College is all about choices. A huge choice students make is whether or not to walk during the graduation ceremony. Celebrating the years spent at the University of North Georgia with fellow classmates can be far more rewarding than just picking up a diploma.
Walking at graduation is an honored tradition that not all UNG students participate in, but they all should consider it.
“I am happy with my decision to walk. It is a once in a lifetime thing to do that is earned by none other than yourself. Walking is commemorative of the finish line. No one runs a marathon race and decides to not cross that finish line” -Nic Elliott, 2023 Graduate
No matter how long it takes a UNG student to graduate, their time should be rewarded by their peers. Missing this opportunity could be regrettable. Even if you share the day with a few hundred other students, it can still be a day for you.
A diploma opens doors to new opportunities. All the hours spent studying, testing, stressing and chasing a degree deserve recognition. Turning the tassel is the final farewell to UNG.
“It is important to me to acknowledge my accomplishments and how far I’ve come in my life,” said Ashley White, UNG senior.
It is a huge accomplishment to complete college. Although not every student will choose to walk during the ceremony, it is important to consider both options.
“I wasn’t able to walk at my high school graduation, so being able to do that for college is exciting for my family and myself” said Madison Smith, a current UNG student.
Celebrating your accomplishments with family, friends, professors, peers, or even alone is something worth being a part of. Walking can be rewarding to students. It is a memorable milestone event.
Smith said “I’ll feel valid if I walk or choose not to. At the end of the day, I’ll have the degree that I worked hard for.”
While maybe not every student has given thought to taking part in the ceremony, they still ultimately have that choice. Celebrate your years. Turn the tassel!
