Thanks! ?

For some, they may be the first in a large family to graduate and that is a big deal for their family. For others, their parents never had the opportunity to graduate and it's a huge milestone for their parents to see that their kids are going to have a better future and more opportunities than they ever had.

You're very narrow-minded. Accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem to you, are still accomplishments. You don't know what some people had to go through to complete their schooling. Everyone who graduates, no matter what level, deserves to be acknowledged. With all the problems that students at ALL levels experience (bullying, school shootings, family problems, etc), we as a society need to celebrate successes like these. Don't ever think that everyone had an easy journey through school.

We suffered through 12 years of school to get to the point of graduation. Which is something that will help you in life. I think that merits a little celebration and congratulations.

I don't know where you live, but a lot of people don't graduate. Lots drop out as soon as they can, or don't finish with enough credits or volunteer hours. Graduating is an accomplishment!

I'll be playing the parents' advocate here. We have no idea why the girl was asking her parents to show up. #28 has given quite a good explanation. I'm trying to add to that now. Without OP's explanation on why she wanted her parents to come so much (2 weeks of convincing), we can only hypothesize. If OP were a nagging daughter whom her parents thought not too highly of, it would be quite a normal thing for them not wanting to come. Another possibility is that she wants an expensive college? I don't really know, but again, this is FML, right? Everybody thinks he/she is the victim. If she were a beloved daughter, she wouldn't even have to convince them to come. This is also a possibility. I'm not saying the parents aren't shitty, they are. But why are they shitty? That's what I'm curious about now.

I'm still going to invite them to huge milestones in my life because I refuse to be the asshole that they were to me. If they decide not to go by all means **** them.

Pretty much anywhere in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, pretty much almost every first world country.

I live in Ireland and we aren't given a graduation as such...In late May, on the evening of our last day in school (where we sat around and ate sweets, cake and sandwiches all day supplied by the school), we go to the church or the PE hall and have a 'Graduation Mass' attended by parents and teachers and is given by the parish priest to bless us, wish us well on our upcoming exams and future endeavours (I don't care for religion, but it is a nice sentiment). I don't know about other schools, but we didn't have a cap and gown thing or given certificates (Leaving Certificate results are given in July/August time, just). Then after the Mass or a few nights later we have "Grad Night", where someone organises a night out in a nightclub and we all get smashed...Then of course there's the Debs/Prom in August...

Speak for yourself 54. I'm in Canada and grad was a big deal and not everyone graduates! My older brother and my step brother in law are never graduated, and one is my age and the other only a few years older. A lot of people don't graduate, you just don't notice them because they're not there.