Graduation

It's almost been a month, but I wanted to document a very exciting time for me - Graduation!

During the week of graduation, my nursing school has a Pinning Ceremony.  We are pinned for the the work we have accomplished and the service as a nurse that we are about to embark on in a short amount of time.  I appreciated the personal aspect and celebration of the Pinning Ceremony.  During that time and on the day of the Commencement Ceremony, I have never felt such a feeling of relief, accomplishment, and excitement.  Relief because I knew the work of "nursing student" was over, which to be honest, was brutal most of the time.  Accomplishment because I knew the amount of hours, focus, and diligence had paid off to the fullest.  Excitement because of what opportunities and experiences are ahead of me with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing next to my name, especially the patients that I will have the opportunity to help make the most of their day & their life circumstances.

Pinning Ceremony

(Blurry) Getting Pinned

It was such an honor to have both of my families - mine and Lee's - come and celebrate with me.  They have been a family of support, enthusiasm, and encouragement to me these past years.  I could never explain my gratitude to my parents for their support in EVERY sense of the word - financially, spiritually, emotionally, etc! My mom always let me call to "vent" and tell her that my world was in extreme stress and chaos, which in all reality I was being slightly dramatic even though I very much felt like it was doing that during school.

It would not be a complete "thank you" without acknowledging my incredible husband, Lee.  Wow, this man has integrity and is unwavering through all times! I told him after graduation "thank you for loving me even when I was being unlovable due to stress".  I am pretty sure I emphatically told him on multiple occasions "I will NOT be a nurse.  I am changing my major tomorrow. I have no idea why I chose this major". He would carefully listen to me, nod his head, and let me be crazy for a moment.  In the morning, I would tell him "I'm just kidding.  I love nursing.  I was just being emotional and ridiculous"....He would respond "I know".  He was sound of reason and wisdom especially through this last year and a half of nursing school while we were married.  I will be forever grateful to him for his steady patience and love!  This really was graduation for him as well ;-)

Elizabeth, Emilie, and Ryan were so gracious to come to my Pinning ceremony!  It was so meaningful to me because of how all three of them have been there since the very beginnings and some even before of me pursuing my Bachelor's.  It makes me so grateful to think of all the years that we have watched one another grow through so many different situations and circumstances in our life!  Their pictures represent so many of my friends that have been consistently there to support and encourage me more than I could have ever asked for in a friendship! I am so thankful for all of my friend's enthusiasm for me and wanting to hear my weird/gross stories from clinical :) Thank you to each and every one of you - you know who you are! I hope I have made my gratitude evident to you.

 

I am so thankful to the Lord for continually reminding me of my calling and the passion that he has given me to be there for people at one of their most vulnerable parts in life - when they are sick, healing, bringing in new life - wherever the Lord leads me as a nurse!  I am so looking forward to see what position God has for me as my first nursing job.  I pray that I won't look at it just as a "job", but as an opportunity to meet people's needs where they are at, working for His kingdom, and loving people in their most vulnerable time!

Now, I must study hard for the NCLEX.  I sort of need that "RN" next to the "BSN" ;-)