Ok, that's a clickbait, but not totally untrue. I didn't graduate, it was my kiddo nephew. I'm not posting to gloat, it's just that I'm incredibly proud of him, and can't resisting sharing these happy but not quite perfect moments.
Anybody who is, or knows anybody who went to university in the past 18 months will know that university life is not what it should be like. Most lectures, had to be held virtually online, as were exams. At the peak of Covid, students were asked not to return to campus after term holidays, and those who couldn't go home, stayed indoors most of the time. No social life, no meeting new friends, no student parties, no lab or practical experience, no face to face tutoring. No nothing. This is one of the college libraries at Cambridge University. Term had finished and it was empty, but signs of Covid still remained.
The worse thing was that there were no graduation ceremonies. All in person graduation ceremonies were cancelled in 2020, and many universities still did not hold any in 2021. Cambridge University resumed its graduation ceremonies this year, but it was a much watered-down version held in accordance to social distance rules. Normally graduands can invite 2 guests to the ceremony which is held at this remarkable 18th century Senate House.
This year no guests were allowed inside, and they could only watch via a private livestream. Families and friends, who normally would have sat down inside to witness this special moment could only cheer and clap for the graduands as the procession entered the Senate House. The procession is the start of the Cambridge University graduation ceremony. Although I don't know these students, I felt so emotional watching them, knowing how hard they must have worked to get into one of the top universities in the world. How they couldn't experience the full university student life because of Covid. And how Covid robbed them and their families off a very important moment.
Cambridge University's graduation ceremony is conducted in Latin and specific words are spoken as part of the process. Once inside Senate House, each graduand is led by the Praelector and presented to the Vice Chancellor or his deputy. (A Praelector is a traditional role of the University to present graduands during the ceremony.) The graduand then kneels before the Vice Chancellor, who clasps his or her hands and confers the degree to them. Then the graduand rises and bows before leaving the Senate House, out to Senate House Passage. Once you're here, congratulations!!! You've graduated from Cambridge University.
During the ceremony, there's normally some physical contact between the Praelector, graduand and Vice Chancellor. Due to social distance all this was eliminated and no words were were spoken. Each graduand walked up to the Vice-Chancellor by themselves, bowed and left. That's it.
My kiddo nephew felt very disappointed with this arrangement but there was nothing he could do due to social distancing. And since his parents couldn't make it to UK, he decided to graduate in absence, meaning he will still graduate, but can attend a graduation ceremony in future. He's hoping when things get better, and proper ceremonies are held, he can attend with his parents in presence.
Some may say this is just a ceremony, that all the pomps is very superficial, and all that really matters is you've graduated. That's true for some people, hence why some opt to have a simple wedding, whilst others like to splash out for the most special day in their life. It's all down to personal choice. For my kiddo nephew, he's not desperate for a grand ceremony, but since all that happens is you walk in, bow to a person and come back out again, he felt it was quite pointless. He also wanted to share this special moment with his parents and make them proud. I mean what parent wouldn't be proud to witness their kid graduate from university?
I certainly was an extremely proud aunty when I went to pick him up from Cambridge. He looks so handsome in his graduation gown and fur lined hood - apparently unique to only a few universities in UK. Although kiddo graduated in absence, he wanted to take some photos of him in his full academical dress in Cambridge before he left. That's probably the next best thing to a proper graduation ceremony which I hope can happen soon.
Next time I'll share our walk around Cambridge city and many of the beautiful colleges.
Hi @livinguktaiwan,
Thank you for participating in the #teamuk curated tag. We have upvoted your quality content.
For more information visit our discord https://discord.gg/8CVx2Am
Your content has been voted as a part of Encouragement program. Keep up the good work!
Use Ecency daily to boost your growth on platform!
Support Ecency
Vote for Proposal
Delegate HP and earn more
Congratulations to your nephew. May he go on to live a happy life. Beautiful photos!
Thanks @rt395
Education has changed much because of the virus but at least they still get some kind of in person attendance event.
Out of three years, he had four terms of normal student life, two terms at home and three terms on online study at University. Basically the last two years were pretty much self study, it's such a pity 😔
I think they are people who are thinking if it is necessary to go to university without much of the face to face and social interaction.
The things you don't think about that changed because of covid. It must have been hard on the students to experience college this way. In a lot of ways they really got robbed. It's a shame. Congratulations to your nephew though. That's an amazing achievement!!
Thanks @leaky20. None of us could have imagined all this. Not sure when you arrived in France, but I have imagined you had plans to do more European trips instead of of all local ones? Luckily, all the local places you go at so beautiful, so lucky us on Hive 😊
Yeah we did have a few trips messed up by covid. Italy, Prague and the UK were cancelled, not to mention family and friends that were supposed to come here for a visit. Oh well. "C'est la vie."
Everyone felt the effects of covid in some way.
That's awesome. Big congrats to your nephew
Thank you, despite everything I'm very happy for him
My daughter didn't get a graduation ceremony last year. She was less affected by COVID than some as she was mostly writing up her dissertation. It's been a tough time for students with a lack of lectures and none of the usual socialising that is such a big part of uni life.
Well done to your nephew though. Hope he goes on to great things.
Is your daughter going to get a graduation at a later date? It would ve a lovely family event even if its a bit delayed. Hope she's doing well now.
Sometimes I think the end of uni is the start of another depressing chapter in life as the graduate job market isn't exactly the most active now. My nephew is going to do his masters, so got time to buy another year and see how things go
I think there is some plan for a ceremony. She is doing a PhD now, so is not on the job market yet. She is loving what she does and should have a great future.
Doing what she loves is the most important thing! And you got a PhD graduation to look forward to in a few years time! That's brilliant!
Beautiful pictures! Congratulations to your nephew.
Thanks @sreypov! Your two girls are growing up quick as well, hopefully their education won't be impacted too much during all this madness
that photo with the young man where you covered his face was funny xD hahaha, very nice photos! Here in Portugal at the University of Lisbon they dress in Harry Potter clothes :0
Haha! He's a bit camera shy so made his own avatar for the photo.
Does the students get a Harry Potter wand as well 😁
Congratulations to your nephew @livinguktaiwan a shame it could not have been celebrated the right way this pandemic has messed up so much but great that he was still able to graduate despite all the circumstances.
I know what you mean, unfortunately. My niece graduated from high school last year, in full pandemic and had the same issues. She had a pretty ugly outbreak at some point, frustration reached the highest level in her, although she knew there's nothing anyone can do. However, life goes on, it's been one year since then, lots has happened since than an the frustration is gone, she has other concerns now 😀
Anyway, it was nice to see the university on your photos. It's on my list in case I make it to the UK one day, with a bag full of cash to be able to visit every beautiful place. Till then, the TV series called Lewis (crime series) has to do 😂. Yeah, when you can't get the real one, you get a fake one.
Nice😍
Its terrible how the young people have been treated they rly missed out on an education and a social life the last few years so congrats! I photographed a wedding recently there. If you graduate you are allowed to use their chapel etc for your wedding x