<p>Guys, I am faced with a dilemma. I am starting my full time job very soon and I need to look for housing in a different city. (I dont like renting a home without looking at it in advance). I only have this coming week left to fly out and look at homes. I will need a week or so to look at places and sign the lease (I am very picky when it comes to living conditions), which would mean I would miss the commencement stuff that happens next weekend. </p>
<p>Now at least the way I see it, it doesn’t really bother me, but I want your opinion. Is it a big deal? Do people skip commencement often? Is it something I would regret couple years from now?</p>
<p>I skipped my high school graduation and don’t regret anything.</p>
<p>I think the main reason people go it is because they worked hard for their degree, are proud to receive it, and want to have a culminating event to make the last 4 years of their life come to a close (like wrap up the time, put it in a gift box, and put a bow ribbon on it). They might also want to say goodbye to friends and professors with the spirit of having accomplished something surrounding them.</p>
<p>For me, high school graduation would have been waiting in line with a bunch of people I didn’t particularly like in order to get a piece of paper that was of relatively little significance to me given the fact that my four years of high school were 4 of my least favorite years ever, mainly because I went to a public high school where things like intelligence were looked down upon. I also found my classes very easy and boring and so I didn’t feel like I accomplished anything.</p>
<p>The commencement stuff is not a big deal. The most exciting part is to walk into the big house and to see the commencement speaker if it is good. Because Obama came last year there was more attention than normal. It is a bigger deal for the relatives. There is probably a podcast or a youtube of last year’s graduation so you could watch it and decide for yourself. I believe there is a Ross ceremony before the main one but the only thing I can remember from is talking with my roommate about how his brother and my uncle were the only two there who had long hair.</p>
<p>It’s a good opportunity to see your close friends for the last time in a college setting and get a sense of “closure” for your undergraduate experience, but other than that it’s not that big of a deal.</p>
<p>I didn’t go to my graduation–a big CA university in the 1970s. I don’t regret missing it. On the other hand, my D is graduating Michigan next week, and I wouldn’t miss it. I am most excited about the smaller Ross graduation on Friday, but excited to be a part of the university-wide ceremony as well (as long as it doesn’t rain!).</p>
<p>Bearcats, go with your personal feelings about attending but make sure your family doesn’t feel otherwise.</p>
<p>Bearcats, honestly, I think you should walk. Just to give yourself a minute to reflect on all the things that have happened or shaped your views/research/accomplishments over the last four years (like all of us bleeding heart liberals here on cc - just kidding )
With the career I suspect you have ahead, you’ll flip houses left and right for a while as you move about. You could take temporary accommodations for a few months and then look in earnest. But the moments worth savoring are the ones that only happen once. Don’t shortchange your future self the memory of your Michigan sign off.
Best wishes in your next adventure!</p>
<p>I clicked on this mostly because I was bored and surfing and I can’t believe you are graduating already, but you know, I’d tell you to go to commencement, too. You’ve got a job lined up and a lifetime ahead of you but there will only be one first college commencement. You’ll find a place to live, heck find a place to crash short term and start looking after commencement! Ditto best wishes going forth.</p>
- just kidding )