Nervous about college graduation ceremony

LegacyUser

Hi all, this issue will seem fairly trivial compared to other problems people have but I thought i'd seek advice on it nonetheless. My college graduation ceremony is in 3 weeks time and tbh i'm dreading it. Being on stage with hundreds of people watching is a thought that fills me with anxiety. I keep having these thoughts like "what if I trip on the stage" or other embarrassing things. It annoys me that most people wouldn't even give a second thought to it but I find the prospect daunting. I also didn't exactly make many friends in college unfortunately so i'm also worried about looking like a loner while everyone else gets pictures with each other. Thanks for any advice

Tea-a-Maria

Hey there. Just to let you know,you are not alone in your fears!I had the exact same paranoia about tripping up,so you're not alone!I'd wager some of your classmates feel the same.

The best two pieces of advice I can give you are to pay attention to the stewards and wear sensible shoes. You'll be a lot less likely to do somethong wrong then!

As for feeling like a loner,again I wouldn't worry about it too much.I didn't really know anyone in my class when I graduated (the classes were too big!)but it wasn't really an issue on the day.You'll be running here there and everywhere sorting gowns and photos so you won't have time to worry!I treated it very much as a family day out.Maybe that might be the way to go for you too?

Try and not let the anxiety spoil the day.Enjoy the recognition of your hard work in college!

moochers

Hey OP
You will be fine, there are usually hundreds from different disciplines graduating so its a very quick process. When it comes to your row ye all stand up and walk to the stage in a single file. Your name is called you, the college president hands you your degree and shakes your hand and you walk off stage and go back to your seat.

Good advice re:sensible shoes. I wore heels for my graduation but before I went on stage I changed into flats. Don't be worrying about the class photos either, most of your classmates are with their family so wont have time to be hanging out with their friends. And if you do want to take some photos with your classmates just go over and ask, most people are only too happy to oblige.

Have a great day:)

blatantrereg

Doesn't sound like it's your cup of tea. Just skip it. I didn't bother going to my graduation ceremony. No big deal.

kylith

Just go. Wear sensible shoes so you won't trip, and it'll be over in a matter of seconds; in the end you'll be glad you went. Remember that there will probably be hundreds of people graduating so no-one in the audience will be paying you much attention except your own family; everyone else will only be interested in their children graduating.

Lux23

I never went to a graduation, wasn't interested in it really. Lots of people don't.

Santa Cruz

blatantrereg wrote: »

Doesn't sound like it's your cup of tea. Just skip it. I didn't bother going to my graduation ceremony. No big deal.

Completely disagree. The graduation is the final act in a four maybe five year journey. Not sure of your family situation but it may be the case that you are the first in the family to go to third level. This in itself should be recognised if not for yourself then for your parents sake. You may not realise it but parents have made big sacrifices to rear children and bring them to third level. Having them at the graduation and a meal afterwards will be a big thank you to them
Don't worry about tripping! Did you trip during other aspects of life e.g. First Communion, if a Catholic, making presentations at college etc?
Even if you do, so what.

In 10/15 years time when you are holding down a big job won't it be nice to have a photo of yourself in gown and parchment.
I can guarantee you that if you do not attend you will regret it in later life.
Bring a small family group with you, let them take the photos, you must know some other graduates, just stop them and say "Hop in here for a photo, we might need it to get out of prison some time!!!" or some crack like that

freshpopcorn

Lots of people feel nervous in these situations. To be honest if you do decide to go. It is very unlikely anything will go wrong.
It would be nice for your parents to see you graduating as well if you do decide to go.
I have being to a good few graduations over the years and a good few people normally don't attend. Some people for work commitments, finical reasons, personal reasons, etc.
My sister didn't attend her last Graduation because she had work on the day and she had all ready graduation from UCD/Mary I/UCC so she wasn't to worried about attending another one.
Normally at these events tough people make an extra effort to be friendly because it is kind of the end of an era and they want to end it on a high. You will have photos with your family and maybe the odd friend. If you did feel alone at the event it would be easy enough for you to slip away.

