I remember my school graduation back in December 2018. Because it marked the end of my life as a part of the school system, it was a big deal for me. I had been primarily a student for most of my life up until that point. From elementary school to middle school to high school to college, I advanced one grade at a time. Sometimes, I thought it would never end. Graduating from school was truly something life-changing, as I’m sure it is for most people my age.
Now, my brother Braden graduated this week. He wasn’t able to shake the hands of the teachers because of Covid-19, but he went through the traditional ceremony regardless. I’ll admit, I’m a bit jealous of him since he found a job right out of college, but he earned it through hard work and perseverance that I can’t match. I’m happy that Braden is experiencing the same movement from childhood to adulthood that I did a couple of years ago.
School graduation ceremonies are a type of cultural tradition known as a rite of passage. The rite of passage is a ritual or ceremony that marks the transition from one stage of a person’s life to another. Rites of passage are universal across all cultures, and they all perform the same function – to prepare the participants for the opportunities, responsibilities, and dangers ahead of them while connecting the participants with the sacred.
Graduation ceremonies in particular have been around for as long as universities have – since the medieval period. The word “graduate” came from the Latin gradus, meaning “step” (this is the same source that the word “grade” comes from). The graduation ceremony was the first step toward gaining a license to teach and becoming a professor.
Graduation ceremonies have changed a lot since then, as you can imagine. Even in the past hundred years, graduation ceremonies went from being small, private affairs to taking place in large auditoriums with speeches by the alumni. This change was probably caused by the increase in college graduates over the years. Back then, college was not a universal norm, but a select privilege. Graduations also had more personality too: they performed plays and did mountain hikes to celebrate.
Recently, my cousins held a kindergarten graduation ceremony for their children. Graduation for them is a long way away – they won’t graduate from high school until 2033. For kids like them, those who have yet to experience primary and secondary education, my advice would be to do their best to learn from those above them. If they have trouble studying, they should never hesitate to ask for help. If they want a job, they’ll have to put themselves out there, not expect a job to fall into their lap.
Becoming an adult means recognizing greater responsibilities. It means taking ownership over one’s choices in a radical way. I think I understand this now more than ever before. I tend to blame my environment for my moral failings, but maybe I am at fault for not taking the steps necessary to make my environment healthier and more conducive to helping me make better decisions.
Now, Braden is taking his path, and I couldn’t be happier. I hope that I will be as successful as he is soon.
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