Jo

School name
Rutgers University

City name
New Brunswick

Story behind the cap idea/Bio
My graduation cap design is centered around a SpongeBob theme because SpongeBob has been a source of comfort for me since childhood and continues to be something I lean on during stressful moments in adulthood. For some people, comfort comes from music, books, or certain memories. For me, SpongeBob has always been one of those familiar and lighthearted things that helps me laugh, breathe, and feel grounded when life feels overwhelming. I wanted my cap to reflect something that genuinely represents who I am, not just as a graduate, but as a person who has had to push through many difficult seasons.
My academic journey was not easy. While working toward my degree, I dealt with multiple surgeries, ongoing physical challenges, emotional stress, family stressors, and financial pressures. There were moments when I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure how I would continue balancing school with everything happening in my personal life. Because of that, I wanted my cap to show both the humor and the honesty of my experience. SpongeBob felt like the perfect way to do that because the show often captures chaotic, dramatic, and funny moments that somehow still feel relatable.
The phrase “I did it!” represents the pride and relief I feel in reaching this milestone. It may be a simple phrase, but for me it carries so much meaning. It represents every assignment I completed, every class I pushed through, every obstacle I survived, and every time I chose not to give up. It is a celebration of persistence and resilience.
The quote “the tassel was worth the hassle” is also very meaningful because it captures the reality behind graduation. The tassel represents the achievement, but the hassle represents everything it took to get here. It represents the stress, the sacrifices, the pain, the late nights, the uncertainty, and the emotional weight of continuing my education while navigating real-life challenges. This degree was not handed to me. I had to work for it, fight for it, and keep showing up even when life made it difficult.
I also included the phrase “Goodbye everyone, I’ll remember you all in therapy” because it brings humor to the emotional side of the journey. It acknowledges that growth, school, and life can be stressful, but healing and reflection are also part of moving forward. As someone entering the field of social work, this phrase also connects to the importance of mental health, support, and emotional honesty.
Overall, my graduation cap represents humor, resilience, comfort, and survival. It honors my inner child who found comfort in SpongeBob and the adult version of me who kept going through surgeries, stress, and personal challenges. This cap is playful, but it also tells a real story. It shows that success does not always look perfect. Sometimes success looks like laughing through the stress, finding comfort where you can, and finally being able to say, “I did it.”