So, I graduated!
You guys! I wore my cap and gown!
I have never been so excited to wear what is essentially a weird hat and a muumuu.
I gave my three tickets to my friend Mia (who is also a divorced single mom with an RN)...
And also to these two girlies:
We weren't sure until the last minute if Lisey was going to be able to get the time off of work for a quick trip, but her boss said yes. Yay!!
For both my pinning and the graduation ceremony, my favorite part was doing the processional and recessional with all my classmates. Walking with a big group of fellow students, to inspiring music...I kind of wanted to it to go on forever. 😉
And I got the brief and delightful moment of having my 4.0 officially recognized when I walked the stage.
My actual diploma will be mailed to me, so this is just an empty placeholder for now.
The day after graduation, Mia took some pictures for me, which is such an improvement over my usual option of iPhone selfies. 🙂
These scrubs were a gift from a reader who was decluttering some of her scrub collection...thank you Ali!
I did a very small modification to my graduation cap.
And I think I'm gonna put my cap on my office wall.
It feels slightly defiant, slightly triumphant, and extremely satisfying. 😉
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you for cheering me on, for listening to my endless nursing school tales, and for encouraging me.
I looked at the huge graduation hall and smiled to think that if all of us got together, you guys would more than fill every seat.
I am so lucky to be loved and supported by all of you, and I cannot say thank you enough.
I thought back to this picture from three years ago:
and I want to tell 2022 Kristen: It's gonna be ok.
You're gonna be ok.
In fact, you'll be more than ok.
Everything IS gonna be all right.
And now it's time to take care of patients. Which was the whole point in the first place. 😉
P.S. Tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the U.S. and I'll be at the hospital for a tech shift. Sooo, I'll see you back here on Tuesday!
Such a wonderful post to read Kristen! Hugest congratulations! You have worked so hard for this under very difficult circumstances. Lovely photos to treasure forever. I hardly ever comment and I’ve never been first, but it is early evening in Australia. Enjoy your time with a special friend and family.
I’m so pleased for you! You look happy and confident. I also love the “I did it anyway”, as that’s the feeling that gets you through the tough times.
This week I received an award from a national industry body so I am Professional of the Year 2025! I was nervous and proud walking up on stage, and it was lovely to be recognised for my work.
Here’s to more great things.
Summa cum laude! You rock, Kristen. And lovely to see your girls celebrating your achievement - they look so much like my 19 year old. Another Australian reader here who finds you inspiring.
Congratulations!!!
amazing achievement!
You are rocking those scrubs!!
onwards!!
Kristen, those photos are so awesome!! Every one of them! Super incredibly happy for you!
I haven't mentioned this yet, but I *just* started my first class toward an MS, and I partly blame you (lol, I mean, am highly inspired by you!!).
Oh, this past week I got some Altras and my feet thank you for the recommendation (!!!). I had ongoing foot pain for a long time, despite trying other wide shoes, orthotics, visit to the podiatrist, etc. I still have really terrible feet, but these shoes have been wonderful. So thanks again for the rec!
Enjoy your weekend!
"Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation." (Robert H. Schuller) Congratulations, Kristen! Your diligence and perseverance got you through the hard work; your faith, hope and optimism carried you through all those semesters to your goal. Enjoy every moment of your celebration, and relive those feelings of achievement and success every time you pull on your scrubs.
So very excited for what your future holds! No one ever sets out in life and thinks they will be the one to have a broken marriage, struggles with child/parent relationships, financial difficulties/ruin, but it happens. Your positivity and goal focus has proven you can fight back, you can persevere and you can overcome, and do MORE!
You ARE worthy and deserve every CONGRATULATIONS, every cord and every high five you have earned. I have NO doubt there are readers who have never typed a word back to you that have looked up to you for what you have been transparent about, that have taken strength from your words and hopefully and used that to fight for their worth!
You did it anyway! The best is yet to come!
That is always my hope; that telling my story will help someone else, even if I never hear about it. 🙂
Soooo excited and proud for you! You have worked so hard while going through so much personal grief and garbage.
