A matter of choice (graduation vs. Japan)

Shroom Man 777 · Post by **Shroom Man 777** » 2006-03-21 05:52am

Graduation's coming, and, well, we'll end up marching around and singing Christian songs. Now, unlike you guys, we're probably not going to end up doing anything much afterwards. So...

My dad's offering a trip to Japan. Never been there before. And, if I accept, I'll end up missing my graduation.

If I go to my grad, I'll miss this nice once-in-quite-a-while-opportunity to go to the land of the rising sun.

Anyway, the thing is, its not like I'll never be seeing my friends again. When I come back after Japan, a few days after grad, I could always end up going out with them and spending quality time.

So...what do you guys think? I'm confused.

Master of Cards · Post by **Master of Cards** » 2006-03-21 08:29am

GO!!!

victorhadin · Post by **victorhadin** » 2006-03-21 08:48am

Well that's a no-brainer. Go to Japan, you numpty!

Oh, and because I'm surprised: This forum still exists. Neat.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-03-21 09:07am

Go, enjoy yourself.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-03-21 09:28am

Japan.

Sofia · Post by **Sofia** » 2006-03-21 09:43am

Go to Japan! Graduation is a lot of silly ceremony. I ended up hugging lots of people I never talk to anymore. You'll still see the ones that matter.

Pick · Post by **Pick** » 2006-03-21 09:48am

Japan! Hell, I'd miss graduation to sleep in if my parents would let me. I think it's a silly thing all around.

Shroom Man 777 · Post by **Shroom Man 777** » 2006-03-21 09:54am

Gah, yeah, but one of my good female friends wants me to stay. And...umm...I don't know why I feel this way.

I asked my dad, and he migh try to find a compromise of some sort.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-03-21 10:07am

If you're getting the diploma either way, bugger graduation. What's the big deal about walking down an isle in a silly gown & hat?

Sofia · Post by **Sofia** » 2006-03-21 11:23am

Ooooh, how good is this "good female friend?"

If it means a lot to her to have you be there, and your dad can change the dates without any loss of funds or anything, then sure, stay. If not, I'm sure you can make it up to her.

TheBlackCat · Post by **TheBlackCat** » 2006-03-21 11:59am

I must be the only one here who disagrees. This graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You will never get another chance. You may graduate from a university of graduate school or whatever comes next, but this graduation only occurs once. You will have the memories forever. You can go visit Japan later, but you can never go back and re-do your graduation ceremony if you decide down the road you regret missing it. So your choice comes down to a once-in-a-lifetime thing and visiting a country that you can potentially visit any time you wish. The actual logistics of visiting Japan may be difficult, but it won't "poof" and disappear if you decide not to go this time (if it did there would be a lot more serious things to worry about than graduations and vacations). That is exactly what is going to happen to your graduation if you don't go.

So basically it comes down to a choice between, as you put it, "a once-in-quite-a-while-opportunity" vs a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That sort of choice seems simple to me. And I love to travel, but if I would never have missed graduation for any of them because I knew the country would still be there later but my graduation wouldn't.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-03-21 12:04pm

TheBlackCat wrote:I must be the only one here who disagrees. This graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You will never get another chance. You may graduate from a university of graduate school or whatever comes next, but this graduation only occurs once. You will have the memories forever. You can go visit Japan later, but you can never go back and re-do your graduation ceremony if you decide down the road you regret missing it. So your choice comes down to a once-in-a-lifetime thing and visiting a country that you can potentially visit any time you wish. The actual logistics of visiting Japan may be difficult, but it won't "poof" and disappear if you decide not to go this time (if it did there would be a lot more serious things to worry about than graduations and vacations). That is exactly what is going to happen to your graduation if you don't go.

So basically it comes down to a choice between, as you put it, "a once-in-quite-a-while-opportunity" vs a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That sort of choice seems simple to me. And I love to travel, but if I would never have missed graduation for any of them because I knew the country would still be there later but my graduation wouldn't.

So, what's the big deal about a graduation ceremony? You walk down an isle in a silly robe and some old geezer hands you a piece of paper that you'd have gotten whether you go or not. I guess it's sentimental for some people, but what is it about it that makes it better than doing something you'll actually enjoy?

Darth Raptor · Post by **Darth Raptor** » 2006-03-21 12:06pm

This is a non-issue. Hell, graduation procession versus sleeping in should be a no brainer.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-03-21 12:07pm

Shit, I don't even really want to go to my college graduation, after how dull the experience was for high school.

Go to Japan.

Instant Sunrise · Post by **Instant Sunrise** » 2006-03-21 12:26pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Shit, I don't even really want to go to my graduation, after how dull the experience was for high school.

Go to Japan.and steal lots of panties

TFTFY

In all seriousness, HS graduation is important for your family, if they are offering you a trip to Japan, take it. For you, it isn't a big deal. Most schools don't even give you the diploma there anyway, it is mained to you after the ceremony and they check to make sure that you actually passed your classes.

Unless you have some extended family who REALLY want to see you walk down the aisle, go to Japan.

