Graduations are Important!

By Dr. Shari Beecher, PhD.

It is the time of the year for graduations. With the ongoing pandemic, many schools have cancelled commencement ceremonies. Communities are working hard to make graduations special for 2020 graduates, despite the cancellations.

We all know that graduation is an important time. It was for all of us. But, what makes graduation so important? Are we just following traditions and social norms? Graduation is important because it serves as a “Rite of Passage” in life.

So, what is a rite of passage? According to the Oxford Dictionary, a rite of passage is a “ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone’s life.” Events signaling a rite of passage can include birth, graduations, baptisms, transition from childhood to adulthood, marriage, and even death (funerals).

A rite of passage is a transition and/or change marking a move from one point in time to the next. In psychology, a rite of passage is defined as a ritual that marks a change in a person’s social status. Often, there is a ‘cutting away’ or detachment of the former self or status and a re-incorporation into a new self or status.

At graduation time, a new era is on the horizon. It could be college, trade school, a full-time job, or transition to work at the family business. Any of these examples require a change in priorities and responsibilities. When we go through a rite of passage, we must focus on what we learned from our past experiences and how we can apply them to our new self or status.

Rite of passage reminds us that life is ever changing and that we can get through hurdles. As we celebrate our 2020 graduates, it is important to reflect on the hurdles they have overcome to become the young adults they are today.

Reflection on the past can pave the way to help them become successful and productive in life. We give our blessings to the graduation class of 2020 to go out and carve their passage! Congratulations graduates!!