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Graduating in style

These days, many students are spending more to celebrate the completion of university studies. Not everyone, however, is following the trend

It costs bundle to graduate these days between about Bt9, 000 and Bt50, 000 if you tally the photos, flowers, hair styling, make-up, graduation gown rental and the huge party that you and your folks throw after you claim your gold-embossed diploma.

Many families are spending hefty sums on graduation, the biggest event in most university students' lives.

Why? Because it's fun: Parading on stage in ceremonial gowns, being lavished with bouquets, and being captured on film by photographers snapping shots as if the graduates are superstars. It's an honour - and payback for four years of hard work.

Lots of university students now book celebrated photographers, make-up artists and hairstylist as soon as their school announces the date of its graduation ceremony.

If a student wants the make-up artist to travel to her house, she can expect to pay Bt1, 500 to Bt8, 000 for a day's work. A photographer will charge Bt1, 500 to Bt5, 000 a day for his or her time. Film and prints are extra. These days, graduates generally hire photographers and make-up artists for two days.

Many students say the expense is worth it.

" I don't think it's strange or a waste of money. It's something that everybody does," says Sarapon Asawavetvutt, 22, who graduated from Chulalongkorn University last Friday. She shelled out Bt15, 000 for cosmetics, flowers, photos dresses and a party with her family.

"It's an award- a day of success," says Rajeetan Sangsawang, 26, who graduated from Mahidol University International College in 2001. " There aren't so many graduation days and we don't often wear a graduation gown. So, it's a good opportunity to capture some good memories. It's a major event in our lives."

Rajeetan hired a photographer who charged Bt5, 000 for the day and shot 20 rolls of film, mostly of Rajeetan with her parents, family and friends.

Four years after graduation, Rajeetan still enjoys flipping through her photo album and reliving the event.

Not every student wants a graduation blow - out. Rather than have a hair stylist visit their homes, many co-eds have a pre - graduation party at beauty par lour, paying, between Bt700 and Bt3, 000 to be pampered in style.

But since graduation ceremonies are often held just after down, students must make advance arrangements with their salons and get up as early as 3am to have their hair cut and blown dry.

Pornpun Rungsapjaroen didn't have to wake up early for her graduation last year from of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Latkrabang.

She did her hair at home and applied her make-up in the family car. Unlike most of her 21 classmates, she didn't spend lavishly on the ceremony. Her total outlay was Bt2, 000 - less than some of her classmates paid for a hotel room or a restaurant for their graduation cerebrations. " I was as happy and excited as my classmates. But I didn't think I should have to pay for the day," says Pornpun.

Pornpun , 24 , put a different benchmark on graduation. The ceremony, she says, was one event. " But the day I called 'graduation day' was the day I saw my final examination grades and my grade point average."

Not that she belittles the graduation ceremony. " It's the one time in my lifetime that I've a chance to stand in front and receive a diploma from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. That's great. And that's my honour."

Pornpun's mom, however, says the graduation ceremony was special for her.

" It's the happiest day for all parents," says 50-year-old Ornsiri Rungsapjareon. While Ornsiri wanted her daughter to attend the ceremony, she agreed that she shouldn't spend too much for the day. " Yes, photos decorating the wall are a symbol of success and a source of pride, but they aren't as important as the diploma my daughter received," Ornsiri says.

Khwanrewee Phajum wants to attend Naresuan University's graduation ceremonies in December - more for her parents than herself. But she recently accepted a job in the United States, so she'll miss the event.

She says that her neighbours constantly ask her parents when the graduation ceremony will take place because they want to join the cerebration.

The 22- year- old says that after her parents sacrificed so much for so many years, she wishes that she could attend her graduation as a way of thanking them.

" When people ask my parents about me, I hope my folks will tell everything," Khwanrawee says, including her studies, the internship she held at The Nation and her new job in Alaska.

" There's more to school and life than what you see in photos of a graduation ceremony."

Every student has different feeling about the importance of the graduation ceremony.

" For some graduates, it's a reward for their efforts, and an honour for their parents, who view the ceremony as a symbol their children's success," observes Pornpun.

How families view graduation is a personal matter, says Saraporn, the student who graduated from Cholalongkorn University last Friday.

" We can hold a cerebration party, or do anything we want, as long as we and our families are satisfied and can afford it," she says.

The final tally…

It costs a bundle to graduate in style.

Item / Cost

Graduation fee paid to university

Bt600-Bt1,000

Graduation gown rental

Bt600-Bt2,000

Alternations to her graduation gown

Bt500-Bt900

Graduation outfit (female)