Not sure if I should attend graduation?

I handed in my final assignment for year 2 today and it got me thinking about graduation in September 2026.

There are seven people in total for my cohort, there used to be 8 but one person, my best friend, deferred due to mental health issues and will be coming back for year 2 in September.

Being at university hasn't been the greatest time for me. I thought we would leave bullying and conflicts behind once we left secondary school and become professionals during A-levels and our university days. Everyone in my cohort has ongoing conflict with each other and the fighting has got so bad our head of school has had to get involved to deal with the ongoing conflict, he's even meeting with our chancellor on a regular basis. I have OCD, anxiety, depression, PTSD and social anxiety. I'm a massive introvert and I like to keep myself to myself so I don't connect with the other 7 students in my cohort.

Not only that, I have ongoing family problems and I'm going no contact with my family to improve my mental health as it's pretty low due to their fighting and trying to get myself involved. I don't think I want to go to graduation but part of me feels guilty for not attending graduation, a friend who isn't on my course wants us to graduate together and have our pictures taken together. I'm going to do a Masters, I could always go to that one, but I'm unsure. I

Reply 1

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

You sound like you have thought it through.

I didn’t attend my graduation, (it wasn’t of interest to me). I can’t say I’ve ever given it a second thought.

Reply 2

gjd800

I only went to.any of mine for my parents. I'm more keen on rocking up at the graduations of my own students, which perhaps makes me a hypocrite. It does sound like you've thought about it. Go with your gut, don't second guess. It's not the be-all end-all, honestly.

Reply 3

University of Bath

Official Rep

Hi there,

I'm really sorry to hear about the touch time you've had. Allow me to offer my perspective. When I graduated it was the peak of COVID and so we didn't have an in-person graduation. I did not mind at all. It would have been nice to have a real celebration but like you, I was an introvert and had a difficult time at uni towards the end of my degree. Plus, hiring all of the kit (gown etc) is a lot of money which I'd rather spend on a celebration at home. So I didn't miss it one bit. We were offered to come in-person a year later, but by then I was working and so did not go. And I don't feel like I've missed out at all.

It sounds like you know your own mind and have given this a lot of thought - at the end of the day its up to you whether you want to go and if its something you want, then go for it - but you will not be disadvantaged in any way if you didn't and you certainly would have no reason to feel guilty 🙂

I hope this helps, best of luck for the rest of the year.

Holly
University of Bath