skipping graduation/pinning?

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So I'm graduating in 3 more weeks, and the more I think about the graduation and pinning ceremony, I kind of just don't want to go. This is my second time in college, so I've done the graduation thing before and I'm just kind of over it. I'm tired and I don't need anything extra to worry about. Did anyone else skip their ceremony because they just didn't really want to go?

Also, I've had a lot of classmates fail out and it's just taken the spirits out of the rest of us. Add to this the normal stress of being a senior and I just want to take my diploma and move on.

I went to both. I regret 3/4 lol.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

I am kinda with you on that... It comes down to personal choice I think. I have a year to go for my RN-BSN, but I don't think I will go to the graduation, as I have already made my family suffer through two other college graduations!

Good luck and congrats!

HPRN

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

For me, first degree, first in my family to get a degree (at age 34), so HAD to go to graduation, but none of the second bacc students attended. Nothing wrong with that! However, everyone was at the pinning, which I think meant at least as much. I didn't see the significance of it until I was there and in the thick of it.

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Don't go if you don't want to! I'm going, can't wait! I've worked really hard and it's time to celebrate!

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For me, first degree, first in my family to get a degree (at age 34)

Wow, congratulations on that. Impressive.

You guys have me considering at least going to the pinning ceremony. I think that will be more special than the boring old graduation. My family isn't able to come, but maybe I can get one of my professors who I look up to to pin me.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Pinning is pretty special; it is bringing you into a grand tradition, literally passing on the flame at ours. It is a closure and a launching, a rite of passage in a way the cap and gown used to be (but has lost a lot of special-ness over the years - think kindergartners in their little white outfits). Pinning has remained nursing's own rite. It is also a chance for your faculty to see you off, congratulate you, and welcome you to our professional ranks.

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I would skip mine (if you stabbed me in the parking lot). I would go for my classmates that didn't make it. 10 years from now you can always say that it was something you could have skipped but you can't go back and attend. Kind of like better to have it and not need it.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I didn't skip my graduation ceremonies nor my pinning ceremony, though I could have skipped my graduation ceremony for the ADN. The Pinning Ceremony itself was more meaningful to me by far. My family was there and I was pinned by my family. This wasn't an option for the graduation ceremonies. Looking back, I wouldn't have skipped the pinning ceremony for anything.

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I am so glad that I've read these different perspectives. I have no intention of attending either the graduation or pinning. I'm going to skip out on the class photo as well, if I can get away with it.

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I transferred into the college I graduated from after freshman year, so I missed the end-of-freshman-year pinning and capping ceremony there. Picked up my cap at the uniform store before I began sophomore year.

My then-husband got a job transfer at the end of my senior year, and had to be on the other side of the country the week before graduation. So I took my finals early, and missed university graduation too.

When I finished my masters it was December, so I was entitled to walk in graduation in May. Alas (well, not really) my second child was born on May 13. Missed that one too.

O-fer-three.

But I've had a long and wonderful career in nursing and have never felt less a part of the long heritage stretching from Florence to me.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Pediatrics.

I skipped any and all school-related events of the sort. Pinning, graduation, post-exam celebration dinners, etc.

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No interest in it at all. Once I pass my classes and the NCLEX I won't ever think of the experience of going to nursing school again. Not for any bitter reason, I just don't care. That part of my life was done to lead me to the part of my life I want to get to. Pinning and gowns do not influence what I am about to do next, so they are wastes of time. This is my second degree as well, but I didn't go to my first one either for the same reason. I also would not have gone to my H.S. graduation but my mother would have killed me if I didn't; and being a borderline adult at 18 I did what my mother told me to do lol.

Not that I am going to go, but if I were on the fence about it it would have been settled when I found out that at my school they do not only hand you your diploma, but also a rose...

Not sure what that is all about, but I really don't want to do it now. When I graduate I might be one of 6 guys. Why couldn't they just buy a 6 pack and hand out a beer to each of us instead?

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