Dan Derricott graduated this year but as he tells us here, time spent watching other people graduate never fully prepares you!
I had spent months thinking about and planning my Graduation. I could do this with relative ease because I knew what to expect. I have been to probably close to 10 graduation ceremonies all in all before my own.
As a students’ union officer you get invited and it was always great to go and help celebrate (and the free food & wine made it even better). Sitting on the stage is fun too, though with the fear of a camera being pointed in your direction you have no choice but to be sat upright, smiling and clapping most enthusiastically even after 230th time.
From that side you also get chance to mill about in the VIP reception too which is particularly good when there’s a well-known person receiving an honorary doctorate that day and you get a few minutes to chat.