Captain Cyran · Post by **Captain Cyran** » 2006-03-21 12:34pm

Go to Japan. If it's possible see if your dad can change the flight, but I'm assuming that he'd have already tried because every parent wants to see their child go up on that stage and get their diploma (at least I know mine did). Your female friend should understand.

Lusankya · Post by **Lusankya** » 2006-03-21 11:28pm

Japan. Ceremonies are boring.

I missed mine for South Africa. My teachers were all jealous of me and wished that they had a good excuse to miss the ceremony (they actually said this).

ROAR!!!!! says GOJIRA!!!!!

Fire Fly · Post by **Fire Fly** » 2006-03-21 11:56pm

Graduation's coming, and, well, we'll end up marching around and singing Christian songs. Now, unlike you guys, we're probably not going to end up doing anything much afterwards. So...

This implies that your graduation will be rather mundane. I'm not sure if you're talking about high school or not, but I never really had any big sentemental attachment to high school graduation. College graduation, maybe, but not really high school.

Go with the one that has more meaning to you. Do you value a once in a life time only ceronony or do you value the trip to go see you father? If you really feel that the trip is worth more, then go with the trip. If you really feel that the graduation ceromony is worth more, go with that.

An easier way to decide is, which will offer more lasting memories?

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2006-03-21 11:59pm

JAPAN!!! You lucky bastard...

TheBlackCat · Post by **TheBlackCat** » 2006-03-21 11:59pm

General Zod wrote:So, what's the big deal about a graduation ceremony? You walk down an isle in a silly robe and some old geezer hands you a piece of paper that you'd have gotten whether you go or not. I guess it's sentimental for some people, but what is it about it that makes it better than doing something you'll actually enjoy?

It's the culmination of everything you have been working towards for the last four years. It's the end one part of your life and the beginning of a new, completely different part. It's one of the events that marks a child becoming an adult. It's a celebration of the accomplishment of completeling your entire grade school life and that you are now taking the next step towards your adult life (whatever that might be for a given person). It marks the beginning of your first real foray into indpendence. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event that you can never go back to again.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-03-22 12:01am

TheBlackCat wrote:
General Zod wrote:So, what's the big deal about a graduation ceremony? You walk down an isle in a silly robe and some old geezer hands you a piece of paper that you'd have gotten whether you go or not. I guess it's sentimental for some people, but what is it about it that makes it better than doing something you'll actually enjoy?
It's the culmination of everything you have been working towards for the last four years. It's the end one part of your life and the beginning of a new, completely different part. It's one of the events that marks a child becoming an adult. It's a celebration of the accomplishment of completeling your entire grade school life and that you are now taking the next step towards your adult life (whatever that might be for a given person). It marks the beginning of your first real foray into indpendence. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event that you can never go back to again.

Fuck that bullshit. I just wanted my God damn diploma.

There is simply no reason why such a simple process should be stretched out into a 2-3 hour load of sugar-coated crap. The whole thing could be done in less than an hour with all the excess fat trimmed: I don't need to be forced to put my brain into autopilot through song after song and speech after speech.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-03-22 12:25am

Hmn, I suppose its the wrong time to mention I won't be going to Japan with my mother because I need to study?

Kazuaki Shimazaki · Post by **Kazuaki Shimazaki** » 2006-03-22 12:39am

TheBlackCat wrote:It's the culmination of everything you have been working towards for the last four years.

The Diploma (sheet of paper) is, not the Graduation Process.

It's a celebration of the accomplishment of completeling your entire grade school life and that you are now taking the next step towards your adult life (whatever that might be for a given person).

Your definition of "celebration" must mean boredom. Going to Japan (or even staying at home) is a better celebration than 3 hours of meaninglessness.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2006-03-22 01:31am

TheBlackCat wrote: It's the culmination of everything you have been working towards for the last four years. It's the end one part of your life and the beginning of a new, completely different part. It's one of the events that marks a child becoming an adult. It's a celebration of the accomplishment of completeling your entire grade school life and that you are now taking the next step towards your adult life (whatever that might be for a given person). It marks the beginning of your first real foray into indpendence. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event that you can never go back to again.

Bah. College isn't all it's wanked off to be 'adult independence' wise. It's what comes after college that really decides whether you're cut out to suceed in the world or not.

And screw graduation. Mines was ludicrously boring, and even moreso watching this pompous, religious nut of a teacher's pet posterboy headed to West Point give some speech I can't remember a single bit of today. I knew that the rest of my classmates agreed with my sentiment because everyone around me including me adlibbed our alma mater song at the end of the graduation.

Post by **Simplicius** » 2006-03-22 11:30am

I was glad when my job gave me a reason to miss my high school graduation.

Both an HS gradution and a trip to Japan can be considered once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, if only because travel is expensive and time-consuming. However, I think the net benefit of going to Japan - an entirely new and different environment - is much greater than queueing up and marching at zombified pace to get handed a little slip of paper, since the end of high school is hardly "the first day of the rest of your life." And if the people of high school are the important thing, well, even missing graduation is no barrier to seeing them again.

Japan.