Graduation Season Interview Review|The Most Meaningful Graduation Ceremony for International Students is Like This!

📍 London · 👁 5831 reads · ❤️ 26 likes

Looking back at this year, many university students had a special graduation due to the pandemic.

"Our class has 16 international students, but I was the only one on campus. I couldn't take the group graduation photo I had been dreaming of."

"The graduation ceremony I had anticipated for four years could only be watched via live stream from home."

"Some classmates are in countries where the pandemic is still severe, so we couldn't have in-person thesis defenses."

EF Overseas Alumni heard many students lamenting that they couldn't gather with their roommates one more time, couldn't go on stage for the hooding ceremony, or take a stroll on the sports field to chat. In fact, it wasn't just domestic university graduations affected; the same happened abroad.

Three international students from the class of 2020

On studies, on life, on mindset

Let's see their graduation season reflections.

International student graduation reflections

Shuyu, majoring in English Literature. After graduating from Fudan University's English Department in June 2019, she received an MA offer in Market Analysis of Modern English Literature from University College London (UCL).

She thought it would be the start of a wonderful new journey, but unexpectedly, her study abroad life was full of ups and downs and challenges.

British schools reacted quickly

"When I first thought about returning home, I immediately emailed my course convenor. The department responded very quickly. The next day, the teacher sent a department-wide email saying it was okay not to attend classes if we were afraid of gathering and infection—it wouldn't be counted as absenteeism (T4 visa holders have attendance requirements). They understood if we wanted to return home and said they would stand by the Asian community."

"Soon after I booked my flight, on March 13, UCL officially announced the suspension of classes and a shift to online learning. They also told students who wanted to return home to just inform the school, and encouraged everyone to return as soon as possible."

Re-plan, restart

If it weren't for the pandemic, Shuyu had planned to travel around the UK after her courses ended in March, making up for all the time she had spent studying indoors. She wanted to visit all the major museums in London, writers' former residences, see manuscripts at Oxford and Cambridge, and check out various estates...

But all that ended with a hasty farewell to London. Everyone's future path seemed to have been unexpectedly changed.

Shuyu said she had originally focused solely on academics and deliberately avoided outside noise, but the pandemic's blow made her realize she had to prepare for the intense autumn and spring recruitment seasons.

Now, she is busy with her thesis while also keeping an eye on job opportunities, exploring the best and most desired path for herself from multiple angles.

On graduation and growth

Most UK school graduation ceremonies are held the following year, either early in the year or in summer.

The class of 2019's summer graduation ceremony this year has been canceled. The class of 2020 can still look forward to next year. But perhaps more than the ceremonial aspect of graduation, the pandemic has been a demonstration of her growth.

"The pandemic has helped me see many things clearly, and it has been an opportunity for rapid mental growth. I used to hate uncertainty in life and had strict time plans for everything.

But the upheaval caused by the pandemic taught me to accept uncertainty—life doesn't always go as planned. Only by staying alert, keeping a level head, taking things one step at a time, and going with the flow can we withstand special circumstances."

International student graduation reflections

Vivienne, a postgraduate student at Durham University in the UK, majoring in Marketing. Currently preparing her thesis, she will return to China in July.

Durham Cathedral is the venue for the annual opening and graduation ceremonies. Students, like characters in Harry Potter, wear black robes and walk from all corners of the small city, listening to the chime music echoing in the centuries-old cathedral, stirring everyone's hearts.

"Although I only attended the opening ceremony, I imagine the graduation ceremony would have similar warmth, emotion, and awe."

Most UK school graduation ceremonies are held in January of the following year. By then, the vast majority of international students have already returned home, so few come back for the ceremony. The sense of graduation ritual might end the moment they board the plane back home.

"For me now, the graduation atmosphere seems quite bland, everything is ordinary and peaceful, as if it naturally comes to pass. Fortunately, I made great friends here and had many beautiful moments together."

Graduation is more meaningful because of classmates

When it comes to graduation, Vivienne has mixed feelings. Although nothing significant will happen during this master's year, she experienced graduation season for four years during her undergraduate studies.

From freshman to senior year, Vivienne was involved in planning college-level graduation ceremonies. Last year when she graduated, she even created an original song with her classmates to commemorate it.

"Graduation season is always a never-ending topic. I stood backstage for four years witnessing youthful farewells. Whenever I think of it, the feeling is still very vivid."

