oxygen domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/runcloud/webapps/bryanuniversity-sandbox/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121wpgb-oxygen domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/runcloud/webapps/bryanuniversity-sandbox/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121ws-form domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/runcloud/webapps/bryanuniversity-sandbox/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121When it comes to commencement ceremonies and graduation celebrations we all think of the same traditions — caps, gowns, stages, and speeches. For students at mostly online schools, especially adult learners returning to education after years away, it may be tempting to ask: does celebrating commencement still matter? Without a doubt, our answer is a resounding yes.
At Bryan University, student success is at the center of everything we do. Unlike the typical college student, many of our students are juggling the demands of life, careers, families, and more. Squeezing in a late-night study session after a full-day of work or finishing homework in between soccer practices is the reality for these students.
Graduates like Allison Elibasich would sit at the table in the evening with her kids, all of them doing homework side by side. She wasn’t just squeezing in time for her own assignments, she was showing her kids, in real time, what commitment really means.
And Misty Vazquez, who was terrified she would fail because of her limited time yet determined to make a positive change for her family. “The program exceeded my expectations because I could go at my own pace. Yes deadlines were still there and I had to meet them, but it was feasible. It gives people like me a chance to progress and move forward in their life without having to neglect everything else,” she said.
For our learners who are putting in the hard work while still taking care of their responsibilities, commencement is more than a formality — it’s a powerful marker of achievement. It represents the knowledge and skills they’ve gained through hard work. And, it sends an even bigger message: it’s never too late.
BU alumni like Tanisha Jackson says finishing her program didn’t just give her a sense of pride, it gave her a chance to show her son he can do anything if he puts in the work. “It gave me the opportunity to show my son that even at my age, I’m 44, there’s nothing that can stop you if you put your heart and your mind into something, and if it’s something you truly want you can go for it no matter how old you are.”
Amanda Harper echoed that sentiment, she said without a program like ours she wouldn’t have been able to make it work until her kids were grown up. “It really helped me show my kids that if you don’t go to college right after graduation, it’s okay because there are programs like BU that, even if you wait until you’re in your 30s, you can still get it done, and I just think that’s great for a lot of families that don’t necessarily have the opportunity to go to college right after high school because they need to join the workforce.”
For our graduates, commencement is a reminder that no goal is out of reach. By celebrating this achievement it gives weight to all of the hard work and dedication that might otherwise feel invisible.
Online learning may look like a simple transaction. Log in, do your work, get a degree. But the reality is so much deeper and by marking that achievement through commencement — from anywhere and everywhere, the same way our students learn — we’re reminded of the effort, resilience, and community that make it all possible.
Because at BU, we’re with our students, providing support, every step of the way. “They made me feel like I was walking into their building and being greeted,” alumni Kaytlen Calhoun said. “It was the best decision and it’s not anything to do with my courses — it’s everything to do with the people. All of the staff, all of the professors, even the people who answer the phone to get you started. They care. They are so interested in helping you succeed.”
No matter your journey, your age, or your background, commencement is a celebration of all you’ve accomplished. Celebrating it still matters and it always will.
Are you part of the Class of 2025? Head over to our graduation page for everything you need to know about commencement!
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