又到畢業季了

又到了鳳凰花開的日子，不想知道已經畢業多少年，已經工作多年的我，對於畢業季，應該是無感才是，但是在亂入學生的畢業展後，才發現到，現在的學生要畢業還真是累啊！還好我當初畢業時，沒那麼多折騰，記得我當初畢業時，只要搞定一個給校內教授們評鑑的畢業專題，只要專題不出差錯，我就可以畢業了，現在某些系所的學生要畢業時，還要搞個盛大的成果展，我光想，就覺得累了。

我原本只是想進來展場，吹個冷氣，隨意逛逛，沒想到卻被一張張設計圖、一座座模型所吸引，甚至駐足良久，雖然我是建築設計的門外漢，看著那些涵蓋人文、環境甚至社會議題的基地，在學生們運用場景學習、材料工法、居住單元的設計等方式，建立一個個符合需求的建築專案，還是對我有所啟發，例如，有些作品是以城市再生為主題，試圖活化老社區的閒置空間，有些則專注於永續建築，思考如何讓建築與自然環境共存。

我看到某些展區，畢業學生們在他們的作品附近，等待著和觀展者互動，有些參展畢業生的學弟妹或朋友，會特別前來和畢業生們加油打氣，讓他們臉上原本嚴肅專業的表情，又浮現了青春洋溢的笑臉，和朋友們有說有笑，雖然他們穿著專業的套裝，但骨子裡還是半大不小的年輕人。

之前我就有聽說過，舉辦這樣的成果展，雖然可以讓外界看到學生的實力和創意，從籌備、設計到布展的過程，也是一種綜合能力的表現，業界專家也可透過畢業生展示的成果，稍稍瞭解他們的程度，但是，展覽所需的時間、人力與金錢成本不容小覷，很多學生或學生家庭常常需自掏腰包，來製作作品，不論如何，比較利弊得失，可能我個性內向，我傾向不要有畢業成果展，因為假如我是畢業生的話，壓力巨大。

It's that time of year again. When the flame trees bloom. I’d rather not think about how many years it’s been since I graduated. As someone who's been working for a while, graduation season should mean nothing to me. But after randomly walking into a student graduation exhibit, I realized—wow, students these days really go through a lot just to graduate. Back when I graduated, it was much simpler. All I had to do was complete a thesis project and get it approved by the professors. As long as nothing went wrong, I was good to go. But now? Some departments require students to put on full-blown exhibitions for graduation. Just thinking about all the work makes me feel tired.

I originally just went into the exhibition hall to enjoy some air conditioning and casually look around. But I ended up being drawn in by the design boards and architectural models, even standing there for a while. I don’t know much about architectural design, but seeing how the students integrated themes like culture, environment, and social issues into their projects really opened my eyes. Some projects focused on urban regeneration, trying to bring life back into unused spaces in older neighborhoods. Others looked into sustainable architecture—how buildings can coexist with nature.

I noticed some of the graduates standing by their work, ready to engage with visitors. Some had friends or younger classmates come by to cheer them on, and their serious, professional faces lit up with youthful smiles. Even though they were wearing suits and looked all grown-up, they were still young at heart—just kids on the brink of adulthood.

I’ve heard before that hosting a graduation exhibition helps students show off their skills and creativity. From planning to setup, it’s a test of all kinds of abilities. Industry professionals also get a chance to see what the new grads are capable of. But honestly, the amount of time, energy, and money needed is no joke. Many students—or their families—end up paying out of pocket to make their work presentable. All in all, weighing the pros and cons… maybe it’s just my introverted personality, but I’d prefer not having a big graduation showcase. If I were a student, I think the pressure would be way too much for me.

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