High School Graduation is a celebration of the end, but it also means a new start for the future. CHS graduation is coming up soon, June 2nd, and many seniors are looking forward to it. In CHS, we have four senior international students from Brazil, Spain, and Korea. This led us to think about some differences between graduation in the U.S. and other countries.
“In Brazil, graduation is not as big a deal as here. In America, they have a prom to celebrate. In Brazil, we have a big party just for seniors and their families too,” Yasmin Maciel Braga said.
Brazil seniors have a party with friends and family, how about Spain’s traditions?
“After Graduation, people rent the place with their friends and have an after-party. We don’t have an individual graduation party like here,” Nuria Puig Fuentes said.
In America, people wear caps and gowns for graduation, but not every country does that for graduation. Other countries with different cultures and traditions wear different outfits for their graduation.
“In Spain, people don’t wear a cap and gown, most people just wear a dress, and it doesn’t have to be white it just has to be a nicer dress or like dress up,” Puig said.
Different countries, even different than America, have different outfits and customs for students’ graduations.
“Some Brazilian high schools wear caps and gowns for graduation, but not all of them choose too. In Brazil dressing up in a gown isn’t as big a deal but I do think American ones are cuter.” Maciel said.
Many American seniors go on trips with their family and friends or make money for college. In Brazil, there is a unique tradition before going to college.
“When people go to college, the guys shave their heads. If they refuse to do it, their friends are going to do it to them. So when people are 18, they look all bad because they shaved their heads,” Maciel said. “And girls used to shave one of their eyebrows or part of it, but they don’t anymore now.”
While graduation traditions vary widely across countries, the emotions experienced by seniors worldwide are remarkably similar. The sense of accomplishment in finishing the school year and the anticipation of stepping into adulthood resonate universally among graduates.
