Don't let gratitude and coming of age ceremonies 'inflation'

The gratitude and coming of age ceremony needs to mark the anniversary of the age of 18, becoming a beautiful memory - Illustration: AI

In the last days of the school year, a bustling activity is taking place that attracts great attention from the final classes, which is the gratitude and maturity ceremony.

Meaningful activities in the last summer of school years will of course receive the approval and support of parents.

The ceremony with the presence of teachers and parents is also an opportunity for children to express their gratitude for the birth, upbringing and education of many people who contributed to cultivating their present appearance, knowledge and personality.

There, each young person is the main character, playing and connecting, expressing and listening to their feelings, recalling memories and telling each other about the future.

It's just a pity that in recent years we have witnessed many pieces of shaky value in honoring maturity and expressing gratitude.

It's the "inflation" of gratitude and coming of age!

Now in many places, 5th graders and 9th graders are also bustlingly organizing gratitude and coming-of-age ceremonies.

The milestone of finishing a level of education and moving to a new learning environment is truly meaningful. Teachers and parents will try to create a joyful and memorable ceremony for children.

But that does not mean we should launch and organize lavish and expensive ceremonies, and then here and there there will be complaints of "it's too costly", "it's meaningless", "please don't make a fuss"...

Life is becoming more and more convenient along with the strong spread of social networking sites, causing senior classes to compete to "spend and play" for gratitude and coming-of-age ceremonies.

Gradually, there are fewer festival activities on school grounds that focus on the connection between teachers and students, students and students, parents and children.

Instead, there are yearbook photo shoots with unique concepts, and expensive resorts and tourist areas.

Class activities are usually decided by majority vote, some students have to follow the group even though they don't want to, parents have to pay money.

But "each tree has its own flower, each family has its own situation", not every family has the money and is willing to spend millions on final year activities.

I think the gratitude and maturity ceremony is an annual activity that should be reserved for 12th graders to mark the end of their school years and open a new door in life.

At other levels of education, only graduation ceremonies should be held.

It is necessary to avoid organizing lavish gratitude and maturity ceremonies to create reputation, build a brand for a school, or push an underground race towards virtual lifestyle, winning and losing, and comparing with each other.

The gratitude and coming of age ceremony needs to mark the memorable milestone of turning 18, becoming a beautiful memory so that every time it is reminded, students, parents and teachers will remember the days filled with joy and sadness at school.

No need for a fancy stage, just the "homegrown" singing of the teacher and students.

Not a script with flowery words, but a sincere confession and simple sharing.

Not praise for achievements, but warm hugs and handshakes.

So that every 18 year old can plant a seed of gratitude: Gratitude to grow up!

THANH NGUYEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dung-de-lam-phat-le-tri-an-va-truong-thanh-20250522135536202.htm