Convocation

Pre-covid-19, convocations in Son#2's university were held in their halls on campus.

But for the past two years, Covid-19 robbed unfortunate graduates and parents off this momentous occasion as only virtual ceremonies were held.

Son#1, too, missed out on this grand chapter of his life. He attended his ceremony, not in a tasseled cap and gown but in pajamas and on his bed. It just felt like a regular zoom session.

Poor kids — all that hard work, blood, sweat and tears!   

Poor parents!  I feel bad for the parents, especially those of foreign students. The letdown must be supersized. I know of a single mom who worked 2 jobs to put her only child through university in the UK. She said the motivation that kept her going was a vision of her attending her son's graduation ceremony.  Every cent she scrimped and saved was put towards that dream. It would have been her very first experience on a plane and her first trip overseas.

This year, however, with restrictions relaxed, the university got creative and instead, hosted their graduation ceremony in an amphitheater in an outdoor theme park!

And yes, we had to wear the entrance ticket wristbands!

The sight of gown-clad graduates and parents in their Sunday best hopping onto awaiting trains to get to the amphitheater was priceless!

I mean, who wears a tight skirt and 4-inch heels in a theme park!

The amphitheater

A proud mommy moment

Interestingly, the masks were designed by New York based Malaysian haute couture designer Zang Toi. 

Kudos to the university for this tremendous effort. A traditional gown-and-cap ceremony is a HUGE deal. Not getting to walk with pride across the stage to the sound of thunderous applause is like not getting closure after years of hard work, a rite of passage if you will.