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‘I almost cried’: Graduate denied diploma over $15 laptop repair fee

‘I owed like 100 something I was devastated.’

Photo of Nina Hernandez

Nina Hernandez

Graduate denied diploma over $15 laptop repair fee

One newly-minted high school graduate recently went viral after sharing that she unexpectedly didn’t receive her diploma on graduation day due to an unpaid fee.

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Ellie McCormick, posting on the TikTok account @estarssecretaccount96, posted a video from the aftermath of her graduation in May. The video has received more than 700,000 views and 150 comments since it was posted May 27.

“POV u didn’t get a diploma cuz u lost ur laptop bag freshman year,” the caption reads.

@estarssecretaccount96 Hot girls get a pink diploma anyway #grad #graduated #graduation2023 #graduation #greenscreenvideo #diploma ♬ original sound – #pumaa . 🖤
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In her cap and gown, she shows the camera the inside of her diploma cover to reveal a pink slip.

The slip reads: “Your diploma has been pulled until you have paid your laptop repair fee. Please see the amount below.” The fee listed is $15.

“Hot girls get a pink diploma anyway,” McCormick writes in the caption.

McCormick isn’t the only TikToker to experience this issue on graduation day.

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“I owed like 100 something I was devastated,” wrote user Shelby.

“Ours is $450 and they are these shizzy dell laptops. The charger is over $50 too,” wrote user Aya.

“Lmaooo I paid 68 dollars for losing my bag and charger,” wrote user Bella. “Literally a few hours before we walked the stage.”

“Me losing three books,” wrote user Fatima. “I still got mine thoo.”

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“Ngl I feel like this gonna happen to me,” wrote another user. 

McCormick responded, advising caution. “Be careful cuz I almost cried,” she wrote.

“I owe 70 dollars,” wrote user Slat. “2 things from elementary and a broken laptop.”

“That pink do look good,” wrote user Adam Jeff. 

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“Yeah I had to pay $25 before I could even get my cap and gown,” wrote another user.

The Daily Dot reached out to McCormick via TikTok for comment.

 
The Daily Dot