Can We Celebrate Achievement Without Showing Off?
In this life, everyone aims to achieve something. Whether a person earns a degree whilst balancing an 8-5 job or saving up for the past two years to buy a reliable home-use car, there’s a pursuant of reaching a goal. To some attaining these goals must be celebrated especially where they’ve financially and mentally struggled to grab hold of that goal.
Graduation ceremonies are one of life’s educational achievement globally and it’s always a victorious thrill for graduates getting to climb up that stage to receive a roll of paper, do a dance or a wave to the crowd before joining one’s family for photos. Then the family decides on having private lunch, share gifts etc at home and that’s it. In recent times, the celebration of such an occasion has become a spectacle of opulence and extravagance, with Ghanaian parents displaying their wealth exclusively at the school where their child has completed their education.
Videos have emerged showing especially Ghanaian millennial parents and other individuals gifting their children cars and extravagant presents as they graduate from Senior High School (SHS) right on the school premises. In such videos, other school children gather around to admire the gifts, while others stand at a distance, observing the scene. The parent presents a brand new car key to their child, who is delighted as they approach the car. Other parents are seen giving money bouquets including a car to their uniform-clad child
I watched a few of these videos and to say I was disappointed and repulsed at the same time because as an adult why would you plan this from the beginning without thinking of the consequences of your actions? And as a parent why would you think it’s okay to do this in a school? Like where’s your home? How did the school administration allow this to happen on their premises? This has made me think on how much social media has influenced many people in showing off to get views and to trend for Zuckerberg and TikTok coins. If even the thought of monetization has not crossed a persons mind, then surely the motivation must be “settings”.
The Hidden Costs of Keeping Up Appearances
Interestingly, when these videos trended online, there were quite a number of persons seeing nothing wrong with the actions of the parents, because as Ghanaians this is our typical behaviour. We don’t think about the long-term consequences of anything, we simply focus on the ‘enjoyment’ for today.
Social pressure is at an all-time and the algorithm keeps feeding people what they’re missing out on. People are basically trying to keep up appearances due to the influence from what they see online. Meanwhile most people are simply keeping up appearances. This false facade people create is costly and I’m not even talking about money even though it’s also a cost. I’m referring to the psychological, emotional and mental and social pressure it causes in the medium to long-term to students and parents. Parents will now be pressured by their children to get them similar gifts on their graduation which will cause a financial strain on their already strained budgets. Students who don’t get cars or money bouquets will start feeling left out or pressured to ‘belong’ by getting their hands on same gifts. Most of these pressured students will resort to toxic and immoral relationships to provide similar gifts on graduation and other celebratory events to feel ‘cool’ and also to trend on social media. There’s no pros to this behaviour.
So when the Ministry of Education published the press release below, I felt validated. Basically, no school is to permit this lavish display of ‘wealth’ on their school premises.
As parents we need to nuture within our children discipline, modesty and let them understand resilience. Celebrations are important milestones but let’s do it with composure. I am reminded of how my child’s school allows children to celebrate their birthdays at the school. Parents are allowed to bring cupcakes and juice packs only. No party bag & no balloons. This school rule was put in place because some parents just go overboard with gifts for the classmates! In some schools, birthday celebrations are even banned due to the competitive environment being created! Even if as a parent you have the ability and means to buy your child a brand new car, let wisdom guide your actions in how you present it. Our children look up to us for guidance and we can’t let them down. Parents need to parent!
Moving Forward: What Kind of Graduation Culture Do We Want for Ghana?
What are your thoughts and suggestions on the kind of graduation culture you’d like to see ? Share them below
