Commencement and coworkers question
8After much deliberation I have decided to walk at commencement this coming May. I feel a bit silly considering I am a little bit older than many of the graduates, but feel I do need to celebrate this accomplishment.
Now here is the problem; who do I have to invite at work without pissing everyone off? I would like to invite the president of my organization, a few other members of the leadership team, and maybe one or two other coworkers. Considering I was not thinking of inviting my team in my department or my supervisor, I am thinking I am going to cause a lot of bad blood. I have a limited amount of tickets and basically all the tickets are already accounted for.
What do you all think? There is an overflow seating area that does not require tickets but I still rather not have a huge amount of people in there.
Reading this over I sound super whiney, must be all the vodka in me. 
- 10 comments, 8 replies
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You’re having issues trying to figure out in addition to me?
@PlacidPenguin It goes without saying you are invited, along with Hyram.
@ConAndLibrarian
The extremely odd thing is that this thread came up while I was doing research into formal penguins…
I would love to not be invited to a coworkers graduation. Just not a fan of ceremonious things like that I guess. So maybe you have someone like me in your circle that would love to not go?
p.s. congrats on the graduation! Is it per chance your MLS knowing you’re a librarian as well?
@luvche21
I didn’t go to any of my college graduations when they happened.
Didn’t really see the point in going.
@PlacidPenguin Definitely not something I am jumping at, but several people would like to see it and considering no one thought I would be alive, much less able to complete this accomplishment after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, I feel like I would let people down if I didn’t go.
Trust me, I was trying to blow it off, there is a convention I go to annually that weekend and I will be missing the biggest day of it because of this. Oh well, it will still be there Sunday.
@luvche21 Just my undergrad. I have worked in libraries for over twenty years, and have ran my own library in a few different schools, but never had the true librarian title. Starting on my MBA in August, I do not think I will go for my MLIS.
@ConAndLibrarian Well, for many people, the MLS is a waste anyway, so I often try and dissuade folk from getting it unless they have their heart 100% on it. The MBA is so much more helpful all around anyway
If you invite no one from work, you’ll ruffle feathers. If you invite everyone from work, you miss out on family/friends being there.
Invite the people you want there. You worked hard to achieve this and that shouldn’t be overshadowed by office politics.
Congratulations!
@Thumperchick I agree with this sentiment - I often do things thinking I should do it, instead of wanting to. Then I miss out on doing or learning what I want.
Awesome! Congratulations!
You’re the “bride” at this ceremony, do whatever you want. It’s everybody else’s job to be happy for you. A general invitation to the free seats should be fine for co-workers.
I would just about pay you to NOT invite me. At my age and as the eldest of a very large family, I’ve been to more than I care to and I still have my grandkids to go to.
@lseeber Totally get that most people do not want to come, but I know many at work want to be invited. I could just invite everyone and let them turn me down, but hate to go through that song and dance.
If there was someone who covered for you on the job i.e. someone who covered for you when you needed to study or attend a special class or something; invite them. Otherwise maybe someone you are personally close to. Those are easy to justify. The rest are optional. Invite true friends and family.
Congraduations.
Perhaps you could invite them to a reception or party or a meal or mini-golf or whatever instead. (I’d personally like mini-golf best.)
Bring a cake to work Monday that says “thank you for all your support” or something. No one can be miffed about free office cake. So I’m told.
Tell everyone that they limited you on tickets and you figured they’d just as soon not come to something like that, but if they’d like to join you for a celebratory drink at x place and time it would be great.