Who here didn't go to their High School Graduation Ceremony?

[gourami]

Today was my last day of high school, and I do not plan on going to the graduation ceremony tonight, mostly because I never gave a crap about school spirit or who others in my class were. That, and I didn't do very well in school to be proud of much.  Anyone else not go to a major graduation from a school?

[shardian]

You should be proud of finishing high school. Period. End of story.

Get your ass up there and walk the stage and give yourself a pat on the back, regardless of whoever else is there.

[Ginsu Victim]

I goofed off in high school, despite having been an excellent student before that, and barely graduated. I SHOULD have been in the top 1% of my class, instead I didn't finish high school until I was 20. I regret not taking school seriously.

However, as much as I didn't like school, I was determined to catch up and get a diploma (and not a freakin' GED). I didn't go to school all those years not to go to my own graduation ceremony.

If you don't go, you WILL look back one day and wish you would've.

[SirPeale]

I goofed off in high school, despite having been an excellent student before that, and barely graduated. I SHOULD have been in the top 1% of my class, instead I didn't finish high school until I was 20. I regret not taking school seriously.

However, as much as I didn't like school, I was determined to catch up and get a diploma (and not a freakin' GED). I didn't go to school all those years not to go to my own graduation ceremony.

If you don't go, you WILL look back one day and wish you would've.

I agree.  Ginsu's story sounds much like my own.  I'm not even sure how I managed to graduate with my grades.  I always tested very high, but never turned in my homework, so my grades suffered.

If I were you, I'd go to the ceremony.  I'm glad I did, despite disliking 99% of my graduating class.

[Malenko]

I spent so much time doing my sisters school work I failed a major class and had to take it during summer school and had to do the pathetic multi school "graduation ceremony" in the middle of august. It still pisses me off to this day

[Ginsu Victim]

gourami:
How are you going to look when they call your name and you're not there? Maybe you don't care now, but believe me when I say you will later.

[saint]

Today was my last day of high school, and I do not plan on going to the graduation ceremony tonight, mostly because I never gave a crap about school spirit or who others in my class were. That, and I didn't do very well in school to be proud of much.  Anyone else not go to a major graduation from a school?

You should go because you'll never get a second chance to do so. You'll have plenty of time and chances not to give a crud about the school or your classmates, but you'll never ever be able to go back if you miss this.

[SavannahLion]

I graduated by pure dumb chance. My grades were a mess for a variety of reasons. My Senior year, they changed how the grading system worked and my failing GPA was suddenly a passing. I'm still pissed off to this day how the idiot school counselor handles the kids there. If I had counseling at least twice a year instead of twice the entire time I was there (grades 7 to 12), I would've graduated with a far better GPA.

But I digress. I too debated about not going to high school graduation. At the time I was caught up in a questionable money making scheme (another story for another day) and graduation fell on a big contract closing day. I was all set to go when my sponsor refused to let me in that day. With nothing better to do I went to graduation. It made me angry and depressed to see three valedictorians on stage and people with 4.0+ GPAs walking across that stage and all I had were my GSS's  Whoopdee- -doo.

I am so glad that I did go and don't regret what happened that day one bit.

Seriously. Go, just go even if you don't want to be there. It's only an hour (or however long) out of your life. Unlike a lot of other things in your life, this is something you'll never be able to make up... ever.

[AtomSmasher]

I'm not going to my 10 year reunion that's coming up in a few months, does that count?   

Anyways, you definitely should go.

[gourami]

Thanks for the advice.

I did end up going, but they wouldn't let me participate because I missed an hour of the practice. I was so tempted at that point to turn the sprinklers on the football field on and soak all my classmates. I already had my diploma (They give out a fake at the ceremony.) But then, my parents told me that if I did that, no graduation reward. Suffice it to say, I did not do it, and am now $500 richer. I guess I now have some starting capital for MAME

[SirPeale]

I'm not going to my 10 year reunion that's coming up in a few months, does that count?   

I didn't go to mine.  I *might* go to the 20, it's in three years. 

[chopps]

I'm not going to my 10 year reunion that's coming up in a few months, does that count?   