I love the cap wording. 🙂
You have been such an inspiration and strength for me. I know exactly the depths of sadness/despair you reflected in that 2022 photo. I’m so sorry for anyone who has those feelings, but looking at the rest of the photos in this post will give anyone in that position so much hope! Your joy is palpable and I’m just thrilled for you that your girls witnessed this and can share in your success! So much love to you!
Sending you love because I know you have walked a similar road. We can do hard things and we can come out on the other side!
Whoo hoo! Congratulations! You stuck with it even when the going was rough and you have come out the other side stronger, smarter and with much compassion. Blessings to you as you start this next part of your journey.
Kristen, each and every one of your pictures is filling me with joy. Love that you had your loved ones with you, what you put on your cap, and that the stethoscope is in the shape of a heart - how fitting for you. It's been an honor to be a part of your journey. Now I can only pray that I'll get you for my nurse someday (it's possible!). Blessings.
Thank you for sharing. It's wonderful to see you so accomplished and happy. I'm glad you persevered and you totally rocked it. Congrats!
Congratulations! You worked so hard and have done great things a you’ll be a great nurse! I’m so glad you got to celebrate this milestone with your classmates and daughters and friends.
Congratulations!!!
YAAAAYYYY!!! These photos so perfectly capture your joy. I was smiling through the whole post. So proud of you and excited for you to start your career and vocation as a true nurse.
P.S. I must note that the pronunciation guide to your name on the graduation card has an "i"in the second syllable. Ahem. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, lol!
I knowww. I actually had to write a phonetic pronunciation of my name for this card, so I'm the one that spelled it that way. And as I said my name aloud to figure out how best to write it phonetically, I realized that I do say it with more of an I sound.
I think the name Steven is also that way; it's spelled with an E before the N, but we tend to pronounce it Stevin. Ha.
@Kristen, in Danish the e at the end of a word often sounds like an a, so people frequently call me Sophia! They would argue it sounds different to an a, but don't get me started on Danish vowels 😉
@kristin @ going country, I saw that too 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
I was very surprised to read that too. I thought it was pronounced with a schwa - unaccentuated.
But I appreciate that they have taken the effort to pronounce names correctly.
@Kristen, perhaps east coast folks do but it it is "en" here in the midwest.
Congratulations!! Such lovely pictures of your family and friends, and of course you too!
Thank you for sharing your graduation with all of us. I'm so happy for you. (No one else was around so I high-fived my neighbor's cat. He's happy for you too!)
Hehe, tell the cat thank you from me. 🙂
Wooohoooo!
Well done, Kristen—for all of it, not just graduation. Your joy makes my heart burst with happiness and hope!
Cheering you on from Denmark! Congratulations, Kristen! You are incredible!!!
The contrast between the graduation photos and the 2022 photo just says it all. Hearty congratulations, once again.
Im so thrilled for you!! Im excited we can continue to follow your adventures as you embark on your new career! Congratulations!!
This is just amazing. It feels so cliche to say "you lived like no one else so now you get to live like no one else", but that's the truth. You are reaping what 2022 Kristen sowed! Congrats on all of your hard work, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.
The best is yet to be!
What a joyful post! I wish you the best on your next leg on the incredible journey of life. Never let anyone or anything dull your sparkle. Congratulations!
Congratulations!! Such a BIG achievement accomplished with hard work, determination, and grace! Thanks for taking us along on the journey.
wonderful pictures!! You deserve all of the happiness in the world. And yes, You Did It!!
Congratulations!! It’s been fun watching you reach your goals! You are going to be a fantastic nurse
Hearty congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! So happy for you.
Congratulations! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY FOR YOU!
So nice to see you celebrate a great accomplishment with family and friends. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Yay Kristen!!! Thank you for taking us in this journey with you. You are an inspiration!!!! Love love love! Sending you all the love!!!
Congratulations, Kristen!!! I’m so very happy for you and for everyone who you will be helping in the future!
Horray!
