Graduation Committee

The Graduation Committee is a volunteer group of students who organizes and plans the festivities of graduation that take place at the end of the our time at the college. I am the chair of the Committee as well as a participant. As chair, my only role is to be a contact person and to organize meetings. As a participant, I have to debate out issues, organize elections, plan and make decorations, create a menu, etc. with all of the other committee members.

The Graduation Committee has been far from an easy experience. We had a very limited budget and have had to work very hard to find ways to be cost-efficient. It is so difficult to plan a party for 130 people in a way that will allow all of those 130 (very diverse) people to enjoy themselves. We have spent long hours arguing over menus, entertainment, and decorations, trying to decide what would be best suited for everyone, not just what would make us happy or a few people happy.

The Deputy Rektor of my school has helped a lot with this committee, giving us guidance and ideas. Without her, we would not have as much information as we do and therefore would not have been able to accomplish as much. She also functions as our link to the staff, which is important as the dinner includes both staff and students and we therefore have to make both groups happy.

Within the Committee, we have had many major arguments about things. One such argument even led to the dramatic withdrawal of one member of the committee. From this, I have learned a lot about conflict mediation. I have learned how to keep my cool, how to maintain some personal dignity in the face of obstinancy. I have had to keep the remaining committee members cohesive and dedicated even though we had such a large issue. I have also learned about both sides of democracy, how it feels to be in the majority and how it feels to be in the minority. I have learned that even when I am in the minority, I still need to find a way to work with the others because I cannot always have my way. We chose to operate as a democracy and I have had to learn how to function within that system, even if it does not make me happy all the time.

The Committee is tense, stressful, and high-pressured but all of the pain of the committee is resulting in a well-organized, beautiful graduation dinner for all of my co-years. I cannot wait for the event to happen and I am so happy to be able to give this to everyone who has shared these two years with me.