I just graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a master's degree. Here's what graduation was like, from chaotic crowds to hours in the sun.

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Gareen PugliaMay 25, 2023, 00:43 IST
I just graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a master's degree. Here's what graduation was like, from chaotic crowds to hours in the sun.

The writer graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.Gareen Puglia

  • I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a master's in information management.
  • The universitywide ceremony was chaotic and too long.
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On the morning of my first graduation ceremony, I woke up about 6:30 a.m. to get ready and sleepily did my makeup while eating a few spoonfuls of peanut butter.

On the morning of my first graduation ceremony, I woke up about 6:30 a.m. to get ready and sleepily did my makeup while eating a few spoonfuls of peanut butter.
I start my day early.Gareen Puglia

I got dressed in the graduation regalia and headed out the door. My plan was to meet friends at a designated area and then find seats together in the stadium, but I started to feel anxious.

I was graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with a master's in information management. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin as an undergrad in 2020, so everything was virtual then. This would be my first in-person graduation, and I was starting to feel the nerves.

I chose to take a longer route and walked for 30 minutes to settle down.

As I neared the designated meetup area, I made a pit stop for coffee.

As I neared the designated meetup area, I made a pit stop for coffee.
I grabbed coffee and snacks.Gareen Puglia

I ordered my drink and two pieces of pound cake in case I got hungry later; I had a feeling the peanut butter wasn't going to cut it. I did not bring a bag with me, so I stuck the pound cake and my wallet in the sleeves of my graduation gown.

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When I got close to the stadium, I ran into some major traffic.

When I got close to the stadium, I ran into some major traffic.
The crowd outside the stadium was chaotic.Gareen Puglia

Snacks secured, I met up with my friends and began to follow the flow of students in their caps and gowns walking uphill toward the student entrance of the stadium.

We inched toward the gate in a somewhat organized chaos of movement. While we were tightly packed, and the energy in the crowd of graduates was great.

Finally in the stadium, all the graduates found seats in the stands.

Finally in the stadium, all the graduates found seats in the stands.
The graduates sat in the stands.Gareen Puglia

Stadium staffers were handing out commencement programs as we walked in. I snagged a few extra to give family members who were unable to travel for my graduation.

I originally thought we might be sitting on the field, but all the graduates sat in the stands.

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I pulled out the pound cake I snuck in my sleeve and passed it around to my friends while we waited for the ceremony to begin.

I pulled out the pound cake I snuck in my sleeve and passed it around to my friends while we waited for the ceremony to begin.
We ate the snacks I bought.Gareen Puglia

At this point, there was still about an hour before the ceremony's start at 10:30 a.m. While eating the cake, my friends and I passed the time by taking a lot of pictures.

Many speeches later, we moved the tassels on our caps.

Many speeches later, we moved the tassels on our caps.
We moved our tassels.Gareen Puglia

The ceremony began, and we listened to heartfelt speeches from the student-body president and other representatives.

The commencement speaker, however, left something to be desired. While the students looked around, bewildered by the meandering speech, I began to feel the heat and noticed how long I had been sitting in the sun.

Finally, the school chancellor quickly acknowledged the undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students in the audience, inviting us to move our cap tassels from the right side to the left.

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Leaving the stadium was more chaotic than entering.

Leaving the stadium was more chaotic than entering.
I met up with my high-school friend.Gareen Puglia

I finally made my way back up the steps to find my family. This crowd was chaos; at one point, I couldn't even move and felt claustrophobic.

Luckily, I ran into an old friend from high school who was at the ceremony for his cousin. Distracted by catching up, I was able to make it out of the mess of people and join my family.

After taking pictures, my family and I crammed into an Uber and headed to my favorite sandwich place for lunch.

After taking pictures, my family and I crammed into an Uber and headed to my favorite sandwich place for lunch.
I headed to lunch with my family.Gareen Puglia

Devouring a fried-chicken sandwich while sitting in the glorious shade was the perfect way to end the day. Part one of the marathon of celebrations was over.

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The following Monday, I had a slow start getting ready for my program-specific graduation ceremony.

The following Monday, I had a slow start getting ready for my program-specific graduation ceremony.
It was a slow Monday morning.Gareen Puglia

Exhausted from the weekend, I was thankful my second ceremony was in the afternoon. This ceremony was specific to my studies in the information-management and -systems program.

I was in the process of moving, so I sat on the floor across from my disassembled bed to put on makeup.

I got dressed quickly, put on my headphones, and started my walk to a campus auditorium, where the smaller ceremony was taking place.

At this ceremony, I was thrilled to see more organization.

At this ceremony, I was thrilled to see more organization.
This ceremony had supplies for the graduates.Gareen Puglia

Since this was a smaller ceremony, the crowd was filled with more familiar faces. There were program-specific tables to check in at. I also found that each table had supplies for graduates who might need a bobby pin, bandage, etc.

I was early enough to mingle with friends and chat about the craziness of the weekend. Not everyone went to the universitywide commencement at the stadium, so it was a chance to catch up. We were all just so excited to have submitted our final assignments.

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Before we headed inside, my mom came to fix my hood.

Before we headed inside, my mom came to fix my hood.
My mom had to fix my gown.Gareen Puglia

From this point, things became a blur of action. I lined up to begin the procession into the auditorium. Once seated, we enjoyed opening remarks, a keynote speaker, and program-specific speakers.

Compared with the big commencement, this smaller, indoor ceremony felt intimate and real. Plus, the speeches and the waving families all around made the significance of the moment sink in further.

After I made it across the stage, the graduate goody bags saved my life.

After I made it across the stage, the graduate goody bags saved my life.
The cookie was a lifesaver.Gareen Puglia

In no particular order, we walked across the stage and shook hands with our head of school. I don't remember much about being up there — except my name was pronounced correctly, so I was thrilled.

Each graduate was handed a scroll and a bag of goodies, including a cookie shaped like a building on Berkeley's campus. This cookie ended up being a lifesaver; I ate it while waiting for the other 200-plus students to walk across the stage.

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Once again, I found my family in the post-ceremony crowd, and this time was less stressful.

Once again, I found my family in the post-ceremony crowd, and this time was less stressful.
My graduation weekend was over.Gareen Puglia

After the ceremony, there was a reception outside with drinks and cupcakes. I was greeted with flowers from my family, and we took many more pictures. It was much easier to find them this time, and it was a relief to have water immediately. We did not stay at the reception too long.

I tried to say goodbye to as many people as I could as we headed out to make a dinner reservation.

Overwhelmed in the best way, I was thankful to enjoy graduation with my family.

Overwhelmed in the best way, I was thankful to enjoy graduation with my family.
It was time to celebrate.Gareen Puglia

This weekend was very different from graduating at home in front of my computer in 2020.

I was so excited to finally experience in-person celebrations with my family and friends. These ceremonies were a perfect way to close this chapter of my academic journey.

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