Thank you for sharing your grad photos with us! I love the idea of putting your cap on the wall, and I love the message. Yes, you did it anyway! And you should put your Honor Society cord up there with the cap. Not only did you do it, but you did it with extreme excellence. Summa Cum Laude!!!!!!!!!!!!4.0 GPA!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you! What a role model you are for others! Maybe you should write this up for "Chicken Soup for the Soul" or a similar book, publication, or another such website, so other people (esp. "displaced homemakers") facing huge obstacles will know yes, it CAN be done. Oh, your post today brings us all great joy! (BTW, did you add the wording on your cap before or after the ceremony?)
I cannot lie, I did feel VERY satisfied to see the Summa Cum Laude. 🙂
Aww, Kristen! You look so happy and proud, and you deserve every bit of that pride and joy! Congratsies!
Congratulations! So much hard work and sacrifice! You deserve this joyous time! Wishing you all the best!!!
Congratulations!!
OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW! WOO HOO! You did it! OF COURSE you did! BIG HUGE CONGRATULATIONS as you begin a very exciting time of your life!!!!!!!
You look so beautiful and happy! Congrats again!
Kristen,
Congratulations! This is a wonderful and inspiring accomplishment. You've done yet another Really Hard Thing.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend of celebrations! You deserve it.
Kristin (longtime reader, infrequent commenter)
The more Kristins/Kristens, the merrier. 😉
Thank you!
Congratulations, Kristen! I'm so happy for you! Your patients will be so blessed by your care for them! Go crush your calling!
Congratulations! So inspiring and such a good reminder. This too shall pass. <3
Love everything about this post!! Huge congratulations to you & I adore what you added to your cap. So true!!
Congrats Kristin!
I’m mostly a lurker but just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to you! You did it. And you have encouraged countless people along the way. I am so honored to have been able to follow along for the last several years. Thank you for being so vulnerable along the way! And enjoy your relative freedom ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
It always makes me smile when someone delurks; yay! Thank you for taking the time to cheer me on.
CONGRATULATIONS! So proud of you
Congratulations! What an amazing accomplishment!
Congratulations! You look positively radiant and beaming! Enjoy your achievements!
When I left and filed for divorce under similar circumstances and went to nursing school a good friend sent me this quote; you’ve probably seen it but I wanted to send it anyway to remind you that you are inspiring other women in similar situations:
“One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” – Brene Brown
Yes, yes, exactly. When we walk a path and we talk about it, we can help people who are behind us on that path. 🙂
@Melissa, @Kristen - she forgot to make it clear that in no way, shape, or form was it your (or the someone else's) fault.
YAY KRISTEN!!!!!
I have never commented before, but have been following your journey and was so excited to see the grad photos. Congratulations on your huge achievement, Kristen!
This brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations lovely lady.
Yayyyyyyyyyy Kristen !!!! Thank you so much for sharing this. This inspired me today .
I'm so, so happy and proud of you!
Also 2022 Kristen to 2025 Kristen made me tear up a little bit. Such a good reminder that it'll all be okay.
You have worked so hard and come so far. Congratulations!! Your future is bright!
Congratulations, Kristen! So nice to see you so happy!! ❤️ I think a lot of people give up on themselves (and understandably - life is hard!), but there’s always an opportunity to make things better. And you not only made things better, but you did a very big thing! You have a whole new career ahead of you and it looks like you’ve made some amazing friendships along the way, too.
Congrats!! Super happy for you!
The before and after pics say it all. Huge kudos to you!
Congratulations! The photos are great. Yes, put that cap on your wall!
You look so very happy:)
I love absolutely everything about this post.
Those purple scrubs are so flattering and I just LOVE all the photos you have of your special day. It's also the first time I've seen a stethoscope fashioned into a heart. What a great idea.
I think it's wonderful how thoroughly you've embraced these celebrations. Why not lean in and squeeze every ounce of joy and happiness out of these moments. I think that is such a powerful example you're setting for others around you, especially women who have overcome tremendous adversity.
Congratulations <3
How can I get on your email lust?
