I did a thing: GRADUATION!

After being sent that in an email near the end of my final semester by my University, I actually did it. I made it. And it is the most surreal, unexplainable, indescribable feeling that when it happens it's like you're just wandering around in a dream.

Graduation Outfit

So after my little panic at the end of my School, Sherlock and Style post two weeks ago, I dug into my smart clothes basket and decided to wear this green, skater dress which has an indented print in the material along with a pair of black, smart trousers and a matching plain, green scarf.

I was all set but then two days before my ceremony, my mum walks into my room and says "Right, let's go and buy you some Graduation clothes." and off I was whisked away!

I didn't want my mum to spend much, if anything at all, but we ended up getting this knee-length, sleeveless, navy blue dress which had a black strip around the bottom with a pink belt accessory. We also a white, chiffon blouse to go underneath and a pair of chino-cut, smart, black trousers with a bold hem down the front. And actually, the blouse was several sizes too big but as it was on sale, it was the last one. But it all worked out because as it was being worn under the dress, all that could be seen was the sleeves anyways.

I paired this new graduation outfit with my own pink scarf to match the pink belt that came with the dress and a pair of blue wedged heels that I bought from my local market months ago but had never found an occasion to wear them. But man, my feet were pleading mercy by the end of the day!

Graduation Ceremony

Now the ceremony was scheduled for an hour-ish. We were advised to arrive at least 90mins before as even though there were tickets allocated for guests, the seats were first come first served. So we arrived at 10:30am and my ceremony started at 12:15pm. I got dressed in my graduation cap and gown, took some pictures with the professional photographer, took a picture with Cumberbatch the Cut Out (I shall explain later!) and then to the graduation ceremony queue it was.

Graduation Etiquette

As we entered the hall, we were told to take off our caps as the majority of us were already wearing them. We sat in our seats and waited. A speech was made and the guest were welcomed as lecturers and academics processed to sit on the stage. The graduands all sat on the left and all the guests say on the right of the Hall.

After speeches were made,

 the calling of graduates' names began.

As names were being called out, students queued up by the side of the stage where two graduation gown staff were poised ready to fix up your misbehaving gown ready for your big moment. As you reach the front of the line and the stairs to the stage, your name is read out by the President or Dean of your faculty. You walk on stage with your graduation cap in your left hand and shake the head of your faculty's hand with your right. You walk down the steps at the centre of the stage on the left and are handed your graduation certificate where you then return to your seat. And just like that, that moment is over in a flash.

After all graduands have returned back to their seats with their certificates, a few more words of congratulations is spoken on stage. You think it's all over until all graduands are asked to stand. We do and then we are congratulated once more as we are asked to put on our graduation caps with the tassels on the left. After a few moments of fiddling, the hall erupts with applause and shouts and whistles.

We did it. Class of 2014.

The organ plays and we follow out in the procession.

Now Cumberbatch the Cut Out. He, along with other well known names such as Professor Brian Cox, Alan Turing, Jack Whitehall and Emily Pankhurst, are alumni to my university which means that they have studied there. And a fun little thing that the university did was have cardboard cut outs of them, amongst other famous alumni, on campus. So naturally, the batch and I picture needed to happen.

Also, there was a photo booth by the cut outs with silly props which my sister and I jumped in and all but one picture came out perfectly as we weren't ready for the last one. I had some really funky pineapple glasses ready for that one too!

Graduation is such a momentous moment
and I wish you all educational success in the present and future.
It can be hard, stressful and sometimes even feel pointless but let me tell you,
the hassle is most definitely worth the tassle!

And honey, I should see you in a cap and gown!

Persevere and keep smiling xxx