Graduation

graduates laughing and hugging; hilarious graduation memes
Ariel Skelley, Getty images
You're Going To Laugh So Hard At These Graduation Memes

You got to laugh at how scared you are to enter the real world.

by Lindsay E. Mack and Ashley Ziegler
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Sure, graduation is an exciting moment that celebrates educational achievements with a beautiful ceremony. But it can also be a *super* stressful time filled with uncertainty and big life decisions. That’s why graduation memes that express how you really feel are so important. Wearing the cap and gown can bring out some pretty mixed emotions, and that’s totally understandable.

As with any other major milestone, using graduation as a reason to meme-ify your feelings is perfectly acceptable. Sometimes, a simple reference to Spongebob or a cute dog photo with text just expresses how you’re feeling so much better than mere words. After all, is there anything a new graduate enjoys more than hearing the thousandth person ask, “So what are you going to do next?” It’s all kind of a lot. (Honestly, it would be so much better if everyone around the graduate could just send a graduation meme and leave it there.)

Graduation is an exciting time, but for plenty of grads it also comes with anxiety, nerves, and a sense of “what now?” While these tough feelings will need to be addressed at some point, if you’re not quite ready to do that, though, then clicking through some hilarious graduation memes is a good way to avoid them. After all, what’s more relatable than a funny meme?

1Use it or lose it

Do teachers really expect you to retain all of the information they throw at you over the course of four (or more) years? Don’t feel bad if this is you, but maybe also don’t enthusiastically throw out all of your notebooks just yet because you may need to reference your study notes later.

2The truth

Psst, I’ll let you in on a little secret: most of us have no idea what we’re doing. But, a framed diploma hanging on your wall will sure help give the illusion that you know what you’re talking about.

3It’s good to have goals

Of course, if you get a remote job, you may still be able to wear a robe in the middle of the afternoon. But, then it’s a choice, right? So, it’s totally different. (Except, it’s not that different at all).

4Success not guaranteed

It’s true. A degree does not automatically equal a job offer. Even worse, you’ll have to smile your way through multiple rounds of interviews before you eventually land your first full-time role. Godspeed, friend.

5Cool it

Sometimes the most stressful part of graduation is everyone asking what you’re going to do next. It’s totally fine to just take a breath and enjoy your celebration for a minute.

6Ring, ring

OK, but those donor departments deserve some recognition. They will find you no matter how many times you move or change names or anything.

7It’s called fashion

Edna may be the best in the superhero costume business, but her “no capes” rule is all wrong. There is no braver superhero than a graduate who is full of hope and optimism for the future – cape and all.

8Creative degrees are *absolutely* necessary

Can you even imagine a world without graphic designers? Font choices would be all over the place, yikes.

9I do what I want

If you aren’t having fun with graduation photos, though, what’s the point? Go ahead and get weird with it.

10Still learning

Sure, learning never stops. But you don’t have to sit through finals again, which is key.

11Every time

Even if you give a phonetic pronunciation or something. It’s almost guaranteed.

12Best reason of all

Take motivation wherever you can find it. Going to school to give your cat a better lifestyle is completely legit.

13It’s for the best, but . . .

Virtual ceremonies are still a reality for many graduates. But these grads deserve all the celebration and love, too, because studying during a pandemic is another level of weird.

14Is that all?

Because some of those study sessions lasted an eternity. And there was no option to fast-forward or anything.

15Putting the “pro” in “procrastination”

Studying for finals while sitting at your graduation is a whole mood, to be honest. It felt like those tests would never end.

16Buckle up

Granted, the high school years are anything but easy for plenty of people. On the other hand, plenty of adults probably wish the rest of life were as structured as high school.

17Real talk

Yes, debt is the least-fun graduation present ever. There’s nothing like starting your new life with negative money.

18Second thoughts

You might have considered quitting a few times, especially when the exam stress ramped up. But you stuck it out and now that degree is in hand.

19Sesame Street got it right

As the saying goes, C’s get degrees too. (Well, depending on the program.)

20Just keep celebrating

So this meme is a little too true for many people. With that in mind, there are plenty of alternatives to getting a full-time job after graduation, such as volunteering or tutoring.

21Definitely got it figured out

That degree has to mean something, right? Right?

22Thanks, Wiki

How did people even learn things before Wikipedia? That free encyclopedia is everything.

23Yes, it’s really over

But you’ll have nightmares about finals for the rest of your life. Some parts of school never go away.

Whether you’re graduating with the next steps of your life all planned out, or you’re suffering from a minor existential crisis, hopefully these graduation memes have brought a smile to your face. After all, you have the rest of your life to be serious, so enjoy all the laughter you can get.

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