First, I'll talk about graduation ceremony in America. Unlike Japanese graduation ceremony, American students wear cap and gown. According to Jacqui, cap and gown are symbol for accmplishment. I think so, too. It could be a symbol of graduation. Wearing cap and gown has meaning that you finish the studying and you can go to the next place. Throwing cap also could be a symbol. It means that I finish the school life and I am free from obligation. So, cap and gown could be a symbol of graduation. Also, speakers make speeches. speakers are president of high school, princiole, dean, or scholarship representatives. The meanings of these speeches are different depends on who makes. I think taht these speeches make graduate students feel becoming adult, independing from parents. I think that these speeches that the authority person such as pricipal or dean could be a myth. For students, thier speech teach them what they should do in the future. So, the speech is a lesson for students and students believe what the authority people say. So, speech could be a myth. After ceremony, students get pictures taken with family, friends and teachers. Then, go to dinner with family and have parties taht invite friends and family. Sometimes they invite teachers, too. People have fun time with friends and families.
After high school, in America, usually people go to college, go into the work force, or take a break year. Going to collesge and going into the work force are similar to Japan. I am interested in "Break Year". Break yaear is to choose not to go to school or work for a year. In Japan, there is not break year, which means that before graduation form high school, you have to decide what they wants to do in the future. Also, during summer vacation, some American studens get a part time jobs to pay their tuition.
I think that graduation high school is a beginning of becoming adult. For example, after high school, some people start to live by onesef to go to university. Peple are required to do everything by themselves. It's a kind of independing from parents, but not completely because university students still need helping by parents. Going to university makes people be aware of being adult. However, people who get a job after high school is more becoming adult than people who go to university. They can earn money without helping by parents. Therefore, the time of becoming adult is different by each person. I am sure that graduation high school is a ritual. It happens in spesific time and has some stirict order. There are some symbols and myths related to graduation. Also, obviously, it changes the people's status. I think graduation high school is a ritual that beginning of becoming adult.
Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduation
Jacqui Arakaki