Graduation Ceremony ....

[frazzledbutcalm]

We attended our ds graduation ceremony last week ... now called Academic Congregation ...
A proud, proud moment, just wanted to share! It was lovely! What I found most lovely was all the students in their gowns and caps milling around the uni campus before the ceremony began. Everyone was happy, chatty, sun was shining, photos/cameras everywhere ... it was just so lovely!!
Good luck to those starting uni, congratulations to those who've just finished.

[funnyperson]

We had a wonderful time!
A very proud moment as OP says!
The two grannies went along with the rest of the family and lunch at high table was brilliant.
It was so nice to see all the newly graduated milling about with their families, every one so happy and smart and proud.
We should have taken a video really.
We didn't take the grandfathers which was just as well as there was a lot of walking about at both places. Just savouring the moment and taking photos and eating cake and drinking tea was wonderful. A rare two days of 'being' rather than 'becoming'.

[Molio]

Sit them on the garden benches in college in the shade funny. Provided they all get on well :) They can have a snooze for a couple of hours.

[funnyperson]

Yes, limited for tickets but unlimited at the 'tea'/'reception' at both places. DC are happy to have all family around. I am currently wanting to run a mile and hide. The thought of 4 elderly people hanging around in the heat outside while we attend the ceremony is worrying. Yet they're not really independent enough to all make their own way to tea. I have got as far as finding out I can hire a driver with a van which will take wheelchairs.

[Molio]

But funnyperson aren't you limited for tickets? My DC can only invite three people each. I know your DD is at Oxford - it really is a great ceremony, so do try to facilitate some of the grandparents going. Not sue where your DS is, but if the gps are game to go, and can, I'd encourage it - they'll love it I'm sure.

[BestIsWest]

Sounds exhausting funny. What do your DCs think about it? My parents came but they are fit and could get themselves there. Will there be spare tickets? We were very lucky and there were quite a few left on the day so they could attend the ceremony. They had planned to hang around outside. I was in Cardiff this week and noticed a lot of grandparents and siblings out side the graduation venue.

[funnyperson]

2 ceremonies are involved. One for DS and one for DD.

[funnyperson]

Not sure whether to wheel out the grandparents. Feeling ungenerously exhausted at the thought. Have already been told that one, suffering from falls and dizziness, is 'determined to go', another, suffering from alzheimer's has lost her outfit twice already, a third has cellulitis and the fourth cannot see. A wheelchair friendly van will need to be hired but thats the easy part.

[BestIsWest]

DD's was an hour and a half but was bi-lingual so the speeches took twice as long. I did spare a thought for the vice chancellor shaking all those hands - it must be exhausting.

[Follyfoot]

We've been to 2 this summer: DSSs and DDs, and both have been fun. Great to see them rewarded for the work they have put in. One parent at DSSs was in an interesting combo of - teeny weeny - playsuit plus a fascinator and glittery shawl. Goes to show you can wear whatever you want really .

Interesting how different the ceremonies were. One lasted well over 2 hours which was a long time to be clapping.... The other was 45 mins so felt more intimate, but not such a spectacle in terms of numbers of graduates.

[Mumof3teens]

• travelling

[Mumof3teens]

DS2s graduation on Monday - really looking forward to it. We are traveling up tomorrow and have booked a nice meal and hotel for us and DS1 & DS2. Ceremony early the next day. :)

[MillyMollyMama]

Yes it was filmed. £27.50 for the DVD. Got it but giving it to my Mum. We failed to see how on earth my DH shifting a few seats to his left made any difference to anyone as that whole area had no-one sitting there as they were lining up to get their degrees. A few students said this usher treated them like children too and was very abrupt. Just so unnecessary.

[Bearcatt]

Milly. That's so shit!!!
Was the degree ceremony being filmed (professionally)?
If it was your DH may be able to see DD on line getting her degree somewhere.

[MillyMollyMama]

We were sitting in the allocated parental seating for DD to go and get her degree when it became apparent an usher would be right in our line of sight. They stood up throughout the whole ceremony. DH shuffled into our DD's vacated seat to peer around the usher. The usher then said if DH did not move back he would be removed from the hall. DH did not actually see DD get her degree. Unbelievable! Spoilt the day.

[Lilymaid]

Went to DS2's graduation yesterday. Nice well run occasion with DS looking very handsome and mature in suit and gown. All that messed up the day was the long stretch of the A1 closed last night that meant a long diversion on the way home.
He's off to do an MSc at another university now so perhaps another ceremony will be in the offing.

[fussychica]

Didn't realise you were quite that closeBest - 4.5 hours for us.
The pics and stories on line are lovely - lots of his friends have now graduated, just MFL and a few business folk left.

[BestIsWest]

We had a morning ceremony Fussy but we live about an hour and a half away so decided to drive up. Typically there was a traffic jam so it took us 2 hours. It was a fabulous day though. The ceremony was lovely and then we were all ushered into the upstairs of the Arts Centre for a glass of bubbly. So nice to see so many proud parents, grandparents - and partners of graduates all beaming.

[RolloRollo]

Went to DDs earlier this week, it was one of the proudest moments of my life and I am not usually the emotional type!! The ceremony was lovely, it was followed by a department drinks reception which had such a celebratory tone - I really felt DDs lecturers knew her and were very proud of every single student.
DD felt quite nervous about the whole thing, she had been looking forward to it for a long time and it was over in a flash. It was a wonderful day though.
DD is now gutted uni is 100% over and there is no going back to her uni city (well in the short term at least as she has a job lined up in London). She really was thriving there! I now feel slightly guilty for missing her so much, I can see why she loved uni.

[Bearcatt]

I had to walk bare foot across campus from the graduation ceremony to DS's department prize giving.
Good job there was lots of grass
My heels weren't even that high!
At the end DH had to go & pick up the car & come back & pick myself & DS2 up. There was no way I could walk back to the car.I sat on a bench in the sun whilst DS2 was going round his friends saying their goodbyes

[fussychica]

How lovely for you all - I've got to wait another year as DS on MFL course.
Did you stay over the night before Best or were you lucky enough to have an afternoon ceremony?

[BestIsWest]

Definitely wear comfortable shoes. I wore some low wedges. You're correct. A LOT of standing. I can't do heels though.

[funnyperson]

What sort of shoes? There always seems to be a lot of standing around at these things.

[Persipan]

The normal advice is to wear something that would be appropriate at a wedding.

[BestIsWest]

Mostly summer dresses with shrugs or wide trousers with floaty tops or pretty skirts with nice cardigans. One fascinator, no hats. All sorts really.

[WestEast]

I'm not attending my graduation, it's tomorrow. It's in a different city, I left university last September and have been working since then.
I would have attended if it was actually close to the time I finished Uni but it seems rather pointless to go when I left almost a year ago.
Hope you have a lovely time :)