And, yes the icon is appropriate. The ceremony was at 8:30 AM, and I had to be there at seven in the morning.
By yesterday evening I was wishing I'd checked the "mail me my diploma" option (I couldn't find the clothes I'd intended to wear today, and had to go hunting in my closet for something else suitable) rather than agreeing to attend the ceremony, but I'm glad now that I did go.
Once things got started, it all went smoothly enough, but things were rather chaotic at the beginning, getting everyone in the right place to process through the ceremony.
Some tips for anyone who has a graduation ceremony in their future:
1. Take some safety pins. If your graduation regalia has a hood worn down the back, the straight pins supplied will
not
be enough to hold it in place properly. I spent half the time processing and waiting today fiddling with the thing when the pins came loose or the shoulder slipped.
2. Make sure whoever in your family has the camera recording the event has a working camera. (obvious, I know, but it bears repeating, as there has been a malfunctioning camera at every grad I've attended).
3. There will likely not be anywhere to put a jacket or purse once you've got your gown. Be prepared to wear everything under said gown. I ended up with a fleecy underneath, which was far too warm by the end of the ceremony.
Despite all that, it was an incredible experience, and I'm actually contemplating going back for a Masters degree in the future.