Some tertiary students that I have taught express distaste for their learning institution because they find the courses easy. This lack of challenge makes these students lose pride of their accomplishments and even shame for achieving a degree that they don’t see recognition value in. I had the same attitude towards my studies whilst completing them, however I have now realised the obligation of celebration.

Most students find tertiary study difficult, and many know that their letter grade outcomes are more affected by unfair disadvantages due to life events or matters outside of their control. Some students do not achieve their goal of completing a degree. These students, when talking to a shameful yet successful student, may feel disrespected when an advantaged or gifted student does not uphold the respect that they hold for the desirable goal.

Whether you value your academic achievement or not, one should always uphold the dignity of the success out of respect to those who struggled greatly to get it, or struggled greatly and did not succeed under this metric. Students should attend their graduation ceremonies and parades with pride and pay respect to the advantages that afforded them this success as well as to the people that, for whatever reason, have not.

This obligation to celebrate successes valued by people other than the recipient is important beyond tertiary education; drivers licenses, child rearing, paid or fulfilling employment, or any other socially valued metric.