By CampusDiscovery
This is it, the moment you have been waiting for since you first stepped foot on campus – college graduation day. All those years of cramming for exams, working on group projects, and attending long lectures are about to pay off. It’s a day not only to celebrate your accomplishments, but also one of the last moments you’ll truly be a college student. In just a few days, you’ll be saying good-bye to your favorite professors, campus hangouts, and many of your college buddies. Life will never be the same. First of all, expect the days leading up to graduation to be similar to a rollercoaster ride; you’ll experience great highs and probably a few lows, but try to relax. You’re not the only one having panic attacks especially if you are not aware about some tips for surviving graduation day. It’s perfectly normal to be anxious about your future and sad that you are leaving behind your college life. Just keep an eye on the future and think about all the great things that are waiting for you once you cross that stage and get your diploma. Of course, we have to get you there first! With all the craziness that surrounds surviving graduation day it’s best to have a plan in place. Here are a few tips for surviving graduation day that can help keep your stress to a minimum and make your day one to remember.
Before the Big Day
Full charge your cell phone! Trust us, in surviving graduation day, you’ll probably be on your phone all day, so make sure your battery is fully charged. It may even be a good idea to carry a portable charger, just in case.
Review your college’s graduation guidelines. In surviving graduation day, nothing would be worse than to be turned away from the ceremony for improper attire or violating some other golden rule.
Designate a meeting spot for friends and family. It will be nearly impossible to find everyone in the sea of graduates and spectators once the ceremony is over. Do yourself a favor and pick an area away from the crowd and designate a specific time to meet.
At the Graduation Ceremony
Educate your family and friends about graduation etiquette. Many colleges will remove guests who use air horns, shout during the proceedings, or block the view of other guests. Ask your supporters to be polite and refrain from applauding until all graduates have accepted their diplomas.
Arrive early. In surviving graduation day, arrive early.To lessen your chances of being late to the ceremony, leave an extra 30 to 45 minutes earlier than you normally would to give yourself plenty of time to find parking and deal with traffic issues. This will also give your family plenty of time to grab some good seats.
Turn off your phone. Once you have lined up for the graduation processional, be sure to silence your phone or turn it off completely. You won’t need it during the ceremony, and it’s poor manners to be texting during commencement speeches or while others are accepting their degrees. Another no-no is taking selfies every two minutes. Enjoy the moment and put your phone away.
Celebrate!
After the graduation ceremony concludes, you may be tempted to run out and try to find all of your college friends. You’ll want to get a few pictures and share one last memory together, but don’t be surprised if you only get a few fleeting moments with each one. Don’t take it personally if they ‘snap’ and run because they too have family and other supporters to find. Instead, schedule something for later that evening, or a few days later, where you can all sit back and celebrate together. The future may be uncertain, but for now be proud of all you have accomplished and enjoy your special day.