From Right to Left:
At the beginning of the ceremony, students wear their tassels on the right side of their caps. This signifies their current academic status, whether it's undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral studies.
Turning the Tassel:
During the graduation ceremony, the students are instructed to turn their tassels from the right side to the left side of their caps. This symbolizes the successful completion of their studies and their transition to being graduates.
Unity and Camaraderie:
The simultaneous movement of thousands of tassels creates a wave-like effect across the graduating class. This synchronized action represents unity, camaraderie, and the shared accomplishment of the graduates.
The Significance of Left:
In Western cultures, the left side is often associated with success and achievement. Moving the tassel to the left signifies that graduates have earned the right to wear the insignia of their academic accomplishment on the left side of their caps.
A Symbolic Moment:
The tassel-turning is a symbolic moment during graduation that captures the transition from student to graduate. It's a visual representation of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that the graduates have shown throughout their academic journey.