentioned care leavers. and there are also mature students.

They had those at my daughters earlier this year but didn’t have to do videos, the whole thing was less than an hour, weather was fantastic but so much walking in between venues lots of parents struggled 22k steps walking between all the venues.

10 miles of walking? You had to walk for 3 hours for a 1 hour event? That seems outrageous.

Sounds so cringey for all involved.

When DS2 graduated, as a young nurse, we didn’t have to do anything like that. He would have refused to go if that had been suggested tbh. He’s just finished his masters in advanced practice and is refusing to go to the graduation of that one. Maybe his uni have asked the same thing?

@Hellenbach near Brent Cross by any chance? If you’re graduating from next year the sweaty tent won’t be there - you’ll just graduate in the even sweatier place where you eat your lunch. Suffice to say, I don’t work there anymore. Political activists at a ceremony are a pain in the arse, not the time or place.

I graduated from a Masters last year and this was absolutely not part of the ceremony. Still very formal.