My university transcript says I graduated in 2007; I just never looked at it. I called the administration for confirmation. I knew I had finished the requisite credit hours and I had done multiple internships. I had a huge portfolio but I thought I never submitted it. I remember meeting with my adviser to discuss the finalities of graduation. But shortly after finishing the last two general education requirements, I had a massive catastrophic nervous breakdown and was involuntarily hospitalized, so maybe I don’t remember everything. I have an inordinate ability to functionally shut down and ignore responsibilities. Yes, I never had children! Instead of dealing with these basic things I traveled the country in a station wagon with my lover and for years we lived off-grid in the desert. I was a long haul truck driver and supervisor at an emergency call center, not at the same time. Too many adventures to list. Not sure what else I would have done, knowing I had the degree, but I never felt comfortable fraudulently claiming to have finished that part of my education. It’s a wild feeling. As I’m sure will be suggested, I plan to pay for an official transcript/document. I don’t even owe library fines!

  • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
    34·
    23 days ago

    I’ve read that universities can choose to let alumni walk for graduation at a later date. Since you did the work you may be entitled to it. If you would feel its important to have that experience you should reach out to your school and see if they’d let you. I think if I were in your shoes, I’d do it in a second. Its a quintessential experience and public recognition of your efforts.

    • unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      17·
      23 days ago

      I appreciate that but the ceremony and pomp and circumstance doesn’t work for me. I just get embarrassed and feel bad. I am proud of the accomplishment, but I don’t want the attention.

      • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
        7·
        23 days ago

        I can respect that. I can tell you that you actually get very little attention at commencement. You’re in a sea of other people dressed exactly the same as you are. You’re all seated/standing/walking in a giant group. Unless you are being recognized for some outstanding achievement the most attention you get is when your name is mentioned when being handed a piece of paper. Even then its one name of hundreds or thousands being mentioned that day. Sure there’s hundreds or thousands of spectators, but none of them know who you are and are paying any attention to you. They’re there for their own person and you being there doesn’t even register with them. If you’re worried about attention, its nearly the opposite as you’re being anonymized in a group.

        I am positive the only people that remember my commencements for either of my degrees are me, my (now) wife, and my mom. One other note: at the time, I hadn’t counted on how important it was for my mom to see it. In retrospect I understand raising a child is years of hard work and a constant worry about if you’re raising your children right. Seeing them graduate would be a great measure that you did well as a parent.

        Still, there’s no requirement to do it and if thats not for you, thats just fine.

  • bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works
    12·
    23 days ago

    Thats great! Kind of like that movie where someone is wrongly diagnosed with a month to live so they do everythibg they wanted to and find out they actually weren’t gonna die and their life greatly improved.

    Obviously thats not real life but still an interesting thought. I often want to quit my boring job but it pays well and is pretty easy. Just wasting 45 hours a week seems like something I’ll regret. But I like money.

  • socsa@piefed.socialEnglish
    10·
    23 days ago

    Just do what every PhD dropped does - put “all but dissertation” as the very last bullet in your CV.

    • unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      11·
      23 days ago

      I definitely would have bid myself for some jobs/applications that have a bullshit requirement of having college degree. No regrets but things might have been different.