In college, I made a lot of foolish decisions, but skipping my commencement ceremony on the National Mall was not one of them. As the class of 2024 faces potential cancellations of graduation ceremonies, my advice is to skip them.
George Washington University is the only institution privileged to hold its university-wide graduation ceremony on the iconic National Mall, often referred to as “America’s front yard.” Students in D.C. are taught to admire this location, and it holds immense significance in American heritage.
Even though the university promotes the exclusive access to the Mall for graduates each May as a unique opportunity, I found that choosing to skip the ceremony was one of the best decisions I ever made. The ceremony’s pageantry did not appeal to me, and I preferred to spend my time and money elsewhere.
Instead of attending my commencement in 2019, I decided to go to an electric dance music festival in Las Vegas. It turned out to be a memorable experience, as strangers at the festival congratulated me on graduating and celebrated with me. The cap toss at the festival became a highlight of my life, and I have no regrets about missing the ceremony in D.C.
Skipping commencement and celebrating in a different way allowed me to have a unique and fulfilling experience. My advice to students upset about missing out on graduation ceremonies is to create your own celebration and make it meaningful to you.
