Ceremony of Harvard University —— Experience of graduation ceremony of Harvard University (with photos)
Tianshishan
One day in early June. Boston. Clear weather, blue sky and white clouds. In the tree-lined streets, people of different colors and languages are equally happy. Some of them are wearing doctor's clothes, master's clothes, doctor's hats and master's hats and wandering in the street. It was the day before Harvard University held its annual degree awarding ceremony, and the whole city was full of festive atmosphere.
My wife and I came here this afternoon. My daughter Tian Xiaofei studied hard for several years and got a doctor's degree. We came to attend her graduation ceremony at the invitation of the school. I stayed in a hotel that day, only to find that most people staying in this hotel, like us, are parents and relatives who came from all over the world to attend the celebration.
Get up early the next day. Still so sunny. There are already many people in the street, although they are all unfamiliar faces, greeting each other and walking in the same direction. We followed the crowd and went straight to Harvard.
First, I entered a big yard, where a white tent half the size of a football field was set up. There is a white dining table under the tent, and there is a row of console tables outside the tent, filled with a long row of food. This is a free breakfast buffet for teachers, students and guests attending the ceremony. We sat at a table at random, and two of our daughter's classmates saw it and leaned in. It's early for the meeting, so we can talk over dinner. I was attracted by the lively scene and left the table to take some photos. At this time, my wife also left the table, because she was not used to cold drinks and wanted to find hot water. There are several water containers side by side on the long list, with English instructions we don't know. The wife said to herself, "Where is hot water?" Someone behind him replied, "There is hot water in the middle!" "Speak pure Mandarin! Looking back, it was an American old man with white hair and blue eyes. Looking at his straight suit and elegant temperament, I thought he must be a professor at Harvard. We thanked him, but he asked me, "Where are you from? I blurted out without thinking, "We are from China." The old man smiled and said, "Of course I know it's from China! "I realized that the answer was wrong and quickly added that I was from Tianjin. My wife said, "You speak Chinese very well! "The old man shrugged humorously and made a gesture and said," So so! ""My wife and I both laughed, but we said to ourselves, "You can't talk casually in this place. Maybe someone knows Chinese! "
It's almost time for the meeting. My daughter wants to join the doctoral team. I have to go first. We will follow the crowd to the main venue. Such a big campus, open-air ceremony, we didn't realize there would be a seat problem at all, so we walked slowly. I was blindsided when I went in, let alone a seat, and there was no room to stand. All the places where you can see the podium are crowded with people, and the yard is crowded with people. It took us a long time to get through the crowd before we squeezed into a place to stand on the wall of a building. The width of the feet is not enough, and the back is close to the wall, which is really a "wall view". Later, I learned that there were more than 6,000 graduate students and undergraduates, and at least 20,000 people attended the ceremony.
When the music started, graduates lined up in different ways from different channels with people's expectation and applause. What is waving in the leader's hand? If they are close enough, they can see clearly. That is the "sign" of their major: medical college holds stethoscopes and scalpels, law school holds big handcuffs, and those who hold enlarged dollar proofs must be financial graduates ... those who hold dollars seem to show off their wealth; People waving handcuffs seem to say, "Don't do anything illegal, or else …" Stethoscopes and scalpels mean that anyone who is sick needs them. The venue was packed and the applause thundered. Someone threw flowers at the team and the graduates cheered. The whole venue was lively, unrestrained and enthusiastic, full of youthful atmosphere. There are all kinds of pennants hanging on the trees, which are probably the symbols of different departments. After the graduates were seated, the meeting was quiet. The headmaster, dean and authoritative professor were also seated on the rostrum, all dressed in doctoral uniforms, glowing from a distance.
The ceremony began, a speech was delivered, and the atmosphere became lively again. In particular, the speeches of graduates' representatives pushed the atmosphere of the venue to a climax. They praise the achievements of their alma mater, thank their tutors for their training, express their hardships in learning and talk about their great ambitions; They are proud of being Harvard people and getting Harvard degrees, and their tone is full of confidence and strength. It's a pity that I don't know English, and I can only know a thing or two from other people's simple free translation. But from their forceful tone, powerful gestures, warm applause and laughter from time to time in the venue, and uncontrollable loud cheers, I seem to understand everything they said, their sincere feelings, their beautiful words and their humorous language. It is said that people who can speak at the conference must first pass the selection of the faculty speech contest. It is not ambiguous to be recognized by competition and win by strength.
Because there are too many graduates, the degree certificate issuing ceremony can only be held in different colleges. As soon as the meeting is over, we will go to the auditorium of the College of Arts. The road is unfamiliar, but I'm still late. This is a theater-style auditorium. Fortunately, I found a side seat on the second floor, not far from the podium. Looking down, I can clearly see everything on the stage. After the dean's speech, the graduates stepped onto the platform one by one in an orderly manner. The dean congratulated, shook hands and hugged each graduate, and then awarded the degree certificate. Photographers have already set up cameras in appropriate positions to take exciting moments for every graduate, and the photos will be given to me as a permanent memorial. At this time, I also turned on the camera and prepared to take some photos when my daughter came on stage. Suddenly, more applause and cheers rang out in my ears. When I looked intently, a female doctor walked onto the stage with her child in her arms, waving to the people on and off the stage as she walked. The dean stepped forward with a smile, first picked up the child and kissed the child on the cheek. I am surprised that such a grand celebration should take my children on stage to accept my degree. I find it incredible! But I'm not surprised. It turns out that this is not an individual phenomenon, and there is a father leading two children! A middle-aged lady of about forty years old, wearing a doctor's uniform, actually held two small ones, followed by a big one. The dean still kissed every child, and the audience applauded, cheered and whistled! I finally understand that this is not only because of attaching importance to and respecting people's humanistic thought, but also encouraging a spirit of struggle. A middle-aged mother with three children has to work hard to graduate with a doctorate, and how strong her perseverance is! They are proud to board the solemn hall with their children in their arms.
After the graduation ceremony, the students still returned to have lunch under the big white tent. Graduates in doctor's and master's uniforms and guests with different clothes and skin colors gathered noisily, and classmates, friends, teachers, students and relatives congratulated, talked, signed their names and took photos. My daughter told us that although the graduation ceremony is over, the celebration is not over yet, and all departments have arranged academic reports, which will be lively for a day or two! Unfortunately, we can't attend because of the language barrier. But in less than a day, I felt the profound cultural accumulation, rich academic atmosphere, competitive mechanism and innovative spirit. After lunch, we visited Harvard Park. In front of the bronze statue of john harvard, I looked at the words "1638" on the marble pedestal and couldn't help feeling that this prestigious school with a history of more than 360 years is still full of vitality and still so young!
Tian Xiaofei in a doctor's uniform.