More than one commencement ceremony needed

By Travis Ball
The Collegian

AS A FRESNO State student graduating this fall I had two choices when it came to commencement ceremonies — walk the semester before or the semester after. I chose neither.

Why should such a decision have to be made?

By having graduation ceremonies strictly at the end of the spring semester, some senior Bulldogs are put in a difficult situation.

My choice seemed like the most reasonable one. Walking a semester before I officially earn my diploma seems false.

To invite friends and family to help fill the Save Mart Center in celebration is an awkward situation when I would continue to go to school after my supposed graduation.

Walking a semester after I earn my diploma wouldn’t be false, but it would be inconvenient and past due.

Does it seem right for a graduate to participate in ceremony five months after he or she has left college?

A lot can happen in five months. Many of us fall graduates won’t be in Fresno when school’s over and coming back isn’t always convenient.

Going through a graduation ceremony months after officially finishing seems pointless in some ways. It’s as if the time of celebration is long gone, and you’re trying to start a fire with wet wood.

When writing an opinion piece it seems impossible to not ask questions and just as impossible to have all the answers.

Why isn’t there a graduation ceremony in December? Isn’t graduating from college an enormous achievement in a student’s life? Is money an issue?

Would two graduations make the ceremonies too small? Does it make more sense for the university to have one spectacular commencement?

I probably have all the questions and none of the answers. I’m just talking from my perspective and hoping there are other students out there who feel like they are in the same boat.

Growing up in a small town and attending a small high school, graduation was my day and a big time in my life. Graduating from college should feel the same, but be even bigger.

Maybe I wasn’t prepared for the news? Life in college has sailed by and I wasn’t aware of the once-a-year commencement until this semester. Is the information out there?

If this article can help anybody I hope it reaches the underclassmen. Those students like myself who may not have been aware of the situation.

You are now aware of the decision you are going to have to make. Hopefully you can find some satisfaction in a celebration that is premature or overdue if you will be a fall graduate.

For my fellow Fresno State students that will be graduating this December, I hope your decision didn’t come as quick as mine.

If you are able to attend commencement in the spring I am happy for you. However, it is important to know that having a ceremony for the university only once a year is disappointing for some.

Graduating from college is a tremendous achievement for us students. And for fall graduates it is a sturdy boat we sail in, but in terms of celebration the waters aren’t always calm.

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