You can’t help but feel happy when you see and hear a noisy student truck roll by with jubilant, bouncing young people. It is still a great achievement to graduate, but in the past, the graduation exam represented both academic excellence and social mobility. Unlike today, where education is more accessible and widely recognized as a necessity, it was previously only a small portion of the population that had the opportunity to pursue higher education. This exclusivity made the graduation cap a symbol of both personal success and social prestige.
Earning a graduation diploma often meant gaining access to higher social strata and more career opportunities. In a time when society was more hierarchical and less mobile, education was one of the few ways individuals could improve their social status. For families from lower social classes, having a graduate in the family could change their fate and provide access to better job opportunities, higher salaries, and a better life.
The graduation cap, with its distinctive design and colors, became a symbol of academic achievement and the transition to adulthood. The traditions surrounding graduation and graduation parties were (and still are) rich in symbolism and celebration, where families and friends gather to celebrate the student’s achievements. Rituals like riding around in student trucks, singing songs, and visiting each other’s homes are part of the collective joy and pride.
Congratulations to all the beautiful young graduates.