COYW

Don't let your fear stop you from going, if you really want to go to it. You will only be on stage for a minute max. Seeing this through will stand to you in the future.

freeze4real

It seems its not only you OP. I'm graduating in a week. And don't want to go because most if my mates infact all are reoeating except me.

And since my last name starts with A, A big FAT A ill be the first to be in stage. FML. If I fall that's me done.

Lol. You'll be grand. Just relax and have fun. Atleadt I'll try to if I do go.

Lone Stone

Hello op, i actually some mad socially anxiety issue the past while and i graduated a while ago now. But its really quick its not drawn out you just que up with your class take the thing and sit down mine ceremony now of the whole arts departments of the college was over in about 40-50 minuets and every one was so busy running around with their families getting pics and stuff that not a lot even bothered getting photo's together so i really wouldnt worry about of it most people just want to get in and out of the thing.

ShaShaBear

Totally understand where you are coming from OP, I'm only going into my final year, so I wont be graduating until this time next year!

A friend advised me to wear flat, snug shoes and to take a safety pin with me and when I put my gown on, just fix it to the inside to hold the gown up a tad off your feet. You can take it out as soon as you get your degree

As for afterwards, I wouldn't worry about that at all. I ended up having to repeat a semester over 1% in one subject (can you tell I am still sickened?) and now there are only two people I know and am comfortable with left in my year. Everyone else will be graduating right about now. If I can find them after the ceremony, I'll ask for a picture, but in my small IT they will be lost among a sea of over 4000 people. My mother, sister and partner, and perhaps my uncle (Godfather who takes the role literally since my dad passed) will all be there for photos anyway!

Aglomerado

If you're getting a whole new outfit for the event, make sure you're comfortable in your new shoes, wear them about the house for a few days beforehand. Nothing worse than hobbling up onto the stage! I had the same anxiety about tripping especially as I'm a shortarse and I wasn't sure how long the gown was going to be. It was grand in the end. Enjoy the day with your family and well done on your achievement.

blatantrereg

Why feel pressure to do something you don't want to? Not everyone cares about pictures of themselves in gowns or sees getting a degree as something worth celebrating. Sure if it's meaningful to your parents in some way then maybe indulge that, or if you take some special pride in having a degree then go for it. But if it doesn't have any special meaning then don't do it just because it's something you think you should do. Don't pretend it has meaning for you if it doesn't, just because it seems there is a social expectation to really care about it.

It's all a load of bollocks really, and degrees are set to become less and less meaningful as 'educational reforms' are put in place. Government objective to make huge homogenous classes and give everybody a degree in fields where there are jobs. Government pressure to pass all students no matter how stupid, unsuitable or disinterested. Save money and have attractive looking stats.

Santa Cruz

COYW wrote: »

Don't let your fear stop you from going, if you really want to go to it. You will only be on stage for a minute max. Seeing this through will stand to you in the future.

Just imagine you are lining up for a kebab in Abrakebabra. Did you drop your kebab there or trip?
I'm not talking about three o clock in the morning with ten pints on board!
Good luck. Have a great day


In years to come when you have a big office and a photo of your graduation you never know it might be a great networking opportunity.
A friend of mine landed a fantastic job in London because he fell in to conversation with a man in a gym who saw him wearing a UCD sweatshirt. The man was a UCD graduate years earlier and more or less did the interview in the gym once he found out the line of work my friend was in.

Stavro Mueller

I agree with the others about the comfortable shoes for that bit of the ceremony anyway. Nobody's going to be interested in looking at your feet. Or at you for that matter. When it comes to handing out the scrolls, only your family will notice you at all. Everyone else will be looking out for their graduate or tuned out as soon as he/she gets her scroll. If you're a girl, bring hair grips as well. Lots and lots of them. Those mortarboards can slide around a bit so they need to be anchored firmly in place.

On the lack of friends thing, bring your family on a tour of the campus. That'll divert them/kill time. Anyway, graduations tend to be something of a family day out. The the wild night out planned for later. Good luck! Don't let your anxiety put you off. The one thing I remember about my graduation was how proud my parents were. And no doubt relieved that they'd got some sort of return for their hard-earned money