I'm scared to go alone to my graduation ceremony

I feel like everyone will have friends or family with them but I'll be the only one on my own and everyone will be staring at me. I only had one friend on the course but they won't be there as they didn't finish the course. I haven't invited family or told them about my graduation ceremony because they were never supportive of me going to uni. I invited them to my virtual one as I graduated the year covid came but I regretted that and wish I hadn't. Plus I'm a introvert and there will be so many people there. Everyone will have someone except me, it's going to be so awkward. I never planned on going, I never went to my BA graduation ceremony but since this is for my masters and my proudest achievement I thought I'd go and to do something out of my comfort zone for a change. I think the only people who might talk to me there are a few technicians from the subject i studied, the tutors didn't bother talking to me unless it was in tutorials or class work because they knew I was quiet. I didn't know many of the students either there was only 1 who who I spoke to a couple of times so they might talk to me and a few people on other course I knew who will be graduating in the same ceremony. I'm so nervous what if no one wants to talk to me because they've forgotten me or something. Going on stage will be so nerve racking too because everyone will be staring at me and I'm not going to shake the person's hand- they will doff there hat to me when I have my hands behind my back to show I don't want to shake hands. what do I do? The same or just nod and smile? Or nothing?

I don't know why I'm so nervous, I've been to many places alone, I've been to freaking London on my own and nothing bad happened. I was nervous for all those places but it wasn't bad in the end, there were a few stares but nothing bad. I just feel like this ceremony will be so awkward on my own. It's too late to invite anyone now anyway since its tomorrow ☹️

I feel like everyone will have friends or family with them but I'll be the only one on my own and everyone will be staring at me. I only had one friend on the course but they won't be there as they didn't finish the course. I haven't invited family or told them about my graduation ceremony because they were never supportive of me going to uni. I invited them to my virtual one as I graduated the year covid came but I regretted that and wish I hadn't. Plus I'm a introvert and there will be so many people there. Everyone will have someone except me, it's going to be so awkward. I never planned on going, I never went to my BA graduation ceremony but since this is for my masters and my proudest achievement I thought I'd go and to do something out of my comfort zone for a change. I think the only people who might talk to me there are a few technicians from the subject i studied, the tutors didn't bother talking to me unless it was in tutorials or class work because they knew I was quiet. I didn't know many of the students either there was only 1 who who I spoke to a couple of times so they might talk to me and a few people on other course I knew who will be graduating in the same ceremony. I'm so nervous what if no one wants to talk to me because they've forgotten me or something. Going on stage will be so nerve racking too because everyone will be staring at me and I'm not going to shake the person's hand- they will doff there hat to me when I have my hands behind my back to show I don't want to shake hands. what do I do? The same or just nod and smile? Or nothing?

I don't know why I'm so nervous, I've been to many places alone, I've been to freaking London on my own and nothing bad happened. I was nervous for all those places but it wasn't bad in the end, there were a few stares but nothing bad. I just feel like this ceremony will be so awkward on my own. It's too late to invite anyone now anyway since its tomorrow ☹️

People are going to be obsessed with their family/friends eg. Getting good photographs outside or watching them cross the stage to even notice that you are going alone. It is also going to be extremely busy anyway.

Enjoy your graduation and well done on your achievements

First of all congratulations on your Masters

I think you are worrying unnecessarily - most people just focus on the person they know and don't notice others. Why don't you want to shake hands? Just watch what others are doing and follow.

I really hope you manage to enjoy the day

Congratulations on your masters - but don't go to your graduation if you don't want to. You can be proud of your degree without needing to go to the ceremony. It's not too late to decide you'd rather not. I went to one of mine under duress and it was very tedious so I didn't go to the next one and I've never regretted it.

I agree with what other people have said about not noticing you, but there is no need to go.

I feel like everyone will have friends or family with them but I'll be the only one on my own and everyone will be staring at me. I only had one friend on the course but they won't be there as they didn't finish the course. I haven't invited family or told them about my graduation ceremony because they were never supportive of me going to uni. I invited them to my virtual one as I graduated the year covid came but I regretted that and wish I hadn't. Plus I'm a introvert and there will be so many people there. Everyone will have someone except me, it's going to be so awkward. I never planned on going, I never went to my BA graduation ceremony but since this is for my masters and my proudest achievement I thought I'd go and to do something out of my comfort zone for a change. I think the only people who might talk to me there are a few technicians from the subject i studied, the tutors didn't bother talking to me unless it was in tutorials or class work because they knew I was quiet. I didn't know many of the students either there was only 1 who who I spoke to a couple of times so they might talk to me and a few people on other course I knew who will be graduating in the same ceremony. I'm so nervous what if no one wants to talk to me because they've forgotten me or something. Going on stage will be so nerve racking too because everyone will be staring at me and I'm not going to shake the person's hand- they will doff there hat to me when I have my hands behind my back to show I don't want to shake hands. what do I do? The same or just nod and smile? Or nothing?

I don't know why I'm so nervous, I've been to many places alone, I've been to freaking London on my own and nothing bad happened. I was nervous for all those places but it wasn't bad in the end, there were a few stares but nothing bad. I just feel like this ceremony will be so awkward on my own. It's too late to invite anyone now anyway since its tomorrow ☹️

Best not to waste your time or money going to the graduation ceremony if you are planning not to shake hands and feeling very frightened.

Wait until the pandemic is over and you have made some friends who are willing to attend your graduation ceremony to support you.
Can you celebrate elsewhere by doing something that you always enjoy?
Or visit a favourite restaurant?
Maybe try out a new bar?
Or visit a nightlife venue that you have never been to before?

