A postponed in-person graduation is the optimal choice for seniors

Photo by Tiffany Wang

Because this COVID-19 pandemic is expected to last through at least the end of the school year, school administrations nationwide have begun implementing alternative plans for traditional end-of-year events. One of the major events in question is graduation, and while it is a major rite of passage for many students, it may be held differently this year, following the format of some colleges. 

Notre Dame has decided to hold an online commencement in May so students can receive their degrees, and then hold a physical ceremony during Memorial Day weekend in September. The University of Pennsylvania has decided to cut a physical graduation altogether and have their graduation completely online with a virtual commencement in June. University of Georgia students have taken an unconventional approach in celebrating their accomplishments by building an unofficial virtual graduation ceremony over the video game platform Minecraft.

While other graduation ceremony options may be accessible to more people, Saratoga High should, without a doubt, pursue a postponed physical graduation. An online graduation at the planned June 4 date with pre-recorded speeches and names read by administrators could celebrate the occasion momentarily, but it is a weak substitute for the real event. We should try to arrange both events to occur, with the physical ceremony in July, Augus or whenever the county deems it safe to do so.

An online graduation might seem to be the better option in the sense that it requires less effort. It is relatively simple for the school to set up a Zoom meeting and share the link with students, family members and the community. Principal Greg Louie, the administration and class officers could read speeches through Zoom and call student names in order. Furthermore, families would not need to rent or invest in a cap and gown, the school would not have to set up the physical ceremony and family members who do not live in the area can easily attend virtually.

However, all an online ceremony can provide is a basic series of speeches and a reading of names, which is not even comparable to a traditional graduation that brings the class together as a whole one last time. In addition, in order for the school to eliminate any possibility of inappropriate behavior, the online ceremony would have to be strictly controlled. Viewers would not be allowed to share video or audio, and only the principal and a few speakers would be able to talk. This eliminates the entire atmosphere of a ceremony — the cheering, the waving, the posters from friends.

Furthermore, a postponed graduation is by far the more popular choice among students. UCLA recently announced an online-only commencement, but student outrage has led its administration to reconsider a physical ceremony.

There is a limit to when a physical ceremony can be held, however. Unlike Notre Dame, which plans to host its ceremony in September, a majority of Saratoga High seniors would be unable to attend a physical graduation ceremony if it is held after their colleges begin. Therefore, the latest that the ceremony can be postponed until, while still ensuring students a chance to attend, would be early August. If the school thinks the pandemic will last until then, it is only at that point should they consider an online ceremony.

We seniors have worked so hard these past four years and deserve all the excitement, emotion and euphoria that comes with walking across the stage, shaking hands with the principal and smiling as we hold up our diploma. Only a physical graduation can preserve this sacred tradition. Even if we are unable to have a grad night afterward, the ceremony itself is already a proper celebration. 

Graduating from high school is not an easy feat, as there are numerous stresses that can derail students. Being able to graduate in-person is the only way to recognize such an achievement. There is no possibility that a simple Zoom call will allow us even close to a similar experience.

Graduation, a ceremony geared toward celebrating the achievements of the students themselves, should prioritize the students’ input above all. Even though organizing the event might require more effort on the school’s part, a physical ceremony is undoubtedly the best option, even if it occurs late in the summer.