#they graduated

[socksandcrocs]

AND EVERYONE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER

[dam-blue-ribbon]

Im heartbroken in a way that can't be explained.

[amynchan]

Ok, but, like, what do you expect?

No, really, what? You wanna send an 18 year old kid up there and flaunt the fact that they got shit grades? In my head, here are a few scenarios

1) The Pity Case. This kid did literally everything they could, but the world was against them. Family, housing, mental wellbeing, hunger problems galore. Oh, but they made it through! They're here, graduating, despite it all! Here, let's invite this kid to relive all of the shit they've gone through to make the whoole audience either tearfully applaud or feel generally uncomfortable for a hot minute while this kid relives trauma after trauma for what is essentially unreal entertainment for everyone else. After that, they can sit back and watch their own kid graduate, patting themselves on the back and knowing that at least their kid didn't have as hard a time as THAT one.

2) the Rebel. This one rejects the system and is proud of it. Their reasons? Idk yet. They may share those on the stage if they deign to go. This is, after all, a formal function, which they've been denying all along. Either they skip to stick it to the man or they go and shit all over the institution. Great for entertainment. Dick move for the students who actually worked their asses off. Like, think about it. Imagine that you love basketball so much that you bust your ass practicing, keeping fit in every way you know how, only to win The Big Game and then have one player elevates who basically talks shit about the whole game. There's a place for that, but not when you're celebrating a hard won achievement. Parents might get pissed and tell the institution at large not to ruin the celebration that their kid spent hours of study and work to earn. Boom. No more other side of the tracks speech.

3) the Example. This kid tried, ok? They tried so so so so so damn hard. School just isn't their area of expertise, but they fucking graduated. By the skin of their teeth! To them, too, this is an achievement! And they're so so so proud of themselves! As they should be! So they get on stage, talking about their experience earnestly, only to realize later that... for as much as they wanted to celebrate, others are mocking them. Whispering softly about "poor kid, what a waste." This is the pity case, but they only feel the shame and embarrassment kick in after they've basically been made a fool of in front of everyone. Even with earnest intentions, they're still just entertainment at best. Pitiable at mid, and scorned at worst.

Guys. Being valedictorian is a SHOW. Yes, it's an achievement, but the point is to get paraded around like a show pony. If you do that to a kid who just barely made it, you're setting that kid up for the judgement and internal moral self assurance of every other student and their parents in the audience. It's a good personal "fuck you" to some, but most of the time? It'll just be an embarrassing moment for that kid to look back on. That will be a mark of "dont be like that kid" or "have pity because of that one kid" or any variation thereof.

Guys, this wouldn't humanize the kid or the experience for anyone. It'll just put some kid on blast for the entertainment of students and parents alike. A pity moment or a moment of indignation. That's all it'll be.

[sleepdeprivedsurgeon]

the purpose of friends is to have people who unconditionally hate your shitty exes & relatives. like maybe YOU have a complex relationship with your father but i sure don't. i'm outside his house with a gun. he's not the unforgivable asshole who raised me he's just an unforgivable asshole

[nephritebabie]

oof

[demonicsuffrage]

Tim, abruptly standing up in shock: Wait, I just realised that Damian will graduate highschool in 2032

Damian, rasing a brow: Yes, ofcourse? As I am currently in fourth grad-

Jason, spitting out water: What the fuck? 2032?

Steph, pointing accusingly: That's not a real graduation year you made that up!

Dick: I think I just threw up in my mouth a little

Duke, with his head in his hands: Does anyone else feel both their feet in the grave? I graduated this year!

Dick: Feet? More like my entire body, I finished high school years ago!

Cass: Guys I think Bruce is crying

[skopostheorie]

I feel like the only person not tempted to use ChatGPT like it doesn't even occur to me as an option

I DON'T CARE THAT YOU HAVE SOME EXCEPTION AND ABSOLUTELY MUUUUST USE CHATGPT THIS ISN'T A CONFESSIONAL BITCH!!!

HI!!! READ OBÉLIX ET COMPAGNIE

You thought it was gonna be Gaylois?? NO. I've had a change of heart.

[baker-chan-senpai]

dumb doodles

merry christmas, people

[canisalbus]

✦ Freshly ordained ✦

[prlssprfctn]

Bruce: I am rather concerned. Do you all, perhaps, need an additional health check? How come most of you don't hear my commands through comms from the first time?

Barbara: That's because half of them have a music blasting in their ear at the same time.

Bruce: What—

Damian: Nonsense. Neither I nor Cain do this.

Jason, shrugging: Your loss.

Barbara: And here goes a guy, who listened Hozier's Nobody Soldier and Rammstein's Rein Raus during today's shoot-out.

Dick, giggling: Of course, he would listen that—

Barbara: What are you laughing about? You had your female K-POP bands blasting on the background.

Dick: I was streaming—

Tim: During shoot-out?

Barbara: At least, they were listening music. You put Kon's forty minute lasting voice message on.

Tim, shrugging: I am not ashamed. I am multitasking, if anything.

Bruce, concerned: ...Do you all realise that all of this could serious—

(The bickering sounds intensify)

[nasa]

Nora AlMatrooshi

Nora AlMatrooshi, the first Emirati woman astronaut, worked as a piping engineer before becoming an astronaut candidate for the United Arab Emirates. https://mbrsc.ae/team/nora/

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[corvigae]

I keep having to tear down extremely predatory/misleading Scien.tology flyers in my school's art building. This is the third fucking time I've ripped the fuckers up and I'm getting Real Fucking Tired of it.

[smart-macademia]

the key to surviving grad school (also maybe life but definitely grad school) is to pick a side quest every few months or so. something that brings you joy and that you can get better at over time, independent of whether or not your research or classes are going well. put your need for academic validation to use in a non-academic setting and everything will feel less dire and you will learn you are more than your work

[wigglybunfish]

Welcome to Preservation! we have nice people and even nicer murderbots.