Are online graduation ceremonies the new normal?

Editor's note: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many universities around the world have postponed graduation or held virtual graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020. With no pictures taken, no caps, no gowns and no proper farewell, this year's graduates are experiencing the most unique commencement ceremony in a generation. Forum readers share their comments.

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The undergraduate students had pictured their graduation ceremony in their minds. For example, they imagined they would wear their cap and gown to attend their graduation ceremony, have a gathering with the whole class, the well-known alumni and the university president would make an inspiring speech, the professor would present them with their diploma and move the tassel of their cap from the right side to the left, they would take lots of pictures with their classmates and teachers. But now all of this is wishful thinking due to the rebound of coronavirus in Beijing. So their schools held an online graduation ceremony. They felt a little bit disappointed, but they can celebrate what they have achieved over the past years and still laugh without fear of the future.