Dos and don’ts of commencement ceremonies

Katherine Klingseis

You made it. Graduation is just around the corner. All you have left is the commencement ceremony. Follow these tips to make your commencement as flawless as possible.

Do arrive on time

Soon-to-be graduates must arrive at Hilton and be in the lineup area by 12:45 p.m. to get checked in with the Office of the Registrar’s staff. You don’t want to be rushed and forget something you need, so plan your morning accordingly. Getting to Hilton early will allow you to compose yourself before the commencement ceremony.

Don’t take non-essential items with you to the ceremony

You won’t be able to take your purses, coats or any other larger item with you to the ceremony. If you bring those items, you’ll have to leave them with your family or friends. So, don’t bring a lot of non-essential items to the ceremony. You don’t want to burden your friends and family with having to take care of a bunch of your stuff.

Do dress to impress

Your outfit may be covered by a gown, but that’s no excuse to not look presentable for the commencement ceremony. The commencement ceremony is a time to be proud of what you have achieved. You should also be proud in what you wear that day, so stick to professional attire.

Don’t disrespect others

The commencement ceremony serves as the time for soon-to-be graduates to celebrate their accomplishments with their friends and families. Obnoxious gestures and actions, although funny to you, may be disrespectful to others.

Do follow instructions

There will thousands of people at the commencement ceremony. To avoid unnecessary confusion, do what you are told by the Office of the Registrar’s staff and the marshals who will lead you during the ceremony.

Don’t leave the ceremony early

So you were one of the first people across the stage. That doesn’t mean you should leave early. Again, show respect to your fellow graduates. They stayed to watch you walk across the stage. You should respect them and watch them walk across the stage as well.