Wearing your department’s colors at graduation.
WEARING YOUR DEPARTMENT’S COLORS AT GRADUATION.
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As graduation day dawned, a vibrant tapestry unfurled across the campus, not just of black gowns, but of distinct hues signifying academic departments. Remember that feeling? The subtle, yet powerful, pride in donning your chosen discipline's color, whether it was the rich blue of philosophy, the bright gold of engineering, or the deep green of medicine. It wasn't just about conforming; it was about declaring.
This particular academic tradition, often taken for granted amidst the larger pomp and circumstance, holds a unique weight for those of us who navigated the rigorous halls of these institutions. Wearing your department’s color was a quiet acknowledgment of the countless hours spent in labs, libraries, and lecture halls, deeply immersed in a specific field. It was a visible testament to the intellectual crucible you'd endured and conquered, alongside a cohort who shared your passions, frustrations, and ultimate triumphs.
Unlike some of the more boisterous or perplexing traditions, this one felt inherently honor-based, a dignified capstone to years of focused study. It wasn't a primal scream to release stress, nor a whispered secret of an exclusive society. It was a public, yet personal, celebration of your academic identity, a symbol of expertise earned. Looking back, that flash of color beneath the black gown wasn't just fabric; it was a badge of belonging to a community of scholars, a silent nod to the specific journey that shaped your intellect. What color did you wear, and what did it mean to you?