Graduation is not just about the ceremony

When they say that the wedding day is just a one-day celebration and simply the start of a new chapter in a couple's life, then a student's graduation pretty much can be compared to a marriage ceremony. It can be as grandiose or as simple as it can be, and with either countless or a handful of guests invited.

Amidst the ongoing scare that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us all, most of our normal routine and our scheduled activities have been put on hold as part of our stringent measures to contain and prevent the spread of the dreadful virus.

Thousands of soon to be graduates might not have the chance to march and experience the actual ceremony, but they should not at all feel miserable about this unfortunate situation. More than the ceremony itself, graduation truly counts as a momentous occasion in one's lifetime.

Graduation marks a lot of celebrations not only for the graduates themselves but also for the people who are instrumental in making their graduation possible. It is also a time to honor parents, teachers, and mentors who shaped each student before they reach the finish line.

Firstly, it is an event to realize and acknowledge the students’hard work that made it possible for them to accomplish all the taxing responsibilities of being a student. For college students, it is indeed a time to pat one on the back for carrying out all the arduous requirements before graduating and getting a college degree. Students graduating from preschool to graduate studies all share the same sense of fulfillment for being able to pass the level successfully.

Aside from bringing a sense of fulfillment to the graduates, it also marks a beginning of a new chapter in their life, whether they will be moving on to the next step in the ladder of education or moving on to a new world of employment or entrepreneurship. Either way, each graduate must set a new goal to achieve, say, for example, being able to study harder and getting better grades or being able to find a good job right after graduation. Setting a goal is a very important habit that every individual must learn to practice now and then to ensure growth and improvement in one’s self.

With a goal set in mind, graduates should take this time to look forward to their future while bringing the lessons learned in the past. All their experiences and learning should guide them as they take on a new endeavor in their lives. Mistakes can be taken positively if we learn from them and make sure that we don’t repeat doing the same faults.

Graduates are not the only ones who should celebrate, but parents and guardians who accompanied them in their life as a student in all aspects such as financially, physically, emotionally and even spiritually. It is the perfect opportunity to honor and thank the hardworking parents for being able to send them to school and providing all their needs as a student.

In my young experience of being a teacher, I have encountered different kinds of students, and the ones that I give high regard to are the working students. There are a lot of successful people I know who have the same experience, and I believe being a working student gives the individual the perfect motivation and outlook to be successful in life because it is not very easy to balance work and studies at the same time. This is why working students get my utmost respect and admiration.

When graduates look back, they must also remember the people who helped them mold their individuality and those who shared what they learn. Graduation is also a time to honor teachers, professors, and mentors who devote their time and effort to offer what they learn to the students, for without these people, learning in the academe will not be possible.

To all the graduates, be ready as you step out into the real world. Life as a student is much different from being an employee or even as a selfemployed individual. While the academe prepared us in terms of education, we should also keep life lessons that we encountered as students, and these include hard work, patience, and perseverance, just to name a few. Remember that there is no shortcut to success, and we are the ones who carve our path to it.