In recent years, graduation parties have become an additional burden and source of worry for parents, rather than a joyful occasion to celebrate their children’s achievements. In many schools, these parties are held in luxurious outdoor venues, requiring high costs that are imposed on all students as a mandatory expense.
Graduation ceremonies should be moments of pride and happiness, not consumerist events. Therefore, I suggest holding these celebrations within the school facilities themselves, specifically in theaters and halls equipped for this purpose, without placing any extra financial burden on parents. This way, we preserve the symbolic value of the occasion without excessive displays or costs.
What makes matters worse is that graduation parties are no longer limited to the end of high school as they used to be. They are now held at the end of every stage: elementary, middle school, and so forth. This expansion diminishes the symbolism of graduation and burdens families with unnecessary expenses.
On the other hand, many students are required to purchase a “graduation gown,” which is often expensive and used only once. In contrast, many prestigious global universities offer gowns for rent, not purchase. Hence, I propose that schools maintain a sufficient collection of graduation gowns available for borrowing, with the option for families to buy one voluntarily if they wish—without obligation or embarrassment. Since the gown is worn once, and within two months parents will be faced with buying school uniforms for the graduate’s younger siblings—who will wear them for a full year—this approach is more practical and economical.
Speaking of school uniforms, these often change whenever the school updates its logo or visual identity, rendering the old uniforms unusable for siblings and weakening the principle of sustainability. Therefore, I suggest that the school logo and emblem be made detachable and replaceable, attached as separate pieces to the clothing. This way, the same uniform can be reused by simply changing the logo, whether due to identity development or transferring students within the same educational system. Ideally, we also hope to standardize uniforms across all private schools, achieving both affordability and sustainability simultaneously.
In conclusion, it is necessary to reconsider graduation and school uniform practices in both public and private education sectors, striking a balance between the symbolic importance of celebration, economic realities, and family comfort—without losing the educational essence of the occasion.
