The Graduation Day Checklist

".....presenting the graduates of 2002". That was what I remember the University President Teresita Salva of Palawan State University was saying. Followed by thousands of applause from the graduates and their loved ones. Graduation Day should be one of the most memorable days of our lives, a special day of celebrating triumph to climb another ladder of life as college graduates. My Nanay's eyes were filled with sweet tears of joy when I handed her my diploma, a token of 4 years success, perhaps an unspoken words of not turning down her sacrifices, she said, "thank you, anak". I smiled,  hugged and kissed her. Little did I know, it was a start of more successes and failures of life. But thats another story.




Are you ready to graduate? Below are the checklist I thought every graduating student should follow on their graduation day.

1)Make sure you are graduating. First and foremost, you gotta make sure that your name is listed on the official graduating students. Funny, but one "campus figure" student went away during our graduation day because he was not on the list. To be considered for graduation, make sure that you have completed semester hours, satisfy general education requirements, met the GPA of your course and satisfy course requirements for the major program, specially your college thesis. 

2) Dress for Graduation (under the gown or "toga"),  the appropriate graduation dress for men generally are dark trousers and a dress shirt and tie under their gowns. Women usually wear a lightweight dress or a blouse and a skirt that is shorter than the gown so it does not hang below the robe. Make sure you dont overdressed.

3) Cap, Tassel, Gown, and Hood "How To" Procedures, Graduation cap is worn flat on the head, one point of the square should be facing forward like a diamond. Tassels are worn on the right side at the start of the graduation ceremony, and you flip it to the left when you receive your diplomas. Graduation gowns should fall midway between the knee and ankle. Play up your graduation gown not only with makeup but accessories. Some girls opt to wear colorful Mardi Gras beads or wildly colorful shoes to play up their vibrant personal style. Choose the right color of your hood according to your course. Hoods are placed over your head, draping off your shoulders and over the back of the robe. The velvet border is on the outside. Make sure the hood lining turns out so that the colors are visible (turn the trim to the outside at the back, right below your shoulders). If your hood has a cord at the font, fasten it to a dress button or robe zipper to keep it off your neck.




4) Make-up and Hair do, By day, you'll you be surrounded by family. By night, you'll need a look that transitions to full on party mode. And you've got to be camera-ready on a moment's notice, since photo ops abound. Natural make up can give you a nice looking during the ceremony. Be sure to tote your makeup bag with you. (sitting in hot weather for prolonged periods is sure to make you melt) and play up your features with colors you know to be flattering for your skin tone. Opt for a loose hairstyle, worn down. If your hair is straight, achieve soft curl with a wide barrel curling iron and keep both sides pushed to the front of your shoulders for photo ops.

5. Camera. Everyone will be clamoring to make memories with their flip cams and pocket cameras.