u/FakePoloManchurian

I attended commencement on Friday, May 1st. Like a lot of people, I noticed a steady stream of graduates leaving right after they got their diploma cover.

I get wanting to leave. The ceremony is long. You already "did the thing." But I could not bring myself to leave early.

To me, the in‑person ceremony is not just about hearing my name. It's about being part of something bigger. All of us did the work, often alone, while juggling jobs, kids, disabilities, you name it. Cheering for strangers felt like cheering for myself because we all survived the same grind.

When someone walks out while names are still being called, it breaks that spell. It says, "My moment matters. Yours, not so much." I don't think that's what people intend, but that's how it landed for me.

I felt like the whole point was to come participate in the ceremony. So I can't wrap my head around traveling all the way to Manchester just to get a picture and leave. Those graduates could have saved a lot of time and money by watching the online ceremony from home and getting their diploma covers mailed. Walking out early also feels disrespectful to the people who wanted to attend in person but couldn't, for whatever reason.

Congrats to all of us, whether you stayed or left. We made it!