I enjoy adding to my collection of postgrad qualifications.
Over the course of my adult life I've never booked tickets for a graduation ceremony nor attended any.
I never will.
Won't waste the time or money.
Have zero plans to have my memories of an interesting degree ruined by a graduation day where unwelcome faces from the past that I cut contact with years ago and avoid like the plague rear their ugly heads trying to ambush or intimidate me.
Good luck!

Everything is very organised at these things - at the actual ceremony you will be told where the sit, when to wait to go on stage etc., consequently people often do not know the people sat next to them in the hall, and many spent the waiting time studying their programme/phone/the venue. Once the ceremony starts people should be clapping and watching, not chatting. Your time on stage is very brief, and to be honest I (and I think most parents in the audience) pretty much switch off until "their" graduate is about to go on.

People may meet up with friends/family after the ceremony and/or go back to department events but not everyone will do the same thing by any means. You can simply slip away and go and treat yourself to a well deserved coffee and cake where you can reflect and take pride in your achievement. You have done well, and you deserve the recognition. Make sure you take some selfies in your gown at some of the nicer/most meaningful parts of your university.

Unless there are religious reasons why you don't want to shake hands, it is often easier to just go with the flow, but you can simply smile and nod if you really don't want to.

Hope you enjoy your day.

Update: I went to my graduation ceremony and it was ok, not many people from my course turned up. The ones who did I never knew them even the people I sat next to during the ceremony, they were either from a different course who I'd never seen before or from my course but I didn't know them or remember them. Some people were staring at me the time before the ceremony but no one was gawping at me or anything. I dont think they knew I was alone, most of the time I just stood by people or near people. I saw a friend from a different course , we just said hi because they were busy on the phone. Someone random walked up to me and we chatted until their guest came. The whole thing was fine except my hat wouldn't stay on and the person pronounced my surname wrong which was embarrassing but I didn't hear anyone laugh as they must have though it was my actual surname. I didn't bother corrected them as I was too nervous to be on stage and just smiled at them. I didn't shake the person's hand because my hands were sticky from it being so hot and I had to hold my hat the whole time as it fell off my head at the beginning of the ceremony. I just nodded my head at the person when I was close enough and they did it back but it was kind of awkward because I forgot to put my hand behind my back and they thought I was going to shake their hand and they held their hand out lol then awkwardly put it away when they realised I wasn't shaking their hand. I should have just not worn my hat, someone didn't wear theirs they just had it in their hand which I should have done but with all the nerves I didn't. Overall it was good, except I arrived there like an hour before registration so there was a lot of waiting about but at least I arrived on time I really thought I was going to be late. It was a bit awkward at times but the worst part was the heat it was like 32 and it felt like I was melting/sweating the whole time ☹️ I'm glad I went, I don't have any regrets of going but maybe I should have invited family, the two people I would have invited were free to go. Idk why but I regret not inviting them when I shouldn't as they didn't really support me going to uni. They saw the virtual one but I regretted invited them to that too either way I'm regretting it when I shouldn't be. They have no idea about my ceremony yesterday as I never told them it was happening. It's too late now. Plus I didn't get a photography package, I took a picture myself but it wasn't very good so I'll probably screenshot myself from the video available online or something even though it won't be that clear.

The cloakroom was professional, I thought it was going to be an open room where you just pay and put your belongings there and anyone can walk in to steal but it was a closed room which no one can go in. You pay £1 and give your belongings to the person/people working in there and they put a number on your belongings and give you the same number for when you collect it after which was good. I kept my phone/card on me and just gave my bag to them, there wasn't anything valuable in their except my house keys. Everything was in there when I collected it. You're allowed phones in the ceremony anyway just have to be on silent which mine already was.

The other thing is I'm broke so the whole thing was expensive for me but it was a once in a life time opportunity, usually you get another chance but it was already cancelled in January which I didn't register for, I doubt there will be another chance for anyone who didn't attend. Hopefully I'll get my career going soon and can change that. Being broke is the worst feeling. I'm the only one in my household who is always broke 😩

I feel like everyone will have friends or family with them but I'll be the only one on my own and everyone will be staring at me. I only had one friend on the course but they won't be there as they didn't finish the course. I haven't invited family or told them about my graduation ceremony because they were never supportive of me going to uni. I invited them to my virtual one as I graduated the year covid came but I regretted that and wish I hadn't. Plus I'm a introvert and there will be so many people there. Everyone will have someone except me, it's going to be so awkward. I never planned on going, I never went to my BA graduation ceremony but since this is for my masters and my proudest achievement I thought I'd go and to do something out of my comfort zone for a change. I think the only people who might talk to me there are a few technicians from the subject i studied, the tutors didn't bother talking to me unless it was in tutorials or class work because they knew I was quiet. I didn't know many of the students either there was only 1 who who I spoke to a couple of times so they might talk to me and a few people on other course I knew who will be graduating in the same ceremony. I'm so nervous what if no one wants to talk to me because they've forgotten me or something. Going on stage will be so nerve racking too because everyone will be staring at me and I'm not going to shake the person's hand- they will doff there hat to me when I have my hands behind my back to show I don't want to shake hands. what do I do? The same or just nod and smile? Or nothing?
I don't know why I'm so nervous, I've been to many places alone, I've been to freaking London on my own and nothing bad happened. I was nervous for all those places but it wasn't bad in the end, there were a few stares but nothing bad. I just feel like this ceremony will be so awkward on my own. It's too late to invite anyone now anyway since its tomorrow ☹️

Hey did you go in the end and how was it? Feeling similar nerves about my upcoming graduation