No one should have to wake up before sunrise to celebrate one of the biggest milestones of their life.
This year, Pierce students will likely have to stumble out of their beds in the early morning, rush through their routines, iron gowns, and beat the morning rush hour to make it on time for the ceremony that begins before they’re fully awake.
Graduation should take place later in the afternoon, when students are well rested and families are ready for the next few hours of celebration.
After years of waking up early for school, students should enjoy sleeping in on the day of their graduation. Many stay up the night before to make last minute arrangements before the big day.
A later ceremony allows them to show up energized, not half awake in their cap and gown.
According to the National Library of Medicine, college students have reported sleeping at later times and attending classes before they’ve obtained adequate sleep, but sleep deprivation isn’t the only reason students are tired.
In fall 2023, Amy Dipierro and Michael Burke reported in EdSource that 14,000 international students were enrolled in California community colleges.
For international students who may have family flying in from different time zones, and are still adjusting to local time, asking them to attend a morning ceremony can add a layer of unnecessary stress on what should be a celebratory day.
A later ceremony not only allows them to adjust, but it lets families relax and be present during their loved one’s commencement. By that time of day, the sun has begun to lower and the atmosphere feels calmer.
Driving accommodations may be particularly difficult when attending ceremonies during the morning rush hour.
In a study published by Blair Ramirez Law, data analyzing Los Angeles traffic showed that weekdays, with the exception of Mondays, experienced the heaviest congestion.
“The implications are significant: even if you manage to have a decent start to your day, the return trip could be fraught with delays.”
After years of early morning and academic demands, students deserve a ceremony that reflects the significance of the occasion, not one rushed through half awake.
Pierce should return to its tradition of evening start times for commencement that allows graduates to arrive rested, prepared and ready to celebrate the milestone with the attention it deserves when the temperature has started cooling.
