Cynthia on Graduation Traditions

There was a post on Wednesday’s Jezebel about a young woman at a school in South Carolina who wanted to be different.  At her school, all girls are required to wear skirts or dresses underneath their gowns for commencement.  Instead, this young woman wanted to wear pants (which she also did to her prom)  The school would not let her receive her diploma with the rest of the class if she did not wear a skirt or dress.  Many of the posters on Jezebel were outraged that a school would have such an “old fashioned” policy.  While I agree that the rule may be “old fashioned,” I am also an avid supporter of tradition.  For example, I was saddened to learn that graduates were no longer allowed to kneel as they were hooded at my university.  When I graduated a few years ago, it was an option to do so.  It is a nice touch to the school’s roots, and adds solemnity to the ceremony, making it more memorable.

Of course, there are some graduation-related traditions that I don’t really love (but I don’t hate, either).  I wore my school uniform for my high school graduation.  That was the tradition.  The way they explained it to us when we asked why we couldn’t have gowns or wear white dresses was because it was to celebrate the last time we wore the uniform.  I was always jealous of another school, where the girls wore white dresses.  I thought that the white dresses were much more “traditional” for a girls’ school than a uniform. 

While many other things do modernize due to change, many school-related celebrations remain old-fashioned – and it very well should.  Some people, especially those from schools without these traditions, may not agree, but most of those who have shared the tradition and culture are very much supporters of these traditions.  For example, I have had people balk at the fact that the alumnae at my high school are referred to as “Old Girls.”  This is actually a term used by many schools, especially those in the UK.  Men, especially alumni of boys’ schools often use the term “Old Boy.”  In any case, “Old Girl” can’t be worse than “Ancient,” the term used for alumnae of the American girls’ school, Miss Porter’s.  To us ‘Old Girls’, it is an endearing term, drawing all ‘Old Girls’ closer together with a special bond.

While it’s fine to have one’s opinion that certain things should change, I think some traditions should remain such, even if it is dated. Tradition is all about making these occasions memorable. Making casual updates would only diminish the impact on being memorable, reducing the quality of our memories.