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Decided not to attend my graduation

hypercolius

I decided not to attend my graduation from an undergraduate astrophysics course in the UK. 

I know that when this becomes known, a lot of people in my department will likely be offended by this, and this isn't because of my department anyhow. 

It is because I simply cannot stand to see another student from my course again. 

I've posted on this forum before about how I was bullied out of a society. I only found out how much damage those people did behind my back only very recently and it is beyond horrific. 

If I said someone took my day-to-day behaviour and painted it in the worst light possible, it wouldn't even begin to explain how bad the situation was. 

Whilst more got involved later, two people started it, one of who was on my course and friends with a lot of people there. The outcomes included me having to make a complaint to the OIA, a relationship with someone I really cared about falling apart because she heard all the slander about me, and the only people who still care about me from my course are those who have already left the university. 

I still feel bad about not going to my graduation, but the event even before all of that is considered just seemed designed to stress me to the breaking point. 

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  • hypercolius said:
    astrophysics course in the UK. 

    Like Brian May! I understand your reasons for not going, but feel sad for you - you worked hard and certainly deserve an award and recognition. But you have the certificate, know you achieved this [despite your autism] and should be VERY proud of yourself.

    I did attend my MSc. in Mental Health Practice graduation, but nearly missed the ceremony because I went with someone I hardly knew who claimed to know where the venue was, but got us lost. I treasure the photograph but don't remember the moment the Chancellor shook my hand - at 54 I was dazed and overwhelmed to actually believe I could do this, when all my life I'd been disregarded - by my parents too. I was mostly ignored by peers but got on well with the tutors, and spent most of the time in the gardens or library. I preferred being sidelined to being bullied as I was at work - but that impacted at Uni too, as one of the bullies was my supervisor and a co-student. When she failed the exams, she blamed me!

    I read all the responses to your thread and feel very, very sad. All you highly intelligent, insightful and supportive folk, yet feeling unhappy and disregarded by those who ought to be in awe of you. That peer students were spiteful, envious, unsupportive and downright cruel is shocking - they are a disgrace to the world-wide community of students who like to believe themselves modern, supportive campaigners; not bigots, abelists and bullies. Perhaps their ought to be special Universities of Autistic Students, which would be renowned for their ethical stance, inclusivity and kindness - with virtual Degree ceremonies.

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  • hypercolius said:
    astrophysics course in the UK. 

    Like Brian May! I understand your reasons for not going, but feel sad for you - you worked hard and certainly deserve an award and recognition. But you have the certificate, know you achieved this [despite your autism] and should be VERY proud of yourself.

    I did attend my MSc. in Mental Health Practice graduation, but nearly missed the ceremony because I went with someone I hardly knew who claimed to know where the venue was, but got us lost. I treasure the photograph but don't remember the moment the Chancellor shook my hand - at 54 I was dazed and overwhelmed to actually believe I could do this, when all my life I'd been disregarded - by my parents too. I was mostly ignored by peers but got on well with the tutors, and spent most of the time in the gardens or library. I preferred being sidelined to being bullied as I was at work - but that impacted at Uni too, as one of the bullies was my supervisor and a co-student. When she failed the exams, she blamed me!

    I read all the responses to your thread and feel very, very sad. All you highly intelligent, insightful and supportive folk, yet feeling unhappy and disregarded by those who ought to be in awe of you. That peer students were spiteful, envious, unsupportive and downright cruel is shocking - they are a disgrace to the world-wide community of students who like to believe themselves modern, supportive campaigners; not bigots, abelists and bullies. Perhaps their ought to be special Universities of Autistic Students, which would be renowned for their ethical stance, inclusivity and kindness - with virtual Degree ceremonies.

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