Whether at high schools or universities, graduation is increasingly becoming more than snapping some photos with teachers and classmates. A growing number of students are congratulating themselves by spending on lavish items and trips – using their parent’s cash, of course.
For many high school graduates from families of means, the “tech trio” – a smartphone, laptop and tablet – has become a standard graduation set. Some even aim for a full suite of high-end Apple products. Then there are those that take a celebratory graduation trip, often opting for costly overseas travel. Others choose elaborate graduation photo shoots, dressing in traditional Chinese clothing like Hanfu or horse-faced pleated skirts. Many of these big buys double as flexes for social media clout.
A recent China Youth Daily survey of over 1,300 recent college graduates found that 44 percent spent between 3,000 yuan (US$420) and 5,000 yuan (US$700) on graduation celebrations, while 13 percent spent more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,400). More than half (55 percent) later regretted the spending, and 73.3 percent agreed that using excessive consumption to create a “sense of ceremony” for graduation has become an issue that warrants attention.
Old Version
