My mom came to my graduation (undergrad) and my gift from her was my grandmother's diamond earrings. My dad couldn't attend but he sent a gift too, my car payment book and insurance bill (they had been paying them while I was in college). He thought he was so very funny. My brother's master's graduation was ignored by even my brother as he didn't even take a break before beginning his PhD studies. We threw him a big party when he finished that though.

Yeah, I think we only get 3 or 4 tickets.

I mean, someone needs to stand in the audience holding the video camera, and that's what parents are for.

No video camera. I have yet to see a videotaped ceremony that I actually wanted to watch.

Kansas Board of Education's Scopes Trial II

What a farce.

Our main ceremony is outside, so there is no limit to how many people can come see Neil Armstrong speak. Well, no limit outside of parking, and the crazy early hour. Then it breaks up into satellite ceremonies, where names are read, and some of those require tickets, when they are held inside, and there are a limited number of seats. However, mine is outside, so there isn't a problem. And the main ceremony will be on TV on some station, and will be broadcast live on the internet. So there's not really a problem seeing the main part at all. Which is nice.

No video camera. I have yet to see a videotaped ceremony that I actually wanted to watch.

Who said you actually had to watch it? Why would you? It's probably boring. Standing with a camera and waving is just the parent's job, that's all.

Never videotaped by my parents.

Maybe they didn't get the memo?

When I got my B.A., Marquette had the big to-do for the general graduating class at the MECCA arena downtown (Milwaukee), and then smaller ceremonies for the individual colleges. Arts and Sciences had the biggest one, of course, so it was held at the center of campus at the prettiest location, the front of the Joan of Arc Chapel. They divided the different majors out, and had, in my case, all the English graduates in line with their parents/family, so when I went up to get my diploma, all the English profs were there to congratulate me and meet my parents. I was even able to have my best friend (a biology/psych major) with me, which was great.

My parents have never held a video camera in their lives, and I was still granted a degree.

There exists old 8mm or somesuch actual film of me as a baby, but videocameras were too late for my childhood and I would have been horrified if my parents had them at my highschool events, so we just didn;t have one.