COMMENTARY: Students should walk for graduation despite COVID-19
On Jan. 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global health emergency. Since then, many students faced the reality of virtual commencement ceremonies.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, UHCL decided to have the Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 commencement ceremonies online.
The Spring 2020 commencement ceremony recognized more than 1,200 graduates and UHCL hosted its first car parade to commemorate the hard work of its graduates.
The Fall 2020 commencement ceremony recognized more than 1,050 graduates. Since the car parade scheduled for Dec. 19 was canceled because of inclement weather, those 1,050 students did not have a university sponsored celebration.
The impact of missing life’s milestone moments
Graduation signifies the hard work and dedication graduates put forth. Many people cannot celebrate their accomplishments because of the virus. This is especially hard for first-generation students whose families are witnessing their loved one’s graduation for the first time. Celebrating a commencement ceremony is special for graduates and their families.
Missing a milestone like this can have a detrimental impact on graduates’ mental health. They might develop depression, anxiety, and grief due to missing a milestone like walking for graduation.
Solutions for UHCL to consider
UHCL should consider solutions when determining whether to hold in-person commencement ceremonies.
UHCL should host smaller commencement ceremonies with special precautions like social distancing, mask wearing, temperature checks and asking attendees to complete a COVID-19 exposure questionnaire upon arrival.
One should pay attention to COVID-19 symptoms. The common symptoms include fever, cough, headaches, fatigue, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nausea, and diarrhea. If one is sick, they should stay home to get the medical care one needs. If someone experiences trouble breathing, chest pain, or difficulty staying awake, one should get medical care immediately.
If UHCL hosts smaller commencement ceremonies with COVID-19 precautions, they can ensure the safety of its graduates, faculty, staff and peers.
Celebrating college graduation during COVID-19
If UHCL decides not to hold in-person commencement ceremonies in 2021, there are still ways for graduates and their families to celebrate this milestone. Unfortunately, even these cannot replace the feeling someone gets when they can graduate in a traditional commencement ceremony.
One way to celebrate this milestone is to create a collaborative slideshow via Google Docs. That way, family members and friends could make their own slides in the slideshow and attach their own photos and memories. Graduates can encourage their friends and family to add personal messages to the slideshow about the future graduate.
People should be celebrating their accomplishment by taking and sharing photos of themselves in their cap and gown. This is a way to memorialize a milestone in their life. People do not graduate college every day, so they need to celebrate and document this moment.
Graduates can also hold a small ceremony with friends and family. Celebrating with friends and family is a way to celebrate the hard work one puts forth. An intimate ceremony does not make up for the commencement ceremony itself, but it is still a way to celebrate someone’s accomplishments. The ceremony can take place in their living room or backyard.
The UHCL commencement ceremonies in 2020 recognized undergraduate students, graduate students, and doctoral students. For undergraduate students, they may not attend graduate school and for graduate students, they may not get their doctorate. Graduates may only get one opportunity to walk.
The years of hard work and dedication shows when they get to walk across that stage in front of their friends, families, peers and faculty to receive their diploma. People work hard for their diploma; they deserve the chance to walk.
All graduates should be afforded the opportunity to walk across the stage.
