Guest Column: Beware the Consequences of Exuberance
Posted
Becca Dupont-
This week on my way to work I was listening to a radio morning show when I heard the most outlandish thing.
During two separate high school graduations two different families were punished for cheering for their child as they walked across the stage. One South Carolina mother was arrested and escorted out of the high school, while the other family was forced to do 20 hours of community service for their child to receive their physical diploma. Do we really live in such a time that cheering for your child results in a trip to the local jail? Or have to do tedious work so their child can prove they graduated?
As a Warsaw graduate from 2010, I can say with honesty that administrators take graduations too seriously. I can also say with honesty that I was one of the over 400 students that sprayed silly string and threw beach balls in the air. My parents even joked on how they wished they could have brought their own supplies to pass down to us when the administrators took our goodies away.
I cheered for my friends as they crossed the stage. My parents and family from out of town cheered for me, as did the families of my other classmates for their own children. I played games on my phone and texted my family during the entire ceremony, as did everyone within at least a five seat radius of me. This is what graduation is now, and I, along with many other students and parents are okay with it. This is our last chance as students to enjoy our time at the high school. We are already going to be stuck in that gym for hours, so why not make it a little entertaining.
If students were streaking across the gym, or swearing at the tops of their lungs, then that would be an issue. But cheering and throwing a few beach balls are just going to make the ceremony a few minutes longer. Lighten up.
To the class of 2012, I congratulate you. If I could give every one of you a can of silly string and cheer for you as you receive your diploma, I would.