I didn't go to mine.  I *might* go to the 20, it's in three years. 

I didnt go to mine either.  Best friends bachelor party was the same nite.. heh 

[Daniel270]

It's almost been 20 since mine...  my class sorta drifted apart after graduation and most aren't in direct communication with each other.   Right now, I'm maybe in touch with 1 classmate out of 14 (what can I say... small country school)...

[Zero_Hour]

Didn't go, didn't miss it, and haven't regretted once in the 20+ years since it happened. I had 3 truly good friends from High School, and we all skipped Graduation and went on a camping trip instead. High school for me was 4 years of relative misery, I felt no need to try and put a happy face on the experience.

Had exactly the opposite experience in College, and went to the ceremonies there (B.A., and then M.S.) - since I had actually accomplished something other than survival.

At any rate congrats.  Now go out and do something - anything, with your life - preferably something you like doing. 

[Paladin]

I was one of the shy/quiet guys with hardly any friends that played D&D at lunch time.  I was shocked my senior year to overhear some other students saying they thought I was quiet because I thought I was better than them.  Truth was I had absolutely no self esteem, and didn't think I was good enough to have friends.  Out of 4 years of high school, I think I'm only in one yearbook.  I just wanted to be invisible.

I didn't go to graduation or prom.  This year is my 25th anniversary, and I didn't see anything in the mail about a reunion but I wouldn't go anyway.  Between only having 4 or 5 friends in school, I have a lousy memory and probably wouldn't remember anyone.  The school I went to for the first 2 years closed and I was bussed to another for the final 2 years.  That school made me  very uncomfortable for some reason, like there was a lot of barely suppressed anger in the halls.

I remember when they showed a film for ordering class rings.  The narrator kept saying that the ring will remind you that these "are the best years of your life".  I left that film seriously considering suicide.  I'm glad now that I didn't, but at the time I just wanted to get the whole thing over with.


Wow, that was depressing......  Sorry about that.

[bishmasterb]

I went to mine, it was fun to be done with the high school I suppose. I don't think I would miss it if I hadn't gone though.

If it's not a big deal to you now, it can't imagine it'll be a big deal to you 20 years from now.

[ark_ader]

Today was my last day of high school, and I do not plan on going to the graduation ceremony tonight, mostly because I never gave a crap about school spirit or who others in my class were. That, and I didn't do very well in school to be proud of much.  Anyone else not go to a major graduation from a school?

You should go because you'll never get a second chance to do so. You'll have plenty of time and chances not to give a crud about the school or your classmates, but you'll never ever be able to go back if you miss this.

I disagree.  If you screwed up high school, you can get a High School Equivalency diploma.  Most of your school buddies will forget you, and you can get a job at wally world until you finish night school.  There are many different ways to accomplish this, and when you get the opportunity to further your education, regardless if it was a certification or degree, you will be able to feel an accomplishment.

You don't need a pat on the back to finish school.  You do need to in order to get a decent job, but there is the incentive.  Gas Station Attendant or Professional.  Your choice.  Money is a big kicker, but you can work or be an apprentice and learn a trade and still make out.

I finished High School at 16.  I goofed off the majority if the 10 years, but sharpened my pencil and passed with flying colours.  Every certification, or class I attend I hate, but it is the discipline to finish which is the best part.

So sorry Saint.  No point laying the grief on the kid.  Let him do what he wants, as we all manage to find ourselves and get back on track eventually. 

[danny_galaga]

i didn't graduate, so i didn't go 

if i did graduate, i think i would have gone, if only to say "so long, and thanks for all the fish."

[abzman2000]

I didn't go to mine (a week ago or something like that) and I'm not sure if I'll regret it or not, but with all the annoyingly bureaucratic way they handled things at my school it annoyed me to the point of being fed up with them and not going.  You had to order a cap and gown at the beginning of the year, the company had a choice of colors, but the school chose one we all had to wear, there were other things too, but I really don't care anymore.  I graduated, and that's all that matters right now.  College graduation is the only thing I think I would really care about, I mean that's the only time I think I will feel accomplished. 

