High school graduations in Wake County @ Raleigh Convention Center (appointed, college)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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My son graduated from high school on Monday and the graduation was held at the Raleigh Convention Center. I was very disappointed in this venue being used for graduation. Everyone sits on one level. There is no excitement of watching the graduates walk in as "Pomp and Circumstance" is being played because you can't see anything going on. No way to look at the graduates and try to spot your child at the same time they spot you and give you a wave and a grin. The sound from the band was so low that I could barely hear what they were playing. The student's names were called so fast that they were practically running across the stage to get their diploma.
I would love for Wake County to find a better place than Raleigh Convention Center for graduation ceremony. I know some schools had their graduation at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium but that may ahve been the schools with not as many graduates. Before the new convention center was built, graduations were held at Reynold's Coliseum on NC State's campus. Even though there was no air condition in the coliseum, I would prefer being there because of having a better view.
I graduated high school in Reynold's Coliseum but that was ages ago. i understand the frustation. It's clearly better in a stadium style seating area. Of course it wasn't air conditioned and it was like being in a sauna wearing a polyester cap and gown. It's all a trade off.
I graduated from Enloe in the Civic Center in 1986. They had it set up back then so the spectators were in the stands and the graduates were seated on the floor. It was decent. I wonder why the seating has changed?
My eldest kid graduated from Green Hope at Reynolds Coliseum in 2008. You do NOT wanna attend a 2pm, June graduation there. Trust me. It was miserable. I'm not being dramatic when I tell you that the graduates were stripping as they walked out. I saw MANY shirtless 18yo guys. Including my son. The girls had it better, because most were wearing sandals and lightweight sun dresses. The boys had to wear dress clothes with long-sleeved shirts in there. It was unbearable. And the view? Not stellar.
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I was there Monday night. The people beside me carried on a constant conversation in a normal conversational tone. That was just rude, but also they probably felt very disconnected from what was going on on the stage. I know I did. There was the usual dual between the administration and the crowd - to holler and scream when your child's name was called...or not. About halfway through the hour-long ceremony, a band fired up somewhere nearby, and the booming base added background noise.
The program stated that a graduation is a solemn ceremony, but this one was anything but.
With some schools graduating over 500 students, I guess there are not too many other options other than holding the graduation on the outside since each student gets about 8 tickets for family.
Even though I was excited about the graduation, it still was a bit of a let down for me as a parent, mainly because of how the seating is. I'll know what to expect when I go through the next graduation in 4 years with my daughter.
I was there Monday night. The people beside me carried on a constant conversation in a normal conversational tone. That was just rude, but also they probably felt very disconnected from what was going on on the stage. I know I did. There was the usual dual between the administration and the crowd - to holler and scream when your child's name was called...or not. About halfway through the hour-long ceremony, a band fired up somewhere nearby, and the booming base added background noise.
The program stated that a graduation is a solemn ceremony, but this one was anything but.
"Disconnected" is a very good way to describe what I was feeling. When we first sat down, there were some big columns that blocked the view of the stage so we moved to a place that was in front of the stage but far, far away. Glad they had the big monitor showing what was happening on stage.
I can see why that would be disappointing..
At my son's high school graduation each graduate brought their mom a rose before returning to their seats..
At their college graduations getting to see them look up at us as they marched in and as they returned to their seats was a treat..
At a recent nephew's graduation the family's were warned by the speaker that any clapping/yelling would dishonor the student..huh??
I am sorry but with my kids,
after 12 + years of carpool, projects, homework , I AM going to cheer !!!
The issue with cheering isn't about dishonoring *your* student. Schools are allowed a very short time for graduation, so the names have to be read at a certain pace in order to finish on time. If one family is cheering for their student, the family of the next student won't even hear the name as it's called. It's those people who are dishonored.
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