Due to the pandemic, this year's juniors and seniors have no offline graduation ceremony, not even a graduation photo, which is somewhat regrettable.

Perhaps the ritual of the graduation ceremony is to say a proper goodbye to classmates who have been together day and night, and to gather once more with all teachers and friends.

It has been a wonderful experience

"I'll return to China in July. Before leaving, I often go to the garden to soak up the sun, sitting on the grass chatting with friends. I feel very reluctant to leave."

Vivienne often calls this year abroad a 'pause in life,' as if it pulled her out of the hustle and bustle and hit the pause button.

"We had planned to travel all over Europe together, but the pandemic made it impossible. It's a pity, but regret is a normal part of youth."

The streets here are rarely filled with hurried passersby. Her daily close contact with nature has also given Vivienne many new thoughts about people and the world.

"After returning home, I'll have to get busy again, but I will always remember this year, like a paradise on earth."

International student graduation reflections

Baron, who has applied for the Global Media Studies program at Stockholm University in Sweden, is an EF overseas study tour intern.

He has many hobbies—playing various mobile games, watching dramas, anime on Bilibili, shopping on Taobao, traveling, cooking, and reading media observation articles.

Graduation ceremonies he has attended

Baron attended the graduation ceremony of Ca' Foscari University of Venice as a tourist, experienced celebrating the graduation of exchange students at the University of Tartu as an exchange student himself, and attended his own undergraduate graduation ceremony.

Undergraduate graduation in Shanghai—Although Baron just graduated last weekend, many classmates didn't feel a strong graduation atmosphere during this period. The school held an online graduation ceremony, and attendance was voluntary due to crowd control.

Regarding graduation, my dormmates and I tend to prefer quiet, so it wasn't very lively. The pandemic also limited the ways we could celebrate. The barbecue street at the school gate, where every year graduating students would cry, clink bottles, and sing until midnight, closed early.

Graduation ceremony at Ca' Foscari University of Venice—On July 20, 2018, while traveling in Venice, Baron had the chance to experience the university's graduation ceremony.

The university set up white tents on one side of the crowded St. Mark's Square, with many chairs placed outside. The other side of the square was left for throngs of tourists. Graduates wore laurel wreaths, surrounded by their friends and family.

In the sky, fish-scale clouds were blown apart by the wind, letting through specks of light. The square's lights came on. After taking night shots of St. Mark's Basilica, I walked into the streets, pushed forward by the crowd. It was a hot summer evening, the heat had just subsided, and women wore strapless evening gowns while men wore polo shirts.

That night, all the restaurants in the water city opened their doors to students. Luxury stores were having summer sales, and even souvenir shops stayed open until midnight, a rare sight. Everyone was immersed in the graduation ceremony atmosphere.

Graduation ceremony at the University of Tartu in Estonia—Baron went there as an exchange student during his senior year of undergraduate studies. By the last week before Christmas, the students were about to leave Tartu.

Those leaving hugged everyone. Besides weekly projects, studies, and reading, we often had parties on Wednesdays. This farewell, like every previous Wednesday, ended with a dorm party and a club night.

The 80-square-meter dorm common room once squeezed in over 60 people. After releasing all the pressure until the early hours, we slowly walked back to the dorm to sleep. An unconventional but joyful graduation ritual was over.

Graduation is both an ending and a beginning

After graduation, Baron plans to study media research in Sweden. He chose to intern at EF because he likes the Swedish lifestyle.

Four years of accumulation gives graduates the courage to face an unknown tomorrow. So, in the face of parting, perhaps the reunion at the next mountaintop will be even more tear-jerking.

Similarly, due to the pandemic, EF's graduation season this year is also being held online.

"We are about to go our separate ways

To start different lives

Our paths ahead will be full of thorns and flowers

Perhaps failure, perhaps success.

Though there will be countless losses and choices in life

Love and dreams will always tell you

Happy graduation! May you all have a bright future!"

For more information, please visit the EF Study Abroad website.

[About EF Study Abroad]

EF Study Abroad is a premium study tour and study abroad brand under EF Education, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It is a brand focused on education, language improvement, and cultural exchange. Since 1965, it has operated study tours, winter/summer camps, and study abroad programs in 52 destinations across 22 countries, covering 12 languages. Its offerings include language learning, cultural travel, overseas internships, and test preparation, meeting the needs of primary and secondary school students, college students, working professionals, and business owners.

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