With all the slog, sweat and tears that go into studying, a graduation ceremony and the celebrations that go with it are the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a chance to blog off some steam with your classmates, family and friends.
But one women found herself marking the special occasion without someone very special - her boyfriend. And while you're probably hoping that he had a very, very good excuse for missing the big day, she doesn't believe his excuse was good enough.
Writing on Mumsnet, the woman admitted that she's absolutely furious with him for picking a work Christmas do over her graduation.
She writes: "I just thought it would be nice to celebrate something I was so proud of doing with people I love but obviously I was wrong.
"I have a degree level graduation to attend for a self-funded and worked really hard on around my full-time work. It was really tough to do, especially as it was all distance learning, and I'm so glad I got through.
"Unfortunately, it clashes with my boyfriend's overnight work party that I am also invited to attend. It is at the other end of the country and he is putting the pressure on to attend that instead as 'it's a free night in a spa hotel."
Unaware of the work do, the woman booked the tickets way in advance, extra excited as she missed out on her first gradutaion.
And it's not just her boyfriend who is missing the day, with her grandparents also giving their excuses. She writes: "They have also cancelled on me due to train tickets etc. So I've wasted over £100 buying tickets for everyone thinking they might be proud of me.
"The whole thing is just a mess now and he is being really grumpy about it. Am I being unreasonable to just say no to the party and maybe even go on my own?"
As she ponders the question, people in the comment section found themselves agreeing with the boyfriend.
One writes: "Sorry but it sounds dull as dishwater, great for getting the qualification but ditch the ceremony and go and have fun at the party for gods sake!"
Do you think he should skip the work party and go to her graduation? Have your say in the comment section below.
However others are more balanced, with one writing: "Let him go to his party with a friend. Take a friend of your own to your graduation. Honestly, graduation ceremonies are pretty tedious unless you’re the one getting the award (and frankly, even if you are) watching a bundle of strangers walk across a stage before a fleeting moment of seeing the person you actually know do it, I wouldn’t bother to try to guilt him into it when he’ll not enjoy it because he’d rather be elsewhere and you’ll end up deflated."
Many were sympathetic to her plight and offered some solutions: "Can you go to the graduation and be late to the work party? Graduation trumps work party in my opinion, you worked flipping hard you get to celebrate and have that acknowledged."
Another said: "You'll get another opportunity to stay in a hotel, you won't get another opportunity to graduate, " and in a similar vein, one comment said: "You earned it, enjoy it and be proud."
Finally: "Take your family and enjoy the event, then forget about it and move on. "