[shardian]

Heh, it was my college graduation I wasn't entirely excited about. By that point I was sick of school and ready to move on. I still went though and it was fun.

As to K-12, Middle School was really, really bad. Those of you in my age group know that the early 90's was the "logo age". If you didn't have Nike Swooshes or Tommy Hilfiger labels covering 90% of your body, you weren't cool. It wouldn't have been too bad, but K-mart clothes such as Faded Glory brand and similar ALSO thought it would be cool to have THEIR logo proudly displayed across the chest of all of their clothes. I believe my nickname at one point in Middle School was "Faded Glory". 

I made all bad grades from 3rd grade thru 8th grade, but I always tested super high and my teachers couldn't stand it. Of course, they were just there for their paycheck so they could have cared less WHY my grades were tanking when I could get straight A's in my sleep.

Anyways, I knew that grades didn't actually count until High School. There was no way my parents would pay for College, but of course good grades would more than pay for it. Once I hit High School, I sucked it up and graduated very high honors.

As to my 10 year anniversary next year? I couldn't care less. My wife was friends with alot of people in my class, so I guess I will have to go.

[saint]

So sorry Saint.  No point laying the grief on the kid.  Let him do what he wants, as we all manage to find ourselves and get back on track eventually. 

Meh - to each their own. I wasn't talking about his academics, but the social bit. Same reason you should go to your reunions if there's anything/anyone you at all care about, regardless of whether or not you feel like a success, attractive, etc.

One of my goals in life is to never have any regrets about something because I didn't make an effort.  In the case above, maybe going to the graduation would have been a waste of time, maybe not -- but not going guarantees you'll never get to walk across the stage with the people you went to school with. In his case it didn't work out, but not for lack of some effort at least.

[massive88]

Geez, was I the only one who went to high school, did well, and enjoyed my time there?

I had a blast, and met many friends that Im still in touch with 9 years after the fact.

As for graduation, Im not a Pomp and Circumstance kind of guy, I went anyway, probably at my parents request.  I dont even remember that night though, except that everyone brought a penny to the principle's handshake on stage, so at the end he had about 7 bucks lying at his feet.

I guess graduation ceremonies mean something to some, but to me I could care less.  My experience was my journey, and it culminated when I was forever done with class and AP tests.  Graduation was a hollow show for the folks, but whats a few hours to kill when you have the rest of your life ahead of you.

[shardian]

Geez, was I the only one who went to high school, did well, and enjoyed my time there?

Oh I enjoyed High School very much. It was Middle school that was a horrible experience for me.

[Jdurg]

I went to my high school and my college graduations.  I was in the top of my class in high school in terms of academics, but at the bottom in terms of social ranking.  Pretty much the complete opposite in college. 

I have my ten year high school reunion this summer.  I plan on going just because I'm doing pretty damned good for myself at my age and I want to see how everyone else is doing.  Especially the people who made my life a living hell back then.  (Chances are they won't go because they're dead, in jail, or so hooked on drugs that they have no idea who they are).  Plus, the reunion is at a country club so I should be able to get a round of golf in.   

But for someone who is less than 30 years old to own their own house, be financially stable, have a great credit rating, have financial resources to cover emergencies (like a car accident), have a great job at a huge corporation and be recongized by the cheif executives of that corporation is a nice thing to have.

[Ginsu Victim]

Geez, was I the only one who went to high school, did well, and enjoyed my time there?

I had a blast, and met many friends that Im still in touch with 9 years after the fact.

I enjoyed high school for the most part, but it wasn't the schoolwork part. I had plenty of friends. The last two years I joined drama (which sucked) and choir (became choir vice president my senior year, and we did quite well at contests), and I really started to enjoy myself and had to keep my grades up to stay involved. (Especially with a trip to San Diego on the horizon)

As for the reunion, my 10 year is happening next month and I'm not going. I live in a one stoplight town in Oklahoma with a population of 4,765. Most of the people I graduated with are either still around, or easy to talk to on myspace. Also figure in the fact that the class I graduated with was not what I considered to be my class (I had to repeat my sophomore year, so the majority of my friends were gone already when I graduated).

