As if text books weren’t enough. You now have to drop an entire paycheck just to participate in the graduation ceremony. The other day I went to the book store to buy my cap and gown. Cap/gown/tassel cost me $38. Your standard black gown, black cap, and gold tassel. I get a gold tassel because I’m graduating with honors (as long as calculus doesn’t bring my GPA down that much). Otherwise, you get a black tassel. Then, since I’m in Phi Theta Kappa, I get to wear a little gold piece of fabric around my neck. That cost $25.99. Tell me how a three foot by 3 inch piece of fabric could possibly cost $25.99. Yeah, somebody’s making a fortune off this.
In high school, if we were in National Honors Society, we got to wear a white piece of fabric around our necks that cost $25, but if we brought it back to the school after graduation, we got our money back. They don’t let you do that in college.
Of course, my parents agreed to pay for all of this anyway. But it’s still a ridiculous amount of money for something you’re only going to wear once. I wish my college colors were the same as high school, but they’re not. For high school, I had a blue gown, now I’ve got a black one, and for my next college graduation I’ll have to buy a green one. I’ll have a nice rainbow by the time I’m done.
Also, only slightly off-topic, I look like Professor Snape in my gown. Due to this, I’m calling it a robe from now on. Yesterday, I put it on and went up to my little sister saying, ‘I am Snape, the Potions Master.’ Yes, I am a dork and proud of it.