Online graduation ceremony
By Denise
@petatonicsca (7070)
Japan
June 5, 2020 2:35am CST
I just finished watching our school's online graduation ceremony. The graduates were allowed to come to school. They all wore graduation robes and hats and sat six feet apart in the gym. The only adults there were the head of school, high school principal, the senior teacher who gave their "sermon" (I don't know if you have this in public schools but we have both the valedictorian and a high school teacher of their choice), his wife who read Scripture, and two people running live stream and taking photos as they came off with their diplomas.
The school orchestra did a virtual orchestra and the choir did a virtual choir to sing our school song.
This is the first graduation in about 35 years that I actually cried. These kids lost so much of their normal senior experience, but they made it and they are done! The teacher who spoke talked about 20/20 vision and how nobody but God has it, so we need to look at what has been given us, ask Him to help us, and "rewrite the script" of our original expectations to overcome adversity.
It was a beautiful ceremony and I'm so happy they could have it. I won't get to see them before they leave... if they can leave. I suspect some of them will not be able to go back to their home countries for college.
Did you have anyone involved in a graduation this year? (mostly people who are on the North American school year schedule)
8 people like this
8 responses
@jayanth_77 (7179)
• India
5 Jun 20
Graduation ceremony is an important event in a student's life. During Covid times watching it online is a new experience.
3 people like this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
5 Jun 20
It was much nicer than I expected, and the students looked happy to be together.
1 person likes this
@jayanth_77 (7179)
• India
5 Jun 20
@petatonicsca yes it's a great feeling to meet old friends and colleagues
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
5 Jun 20
It is really sad that the graduates did not experience the traditional graduation. But we don't know if this kind of graduation will be the norm in the years to come.
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
5 Jun 20
@petatonicsca even here they are discussing the classroom to be online using the video conference facilities.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
5 Jun 20
I have had that thought too. Now that we know how to do a lot of meetings online, I can see how this might become the norm. I know that science organizations are discussing having their conferences online from now on.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
5 Jun 20
We had to keep it under 50 people, with 2 meters between. We had 41 graduates and 6 adults so we could do it.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
5 Jun 20
And I'm so glad they could be in the same building. The middle school and elementary won't get to have that for their graduations.
1 person likes this
@Lakshman15 (2662)
• India
5 Jun 20
No yaar,my graduation completed Ten years before..
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
6 Jun 20
I'm not going to tell you how many years ago my graduation was. Too many. I'm not even sure I can count that high! 
@HannahKusKus (4025)
• Semarang, Indonesia
7 Jun 20
It sounds so interesting.... still do regular ceremony in this difficult condition is so wonderfull 
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
7 Jun 20
Yes, the ceremony itself was just like every other year. Just as long, too.
1 person likes this
@HannahKusKus (4025)
• Semarang, Indonesia
10 Jun 20
@petatonicsca it makes the student feel happy although in this sad condition. Great teacher..
@m_audrey6788 (58468)
• Germany
5 Jun 20
No graduation for me here. Glad you got a great online graduation ceremony
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
7 Jun 20
Yes, it was disappointing, but I think what they were most disappointed about was spending a quarter of their year without meeting their friends every day.
1 person likes this
