Graduation For Dummies

Saya setuju dengan post Cik Melissa yang clickable itu. Sehubungan itu, ingin saya memanjangkan lagi ulasan beliau dengan memberi beberapa tips yang sebenarnya dedikasikan untuk saya seorang. Everyone has different tips. But here goes la eh.

PRE

1. Come to respective universities early. Really early, if possible.

Hari pertama sangat penting ya, kerana segala jenis manusia akan merebuti saiz XS dan juga S. For UMS, it took only the first couple hours of Monday morning to finish up XS jubahs. Maka itu, jika anda sangat particular tentang saiz, then come early.

2. Don't come early - just find representative to take your jubah, early.

Be ready to write a formal letter, people would request for it as a BUKTI you're a representative. And for the managing team, please be more consistent on the procedure of representatives. Hari ini cakap boleh amik untuk kawan, esok cakap tak boleh, lusa cakap tak boleh konvo, kalau banyak duit, bagi saja rasuah sama mereka. Bising.

3. Bring and pay cash.

Because it's not just RM150 as stated in the website. When you're there, you're going to pay another RM70 for stage pictures and maybe ratusan lagi untuk rapuan yang lain. So make sure your representative has more cash than what you thought is enough.

4. Be skema.

Check all the materials given. You don't want to realize something's missing on the day of your convocation. And you could have a chance to change your hoodie thingy (only for UMS though - we had different colours of hoodies based on our faculties, which was attached behind of us and mine was real long I swear I looked like a female Superman).

5. Rehearsal? Not necessary.

If you wanna meet up old friends, then just go. Or if you don't mind to drown in the ocean of human beings, then go. If you don't mind ditching some mini-reunion girlfriend date like karaoke-ing for 5 hours which could be historic because it would be your last hangout, then be my guest. Just go to the rehearsal. Hehe.

6. Choose the BEST studio.

ALWAYS be cerewet. Like my dad. Ehem. I mean this is going to be a picture of you hanging on the wall for decades, probably. So be very particular on the lightings and backdrops, not too yellowish or too dark or too bright, if possible find a studio with a REAL bookshelf. Also, double check on the pictures taken. Minta tengok gambar lepas shot. You might detect an error or two - your double chin, your toes perking, your tie, your awkward hands and smile, every little thing is very lively in a picture.

7. Take studio photos BEFORE your session.

No transkrip or scroll yet? No worries. You just bring your jubah and topi konvo. Most studios provide the props. Oh sangat iklan studio. A bit leceh because you'd want to wear your kebaya or tux too from your hotel. It's alright that everybody knows it's your graduation. And, if you're UMS-ian, you will be so confused trying to attach the hoodie on your own. So better get the studio people to help you first. Then you won't have to rush for the convo day.

Credits to Lola sebab ko nolong ku ngator hoodie paloi ya. Stress palak makey menatang ya.

ON

8. Be punctual

If you're session is 8am, wake up at 4am. Yes, prepare yourself like you're going for a road trip. Or a wedding. Then make sure you don't get traffic jammed please please. And IF you are going to be late, go panic a while then just remember, protocols will always be ready for latecomers. Bak kata staff tu hari, ada lubang tikus tmpat mereka yang lambat datang masuk dewan. Yes they would mention about the chancellor hall will be quarantined once the VC and orang-orang kuat berarak masuk (which will be after students perarakan). Go panic for a while only, remember. There's always solution.

9. Hide your mobile phone under your jubah.

If you're a guy, senang cerita. Just letak dalam poket. If you're a girl and your kebaya/kurung doesn't have poket, then get a sling bag and I know it will look stupid hanging it underneath the jubah but it's really important to stay in contact with your (lost) parents. Oh or you could just hang your handphone only.

10. Don't forget to feel.

Once you're on stage, you might get all blurry and why-is-everything-happening-so-fast-ly and you don't even look at VC and you forget to just feel the moment. If you ask me what it felt like, well don't ask. I instantly had memory loss that 5 seconds on stage. So you, be calm and feel.

11. Not quite a good tip, but try going out from the hall.

You could ask your family to come out, too. Take a walk at tamu gadang and have your brunch while you can find energy booster to save your day. After your turn, everything seems boring and boringer. Or else, you might be sleeping stupidly during the ceremony. Nanti masuk video or camera. Or your best coursemate laughing at you. Malu eh.

POST

12. Be ready for traffic jam.

It's going to be a long, long day. Long and tiring. And you might practically think convocation is just a stupid ceremony.

13. Don't take studio photos right after your convocation session.

-Unless you don't really have much friends to say hi-i'm-gonna-miss-you-bye-best-of-luck-with-your-life because you WILL meet lots of people after graduating. Catching a glimpse is good enough than never, at all.

-Unless you have a driver to drive your car in an AWFUL traffic jam after the convocation so that your face stays energetic and fresh for the photo session. Or maybe cover it up with lots of make ups.

Studio photoshoot a FEW days after your session is the nicest.

14. Bring along a pair of slippers.

Ridiculous, it is. But wearing heels for hours and hours can make you retarded. Nobody cares if you wear your slipper around. It's helping saving your life.

15. Outdoor photography is also a must.

It's where you can pose with your metal fingers or Hang Tuah pose or the tikam topi konvo jauh-jauh ke atas or baring-baring atas rumput or take pictures everywhere in your Uni.

And oh, it would be a lot easier to take outdoor photography/videography a day or two after your session, maybe by that time your family has gone back home and you're bujang again to plan out with friends.

16. If you want flowers, then remember you're taking it home too.

Flowers are too symbolic for graduations. And it just make you a Christmas tree where you will hang your flowers, bags, scrolls, convo book and flowers again using only two hands.

Thanks Mak and Lola for the flowers anyway, that's really sweet.

17. Go back home a few days after your convocation.

Maybe a few weeks. My 10 days convocation trip was not that enough. I should've wrote this sickeningly longest post ever while still parasiting in Nana's hostel room. Then baru beli tiket to Sibu.

So I can confidently say that convocation day is not really your biggest day ever. It's only a birthday candle on a yummy birthday cake that you bake the whole afternoon. Or maybe the whole night. Yang penting, kek itu sedap dan dapat dimakan. Jangan lilin ja lebih. Cake plastik. lalalalala talk shit talk shit.

Happy Convo folks!