By Carey Mulindi
It's graduation season again, and timelines are flooded with smiling faces draped in long flowing academic gowns. For many, this is a proud moment of accomplishment. But as the gowns continue to dominate the occasion, one has to ask: are they still necessary anymore, especially in their current form?
Graduation gowns represent a long-entrenched academic tradition, symbolizing the scholar's achievement. To first-time graduates, especially those coming from families where no one has ever worn one, the gown is a powerful symbol of hope and progress. Such moments deserve celebration and should be documented. In such cases, the pomp and the regalia are not only justified but vital.
Beyond the first milestone, however, one does begin to question the necessity of this ceremonial robe. Do we really need to wear a gown for every certificate, diploma, and degree? For many people, including those juggling families, work, and studies, the reality is simple: pay the graduation fee, skip the photoshoot, and wait for the certificate.
The irony is that some of these events become more about vanity and social validation than academic achievement. A master's graduate is no less qualified because they didn't post in a cap and gown. The obsession with gowns - hired or bought at steep prices - often burdens already struggling graduates.
Instead of forcing the gown on every student as some sort of requisite uniform, institutions should make it an optional part of the ceremony. Celebrate life milestones, yes-but with no undue pressure and no additional expense.
Perhaps gowns should be saved for major transitional moments: your first graduation and Ph.D., where they have deep symbolic weight. Let's reimagine culture: after all, it's not the gown that makes the graduate; it's the grit, grind, and growth that got them there.
The writer is a photo journalist working with Royal Media Services (RMS) currently based in Nairobi.