[Daniel270]

Don't get me wrong... some parts of my High School career were very memorable, others I'd just as soon forget.  Those were an awesome 4 years, even if I hated some of my classes and didn't like the way a couple of my teachers handled things.  

I consider all 13 of my classmates my closest friends and would've done anything within my power to do for each of them.  I'm disappointed we've pretty much each drifted our separate ways, but, it's such with life.  I'm sure it didn't help much that I've moved quite a few times (all over the country) and made it difficult to keep track of.

I still have my class ring and my tassle from those days, as well as the 4 yearbooks.  I wouldn't trade them for anything.

[Ginsu Victim]

Geez, was I the only one who went to high school, did well, and enjoyed my time there?

Oh I enjoyed High School very much. It was Middle school that was a horrible experience for me.

Middle school is kids at their worst. My wife still has nightmares about that time in her life.

[billf]

I still have my class ring and my tassle from those days, as well as the 4 yearbooks.  I wouldn't trade them for anything.

There were only 14 of you in your graduating class?  Just curious, how large were the yearbooks?  I graduated in a class of 660 students.

[Goz]

I didn't make it to my High School graduation, but it wasn't a matter of choice I was in a car accident. A drunk driver hit my buddies car who was killed on impact and I was in the hospital for nearly two weeks. Despite it being out of my control I regret to this day not being able to attend. Regret is a ---smurfette---... don't make the mistake... go to graduation!

[RayB]

I did end up going, but they wouldn't let me participate because I missed an hour of the practice. I was so tempted at that point to turn the sprinklers on the football field on and soak all my classmates.

Someone's got issues... YOU missed practice, so your first thought was punishing everyone else? Call up a shrink before you grow up into one of those people who shoot up malls and post offices...

[Daniel270]

Including ads, 114 pages in my Senior yearbook.  (Sorry about the size of the pics)

The irony is... the state closed the high school after my class graduated.  So much for ".. alive and kicking".. lol.

*EDIT* -- Pics removed due to bandwidth issues.

[Ginsu Victim]

No need to apologize about the pics....they aren't showing up

[SirPeale]

Geez, was I the only one who went to high school, did well, and enjoyed my time there?

Yes.  I think a big part of the reason I didn't do well was because I was "The Nerd".  I got picked on a lot, with no reason.  It was a mainly miserable experience.

As for graduation, Im not a Pomp and Circumstance kind of guy...

We weren't either...we played the Imperial Death March at our ceremony.

[RayB]

[SithMaster]

I finished High School at 16.  I goofed off the majority if the 10 years, but sharpened my pencil and passed with flying colours.  Every certification, or class I attend I hate, but it is the discipline to finish which is the best part.

Huh?

What?

Time travel?

[pointdablame]

Geez, was I the only one who went to high school, did well, and enjoyed my time there?

I had a blast, and met many friends that Im still in touch with 9 years after the fact.

Definitely wasn't only you.  I absolutely loved high school, and the only thing better than it was college.  I wouldn't trade any of those days for anything.  I was more of the "nerd" in middle school but still had a lot of friends, and I kept that geek attitude all through HS but still was social.

Being a geek/nerd and being antisocial are mutually independent.  Glad you went to your graduation -- they're a bit of a joke in some respects, but I'm glad I went to mine.

[AtomSmasher]

I didn't hate or love my highschool, I'm fairly indifferent towards it and slept through most of my classes.  I was a bit of a geek as got mostly A's without really trying and was in several honor classes, but I was also on the defensive line of the football team for two years.  I walked the line between jock and nerd which meant I had no enemies, never got in a fight, but also didn't fit in with either crowd, so I had few friends.  College on the other hand was an absolute blast and the best time of my life so far 

[Jdurg]

For me, high school was just an extension of middle school but with an end in sight.  (Graduation and college).  I was a physically slow developer so while all my classmates looked like high schoolers, I was still a young looking kid.  It made any type of social life impossible because there was no way I could ever get into any clubs or bars at my age, and with girls it was impossible to even attempt.  I was the laughing stock of everybody.  Even my close friends couldn't spend as much time around me because then they would get made fun of.  I was the prototypical loner.  (Though I didn't go on a mass rampage and kill everybody, but at times I did think of it).  It was very tough and at times I wanted to just end my life. 

