How does the graduation day go?

Are you graduation ready? Part 2

You do know that graduation is more than walking across the stage right? This is blog two of the “are you graduation ready?” series and today we are going to describe the running order of the day. I have been to two UAL graduations so I kind of know what to expect for my own. Even if you don’t go to UAL, the running order is generally the same and I will be sharing tips that can work for anyone.

Getting Ready

Depending on the time of your graduation, you might want to consider waking up a bit earlier. Luckily, mine is in the afternoon, but that doesn’t mean waking up with just enough time — you need as much time as possible. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I spend so much time getting ready for an outing compared to regular days because I am trying to elongate the day as much as possible. I want to listen to multiple playlists and pretend to do a “Vogue Get Ready With Me” episode.

This is not just so you have enough time to get ready, but also so you set the tone of your day. You do not want to spend the morning rushing to get ready on time so quickly that you miss the whole process. You want to be present and process the entire day. Take your time doing your hair, sit in your PJs for a bit, and have breakfast. Chill with family/friends and embrace the moment that you have been looking forward to.

Arriving

Same thing with getting ready — please do not plan your ETA on the dot. If you have spent your school days being the constant late arrival, your graduation is the day to break that streak. Arrive early. If you are on time, you are late. Especially if you are in London. London transport is as sophisticated as it is unreliable sometimes. If you are taking TFL, you don’t want to leave the house on time only to see your train has been cancelled or there are major delays on your chosen line. Same goes for driving/cab, as many graduations are in central London — the traffic can be as unexpected as it is unwanted. This will not only make you late, but also give you unnecessary stress that you really don’t need on such a special day. If you are travelling with friends/family, make sure they are also ready on time to leave.

Create as much peace as you can. That includes maybe wearing a more comfortable shoe, then changing into your actual heels at the venue.

Registration

Once you arrive, you have three things to do: register, dress up, and photos. If you don’t want to spend half the time in a queue, again, get there early. Once you are registered, you then have to get all dolled up in your graduation gear. Of course, make sure you have your cap and gown booked with the correct sizes ahead of time to avoid any confusion on the day. There will be people there to help you suit up, and you might want to ask a familiar face to come with you to capture the moment for you to look back on. Once your gown is on, you can choose to do your professional photos after or ahead of the ceremony — again, make sure you have booked your chosen package correctly ahead of time.

Ceremony

The moment you have been waiting for! The big ceremony. You will be seated with your peers — I am assuming in register order for a smoother flow when your names are being called out. Your family will be sat in the audience a bit further away. There will be speeches from different members of staff as well as a guest, usually someone who is receiving some sort of honour from the university. I don’t think there is any entertainment (that would have been nice), and there is also a speech given by a member of the student body. Once that is done, they will begin calling up names of all the graduates as they walk across the stage, shake hands, then return to their seat.

Make sure you own that moment. Yes, there are over 100 other people who will be before and after you, but when they call you, it’s your time to shine in whatever way you want to. I have seen everything — catwalks, cartwheels, confetti, and even silent protests. When they call your name, the stage belongs to you. Own it.

Leave space for emotions

The last stage of the day is where I advise you to leave space for emotions. Honestly, I advise you to leave space for emotions throughout the whole day. That is why it is so important to arrive early to give yourself time to really understand what is happening. For most people, it signifies that you have finished school…forever. You will never have a uni deadline, no more classes to rush to, no more teachers to turn to - this is where it ends. Give yourself time to accept it, process it, maybe even cry about it. But don’t let the day go by in a forgotten blur.

This is also the time to say your last goodbyes. To classmates, friends, teachers. Mel Robbins calls this time of our life “the great scattering.” When we say goodbye, our friends aren’t just going to another school, they could be leaving to work in another part of the country, or better yet, a whole other continent. The faces you are used to seeing daily will become people you might see once or twice a year. It’s already beginning with me as my friend group has had to schedule our next meet-up in two months’ time. Hug your people, take your pictures, and end this bittersweet moment more on the sweet side.

I will be doing a separate blog post on celebrations you can do after your graduation including restaurant recommendations. Make sure to subscribe to this blog via email below for updates on latest blog posts!