Weekend-Engagement Week #236: My Graduation Story

Getting on stage and accepting your diploma is one of the most memorable and important events a student could ever have, and my university graduation was packed with memories I'd carry with me all through my life.




When I finished high school, I was determined to study nursing despite my mom being against it. It wasn't really because I wanted to work as a nurse, but I was just genuinely interested in the medical and healthcare field. I wanted to study medicine, but my family couldn't afford it, so I settled for the second best.

However, going to nursing school isn't cheap, so I did my best to pass one of the best nursing schools in my area that's also cheaper than the rest since it was a state-funded institution. I fortunately passed, but unluckily, I wasn't fated to graduate there.

Following my almost one-year absence from school due to my surgery, my former university changed its curriculum. I was already in my third year then, but I was advised to either enroll at another university that's still offering the old curriculum or stay in that university and start again as a first year. I chose the former.

My second choice university was still offering a last bunch of students the old curriculum, so I took the exam and enrolled as a third-year irregular student. The problem is it's more expensive than my previous university and I had to complete my cases from scratch.

In nursing school (for the old curriculum), we had to complete 5 major and 5 minor OR (Operating Room) cases, as well as 5 handle, 5 assist and 5 cord care DR (Delivery Room) cases. In my second university, most of the students complied their cases during their first and second years because juniors and seniors are assigned to other departments.

We wouldn't be able to graduate if we weren't able to complete these cases. Well, we could still get our diploma later on, but we wouldn't be able to attend the graduation ceremony. However, the cases weren't my only problem. I still have some balance in my tuition and I still couldn't pay the fees needed for graduation like our Nursing pin and so on.

I have literally given up on getting on that stage. However, during the last graduation rehearsal (this was around 2 days before the graduation), when our Dean noticed I wasn't there, she asked one of my friends to contact me. She asked me to just show my face in school.

When I went to her office after the rehearsal, she asked me what my problem was. I told her about my cases and the fees I still need to comply. At that time, I still needed seven DR cases in total. Then, she called our clinical instructors and told them to prioritize me. My friend also needed 3 cases, so the Dean told her to just stick with me.

I worked two 16-hour shifts in the delivery room (mid and night shifts). On the morning of my graduation, after my 16-hour shift, I completed all my cases and even got some extras. I went to school directly from the hospital to meet the Dean and to comply with my clearance.

To my surprise, she had someone take care of it and I only had to go to the admin for my graduation interview. She even paid for my balance for the graduation uniform and my nursing pin.

Still floating from the flow of events and the lack of sleep, I went home to take a bath and prepare for the graduation ceremony that afternoon.

I graduated and was able to walk on the stage... although in zombie mode, the adrenaline from the excitement was flowing. I'm forever grateful to our department's Dean and my clinical instructors who supported me. When I told them my gratitude, they just smiled and told me that I deserved it. They've seen my effort despite the hardships. Although I couldn't pay the tuition at times, I still went and negotiated just to take the exam... my groupmates and our instructors during hospital duty found me reliable. I guess I was pretty serious when I was in work mode and I'm glad I did.

Not only did the university support me to graduate, but also during our review for the license exam. I didn't pay anything during my review both at school and at the review center because they took care of it. They even offered to pay for my in-house review, but I respectfully declined and decided to just study at home. I couldn't live without anime, anyway, so I won't be able to survive the in-house even if they pay for it. XD

If you do good things and show how determined you are to achieve something, you'll be able to achieve it. It may be difficult, but there will always be people who are watching and would find value in your efforts. They will be the same people who would offer their help and support.

I may not work as a nurse now, but I've learned a lot... and now, I'm able to take care of my family's health... thanks to that! :)