13 Things That Will Definitely Happen on Graduation Day

By Sabrina Collier Updated Jul 12, 2018

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Introduction
You won’t know most of the other graduands in the room.
Things will get sweaty.
Professors and guest speakers will make generic speeches about how much you’ve achieved. This will probably include bad jokes.
Someone will fall over on stage.
You’ll overthink your handshake.
Someone’s name will be completely obliterated.
Your parents will take A LOT of photos.
They’ll also cry at some point.
You won’t be sure if you’re wearing your mortarboard correctly.
Your hands will hurt from clapping.
You’ll briefly lose your mortarboard after throwing it in the air with the other grads.
You’ll pose for professional photos with a plastic fake degree certificate.
And finally, you’ll go out for one last drink at your favorite uni haunt.

13 Things That Will Definitely Happen on Graduation Day main image

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Ah, graduation. The biggest day in your academic career, which everything you’ve done in your degree has been leading up to. All those endless hours spent with your head buried in a book in the library paid off, and now it’s time to get that degree certificate.

Here are some things that are pretty much guaranteed to happen on graduation day…

You won’t know most of the other graduands in the room.

via GIPHY

Ah, nothing like graduation day to make you realize just how many people were on your course all this time!

Things will get sweaty.

via GIPHY

It doesn’t matter if it’s a relatively cool day…you will definitely get hot in your gown.

Professors and guest speakers will make generic speeches about how much you’ve achieved. This will probably include bad jokes.

via GIPHY

Of course, you may luck out and get a genuinely entertaining guest speaker, maybe even a celebrity who’s been given an honorary degree – Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert was at my graduation for this very reason (in his own words, he ‘rocked up and got a freebie’).

Someone will fall over on stage.

via GIPHY

This may be someone in unwisely high heels, although even those in flats have been known to apparently fall over their own feet. Hopefully you won’t be the unfortunate soul who this happens to. And if it does, just laugh it off!

You’ll overthink your handshake.

via GIPHY

You’re stood just off stage, ready to go on and shake hands with the vice chancellor…this is the Big Moment. All eyes will be on you. Let’s not panic…

Someone’s name will be completely obliterated.

Again, hopefully this won’t happen to you.

Your parents will take A LOT of photos.

And I mean a lot, hopefully with nicer backgrounds on campus than the stairs in the image above!

Hey, they’re proud of you, and want to document this momentous occasion. Also, if either of them have Facebook, prepare for the obligatory status update with photos from the day.

They’ll also cry at some point.

Accurate depiction of mum and dad as they watch your handshake moment.

You won’t be sure if you’re wearing your mortarboard correctly.

And you’ll probably also fiddle a bit with the graduation gown.

Testimonials

"I formed such great bonds with my teammates and our mentor, it was an absolute pleasure collaborating with such remarkable individuals"

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Caryn CallistaChinese University of Hong Kong student, Future17 participant

“It’s exciting to work alongside experts in the field, where I get to learn and contribute to technologies that could help reshape the future.”

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Tanika DuivenvoordenUniversity of Queensland student, Future17 participant

"Canada offers a high quality of life and student experience, known for its peace, safety, and stunning natural beauty, especially in Vancouver"

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Nidhi Mohan KamalMBA student, UBC Sauder School of Business

"CUHK’s MBA programme provided me with the stepping stone into a larger sports Asian market wherein I could leverage the large alumni network to make the right connections for relevant discussions and learning."

Read my story

Abhinav Singh BhalChinese University of Hong Kong graduate

Your hands will hurt from clapping.

via GIPHY

Honestly, the people near the end are at a disadvantage here. Clapping hurts at this point, so they’re bound to get less enthusiastic applauses.

You’ll briefly lose your mortarboard after throwing it in the air with the other grads.

via GIPHY

In fact, is the hat you pick up even yours? Who knows.

You’ll pose for professional photos with a plastic fake degree certificate.

Soon to take pride of place on the mantelpiece at your nan’s.

And finally, you’ll go out for one last drink at your favorite uni haunt.

via GIPHY

This is where you too may find yourself becoming emotional, as it finally dawns on you that this is probably going to be the last time for a long time (or possibly even the last time ever) that you and your friends drink in this bar all together. Have a toast to old times and to everything exciting that lies ahead for you all, and know that it won’t be goodbye forever.

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Written by

Sabrina Collier

The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK.

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13 Things That Will Definitely Happen on Graduation Day

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Table of contents

Table of contents

You won’t know most of the other graduands in the room.

Things will get sweaty.

Professors and guest speakers will make generic speeches about how much you’ve achieved. This will probably include bad jokes.

Someone will fall over on stage.

You’ll overthink your handshake.

Someone’s name will be completely obliterated.

Your parents will take A LOT of photos.

They’ll also cry at some point.

You won’t be sure if you’re wearing your mortarboard correctly.

Testimonials

Your hands will hurt from clapping.

You’ll briefly lose your mortarboard after throwing it in the air with the other grads.

You’ll pose for professional photos with a plastic fake degree certificate.

And finally, you’ll go out for one last drink at your favorite uni haunt.

About QS TopUniversities.com

13 Things That Will Definitely Happen on Graduation Day

Save

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Table of contents

Table of contents

You won’t know most of the other graduands in the room.

Things will get sweaty.

Professors and guest speakers will make generic speeches about how much you’ve achieved. This will probably include bad jokes.

Someone will fall over on stage.

You’ll overthink your handshake.

Someone’s name will be completely obliterated.

Your parents will take A LOT of photos.

They’ll also cry at some point.

You won’t be sure if you’re wearing your mortarboard correctly.

Testimonials

Your hands will hurt from clapping.

You’ll briefly lose your mortarboard after throwing it in the air with the other grads.

You’ll pose for professional photos with a plastic fake degree certificate.

And finally, you’ll go out for one last drink at your favorite uni haunt.

About QS TopUniversities.com