But the Final Graduation will the best, by far!

I hadn't thought of graduation as a "rite of passage", but I guess you could call it that. "Rite of passage: a ritual that marks a change from one stage of (social) life to the next".

So here's my son Dan, just turning 5, passing from one stage to another?  Hardly!  It's his kindergarten "graduation" ceremony.  We enrolled him in a tiny private school (in Quito) when he was 4, and they lumped the pre-kinders in with the regular kindergarteners.  Being one of the top students, he graduated with the rest of them, this beginning his sequence of diplomas.

Curious about the origin of the cap and gown, I found that universities in the 12th and 13th centuries used them.  The teachers were usually clerics, who wore long gowns, hoods, and other head-wear, and the students came to use them, too.  (They were worn during the school year, also, not only at the ceremony celebrating the completion of their studies.)  A good reason for wearing robes was that the stone buildings were cold, and the attire helped both teachers and students stay warm!

(This painting is of a 13th century medical school class.)
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We go through different rites of passage - marriage, school graduations, funerals - but the most awesome "change from one stage to another" will come when we have "completed our studies" of Life here on Earth, and reach Heaven to receive our "diploma"!  Eternal life!  (Although for those who never registered for class at the Narrow Way, the final reward won't be so awesome!)

Revelation gives us a glimpse of the rewards we can expect...IF we don't "drop out of School" before we finish the course.

"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.  I will never erase his name from the book of life."  (3:5)
"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne."  (3:21)

"He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.."  (21:7)
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Paul gives us a good illustration:  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  (II Timothy 4:7,8)

          So, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  (Hebrews 12:1)
                          The end result will definitely be worth it!