How to make the most out of your virtual graduation
By Taylor Flood
Faculty of Business and IT Class of 2020
Dear 2020 and 2021 graduates,
I know this is not the end we envisioned for ourselves when we walked through the heavy doors at Ontario Tech on our first day but we made it! Last year when I graduated I held out hope that by fall 2020 we’d be able to have an in-person ceremony but now, a whole year later, I can tell you that it’s not about walking across the stage or the long congratulatory speeches. This is about celebrating YOUR success and perseverance - after all, you’re the one who did all the work!
Here is how I celebrated my graduation - which to me was just as fulfilling as crossing that stage.
Surround yourself with family and friends (virtually, or as restrictions allow)
Last June, while gathering restrictions were less strict (up to 10 people physically distanced), my immediate family gathered in our backyard to celebrate my huge achievement. It was the first time in months that I had seen some of them so that made it all more exciting and it allowed us to celebrate safely.
To maximize attendance at your celebration try to gather outside (where gathering limits are usually higher), use Zoom or other video calling platforms to include family outside of your direct household or host multiple virtual celebrations for different groups of family and friends to really keep your party going. The beautiful thing about a virtual grad ceremony is that you can invite an unlimited number of people and include family and friends from around the world!
Go wild with your favourite foods
This day is all about you so don’t hesitate to plan the menu of your dreams! I opted for a homemade charcuterie board that would have made the French jealous and a greek-inspired dinner.
If cooking isn’t your thing, use the opportunity to support your favourite local restaurant! You can often get deals when ordering for groups.
Decorate your place
No festivities are ever complete without decorations! My family went all out with Ontario Tech coloured decorations all over the backyard and 2020 grad-themed banners and napkins. If you’re looking for decoration ideas, check out Rachel’s blog.
My favourite decoration by far was the photo frame my younger sister made for me. It was so much fun to take cute and silly photos with my family and boyfriend. I will 100% be reusing it for her virtual graduation from Ryerson this year with some minor changes.
Dress for the occasion
It’s all about the cap and gown! Did I feel a little silly (and very hot) sitting around in my cap and (high school) gown? Absolutely. Did it make it feel all the more real? One hundred percent! But there was something about wearing the cap and gown for more than a few photos that made the whole celebration come together in my opinion. You earned the right to wear that cap and gown so you should use the opportunity to do it!
Reward yourself
You worked so hard year after year to get to this graduation day so you deserve to treat yourself! It doesn’t have to be anything expensive (but if it is, go for it - we’re all already thousands of dollars in debt right?), but rewarding yourself is a physical acknowledgement of everything you have accomplished. You made it through to the other side and now it’s time to be proud of yourself and relax.
Attend your virtual graduation
Now that you know how to celebrate in-person with the people in your bubble, it’s time to attend the virtual graduation ceremony! Personally, I will be streaming the ceremony on my TV so that everyone can see it on a larger screen and get comfy on the couch. If you have an entertainment room imagine how cool it will be with surround sound and the lights dimmed? Don’t forget to RSVP for your ceremony and submit your photo and the phonetic spelling of your name so that your big moment can be perfect!
Cheers to all the 2020 and 2021 Graduates! It might not be the ending we expected but we all deserve to celebrate regardless!