I was a good student and got A's in all of my advanced courses.  We had a weighted GPA and mine was over a 4.2 when I graudated.  Still, I would have much rather been a B student with a social life than an A student with nothing. 

When college came around, I passed on a full scholarship to a local university simply because a LOT of people from my graduating class were going there and I wanted to just start over.  So even though my life has turned out great right now, it was kind of stupid turning down a full ride.  I went to a school where I was able to start over fresh.  I went and did the exact opposite of what I did in high school.  I partied like there was no tomorrow and didn't give a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- if a woman turned me down.  I'm amazed that I never wound up with fifty STDs and just as many children.  Drugs and alcohol took a hold of me and if not for the academic smarts I had, I probably would have wound up dead.  I spent more time under the influence of something back in college than I did sober.

I still loved every moment of my life back in college and would love to live it again.  Nothing but parties, sex, fun, and no responsibilities.  Graduating college put me in such a depressive state of mind for a good three years as I realized I had to quit everything I was doing and go back home away from my social freedom.  It was VERY difficult to clean up but I did and have maintained a good job and relatively good life since then.  (Aside from my recent car accident).

[protokatie]

I'm not going to my 10 year reunion that's coming up in a few months, does that count?

Mine is in less than 20 days, and I wont be going.

As per the origonal poster: The graduation isnt about or for you. It is for and about your parents. Atleast that is what they told me when I graduated...

[Blanka]

If you like a plastic graduation dress, a cheap hat and a boring picture in front of a blue-fake-marble sheet, well go then! Otherwise don't. Ask you mom to take a picture herself if she really needs it. It definitely will look better then the 10$ one from the school photographer. And NEVER EVER shop a graduation ring. It will rob a part of your man-hood.


Glad it's forbidden by law in the Netherlands.

[danny_galaga]

wow, am i the only one here who flunked high school?

i feel so alone...

[ChadTower]

I went to mine - but immediately regretted it.  I was near the top of my class until around 11th grade when my home life went from poor to "just make it through this week without ending up dead or in jail".  That effed up my attitude badly enough that I ended up barely graduating at all, going from high end honors student to making my requirements by about 2 percentage points senior year.  If I hadn't spilled everything to my English teacher 3rd quarter of 12th grade she probably wouldn't have passed me at all.  Sitting there alone at my HS graduation while everyone else had tons of family there celebrating was definitely one of the lower points of my teen years.

On the plus side, my record to the end of 10th grade, a really high SAT score, and very frank entrance interview managed to still get me into a great university and I never looked back.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

I have to say, I was pretty successful in high school, had a decent enough time, finished on the honor roll, went to graduation -- and regretted that I did! 

It was a total waste of 4 hours (yes 4 HOURS for one ridiculous ceremony, class was pretty big.)  My family was barely there (just my parents, the rest of the family had exhausted their interest when my sister graduated a few years prior) and they were the only reason I was going.  I would've rather just spent that time with my actual friends, rather than sit around the folks whose last names started with the same letter as mine...

Consequently, I skipped out on my college graduation, grad-school graduation (which was a HUGE achievement for me, in retrospect) AND my 10 year HS reunion.  Haven't missed any of it.  Anyone I wanted to stay in contact with, I have-- and those relationships have always been more important to me than maybe even the actual "achievements."

Your mileage may vary...

[Singapura]

I literally spent most of my highschool years in the local arcade. Classes were so boring and even without them I had good grades. Nuff said that my fellow classmates weren't very happy with that so that might be why I stayed away too. I started enjoying myself in University and now I'm still permanently studying (finished an MBA, going to do Mandarin next). I did attend some kind of end ceremony after highschool but that was just for my parents. We don't have uniforms in The Netherlands and certainly no graduation rings!