During graduation ceremonies, family’s are supposed to “hold their applause” until the end.

If your child is graduating high school, do they really expect everyone to just sit in silence until the last name is called? If I had a kid who was walking the stage I am going to cheer when MY child walks. Instead of having the school board President, the city representative, and other random people speak, we don’t need to see a full rotc routine, instead of singing the school Alma mater that most students NEVER sang, why not use that time to give each students family and extra 5 seconds to make all the noise they want: bells, whistles, clapping, yelling their name.

Before the actually walking occurs, they talk for an entire hour about how proud they are and how big the class is or how they want every student to thrive. Okay, that’s nice but honestly it’s forgettable. I don’t remember my school principal from high school let alone the long speeches they gave. But I do remember hearing my name called and my family cheering.

Graduation should be: welcome, valedictorian speech because the earned it, name calling, ending.

At the very end, if they want to do a speech whoever wants to listen can stay, if not send it as an email and let those kids celebrate.