It’s the day everyone looks forward to in college—it’s the culmination of hard work, perseverance, and a ton of crazy nights out with friends. We’re of course talking about commencement day coming up on May 4th, 2024 for Ohio University’s undergraduates.
As another generation of Bobcats gets ready to depart campus, we figured we’d take a moment to share the best ways to get ready for the big day and make the most of the time left on campus.
Leading Up to the Big Day
As the date approaches, it’s easy to get lost in a flurry of exams and preparations for commencement day. Take some extra time to ride the emotional rollercoaster around—feelings of excitement, nervousness, and even sadness are often associated with graduation. After all, you’re heading out into the “real world,” and you’ve got your entire life ahead of you now that—for the first time in almost two decades—you’re no longer attending school. But you’re also saying goodbye to the campus you’ve come to know over the past handful of years, and you’re parting ways with friends and your favorite professors. Making time to reflect will even help you be more prepared for commencement day when it rolls around.
Speaking of saying goodbyes, don’t forget about saying goodbye to professors you’ve had over the years who have made a meaningful impact on your education and time at OU—we all had at least a few professors we loved over the years and really stood out from the rest. If you have free time, head over to their office. Professors always love to know they’ve made a positive impact on their students, and a quick goodbye before heading away from campus is the perfect way to show your appreciation.
Who says you can only say goodbye to other people or living things? Saying goodbye to some of your favorite campus haunts and buildings can be incredibly meaningful too. Whether that’s the neighborhood bar you and your friends would always want to go to over the weekend, or a park near the river you’d frequent, or even just a building on campus you’ve always loved, it can be cathartic to have one last hoorah before leaving Athens for the foreseeable future.
Commencement Day Itself
Once the big day finally arrives, it’s hard to contain yourself. Everything you’ve been doing in college has been for this exact moment, plus you’ve likely got friends and family at the ready to help you celebrate and watch you receive your diploma.
While it’ll be a long day full of happiness, bittersweet moments, and yes, some practice runs of the ceremony, you’ll be well on your way to walking across that stage before you know it. After getting your diploma, take time to celebrate and party with friends and family. Maybe you and your friends will go out to your favorite Court Street hangs, or maybe you’ll have one last big, blowout party at your rental home, complete with all the graduation day décor and surrounded by your closest loved ones. Whatever you do, take time to be present in the moment and enjoy your big day.
Once the day is all said and done, you’ll likely be leaving Athens and moving out of the student apartment or home you were renting shortly after commencement. You’ll likely be enlisting some help from friends to finish packing, and of course you’ll need to find a rental moving truck to haul all of your belongings to your new, post-grad home. It’s been a long 4 years, but you’re finally moving along and getting life going. Best wishes to the graduating class of 2024!