Last week my oldest baby, Jennifer, graduated from nursing school.
Not only did she graduate from nursing school, she graduated with honors!
She’s a pretty smart cookie.
All this was accomplished while working full-time until her last year of school when she cut her hours to part-time, and as a single mom of two beautiful girls.
This is one of the people who was very instrumental in helping her with babysitting (seen here with my two lovely granddaughters Brooke and Kierstin). Vicky is Jennifer’s ex-sister-in-law. Thankfully, Jennifer’s ex- in-laws have remained close to our family and were a big help in doing a lot of babysitting for her.
I’m so proud of Jennifer and all the hard work and determination she put in to getting her degree. Having gone through the same program, I can relate to how difficult it was.
It was a lovely ceremony, even though the speaker giving the commencement address did drone on a bit.
Here she is. Ready to rock the nursing world!
Here with a couple of her good friends and nursing school comrades.
This man was part of the Quad City Brass Quintet performing at the graduation. Interestingly enough, he was also her band director back in the early years of learning the alto saxophone. Yay Mr. Hamburg!
Jennifer with her paternal grandmother (aka Nana). My parents were unable to attend due to my dad’s recent illness. They were very disappointed about having to miss it.
More family photo’s. Adrienne, Jilena, and me (aka Mom).
This is not a graduation day photo but I had to throw in a photo of my other daughter, Molly, who was MIA because she had to work that night.
My very dear ex-sister-in-law Denise. She’ll always be my “sister” in my heart. Love her!
And the cake, “Class of 2014. It’s about time”! You got that right sister!
We partied till long past my bedtime and I was feelin’ it when I arrived at work at 6:30 am the next morning. I use the term “partied” loosely. At my age that means 2 glasses of wine. I was driving after all.
Nursing school is different from most other college curriculum formats in that the art of intimidation is still alive and well. Something similar to boot camp . . . and it doesn’t end till you graduate. It’s an unchanging environment that has persevered since long before I was in college. I would have thought that we would be past all that in 2014. So you see? You really have to be crazy want to be a nurse to get through it.
One thing that has changed in the last 29 years is that now, they actually get to wear a cap and gown at graduation! Yay!
When I graduated we all had to buy identical white uniform dresses to wear, along with white support hose, white nursing shoes, and of course, our nursing caps (It goes without saying that white underwear was involved here). We all looked like “Nurse Ratchet”.
Of course that was back in the 80’s when we all had bad hair and, if you wore them, gigantically huge glasses. It was quite a sight. Unfortunately, my parents keep that graduation photo of me right out in the family room for all to see despite my request that they put it away.
And last but not least, a selfie of Jen and me at the after party.
I’m so happy for her that it’s finally over! Well, at least till she starts working on advancing her degree in the fall!
Now get out there and get a job! Student loan payments wait for no one!
Love you Jitter Bug! Here’s to a fulfilling and rewarding career!
© 2014 – 2016, Pamela. All rights reserved.
Pam, you should me mighty proud, and with honers to boot. It is obvious that she has her Moms determination and work ethic. I do so admire both of you in all you have been able to accomplish.
Thank you! She worked hard for it. Hopefully now she can sit back and enjoy the summer!