Hi Vickie! There's a form right here that you can use to sign up to get free email notifications when there's a new blog post up: https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/subscribe/
woo-hoo!! Congratulations! Such great photos - You look so happy! and defiant, slightly triumphant, and extremely satisfied!!!! cheers!!
You did it!!!! Congratulations to making it to the other side of this long and effortful journey!
You look like a person who has had a happiness infusion. It's so wonderful to see where your determination and hard work have led you.
Haha, I love that way of phrasing it!
Woohoo! You look SO happy. Terrific pix! But now that you've graduated, I fear I'm gonna have post-graduation letdown (kinda like the day after Christmas 😉 )
NEVER FEAR. I still have the NCLEX coming up. And then my bachelor's degree. I'm not done. 😉
Congrats!! So happy for you!! I believe we are around the same age and this is just so inspiring to me. YAY for you taking control of your life and writing your next chapter. Wishing you all the best!
Congratulations, Kristen! I am so very happy for you!
I love all the pics, but especially where your head is thrown back and you are laughing. What a wonderful day for you. Congrats.
Thank you, Lindsey. <3
I hardly ever comment but wanted to say this post made me so happy…all the congrats to you!!!! You did it!!
It's making me smile to see how many people delurked on this post and recent ones to say congratulations. Thank you!
Sooo proud of you and soooooo encouraged by you!!
Well done!!
It IS going to be ok because you made it so. I'm so proud that you've taken charge of your life. Go you!
Awesome idea to hang your cap on your office wall!!!
Hooray! You are amazing, and we are so proud of you!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I knew you could do it—I never once doubted you could. 🙂
I especially love the "I did it anyway" on your hat. I've read some other things you've written, if you catch my drift, and I really, really appreciate that you chose that sentence. 😉
Congratulations! What beautiful pictures!
I didn't know I could be this happy for someone I've never met! Yay! Huzzah! Congrats! Well done! Soak it up and enjoy it - you truly earned it!
PS: You inspired me to make yogurt for the first time ever, and it turned out wonderfully! Yes another way you've enriched my life - thank you!
Congrats - 2022 Kristen was still drinking the Kool-Aid. Today's Kristen knows enough to spit it out. And for her daughters to be leery of Kool-Aid.
Well done!
The joy and love in this post just make my day! Warmest congratulations and all the best for your continued success.
So happy for you! Great photos. Wishing you all the best on your new career.
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you!
Congratulations, Kristen! I'm so happy for you and proud of you!
I love how your stethoscope is a heart - thanks Mia for the beautiful pictures! It also gives me great joy to see your girls growing up to be such strong beautiful women!
Congratulations! And you are such a brilliant role model for your daughters!
Congratulations!!!!!! Your posts have been inspiring......I wish more people had your mindset!!!!!
I've loved reading every word of your journey ❤️
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
You'll be 1 of nurses that everyone remembers for the best things.
God bless.
Immense Congratulations!
Kristen - Congratulations!! You’ve persevered through the storms of life & radiate confidence & delight in the pictures. I had the opportunity to see some members of your family this weekend & they were all so happy for you. We rejoiced together for what you have accomplished & we, your readers, look forward to seeing & hearing about the next chapters of your nursing journey. Kudos to Kristen!
CONGRATULATIONS!! What amazing pictures and also, how wonderful that so many of the people you love were able to be there for this milestone event that you have worked so, so hard for.
Thrilled for you, well done!
Well done!
Congratulations!
Sending you big, big congrats, Kristen! I'm a professor and I love going to graduation to celebrate with my students, so many of whom have overcome just SO SO MUCH to walk across that stage - just like you! (Funny note, I didn't go to my own college graduation, so I make up for it now by going to one every year, ha!) Hope you're having a great shift today at the hospital and enjoy the little respite before you dive into full time nursing in August!
I have tears in my eyes—happy tears—throughout this post. This is what you’ve been waiting for and so have we. But, my goodness, you overachieved! Summa cum laude, big smiles, family and friends all around, and in fabulous shape. Your new life. I really appreciate the comparison image from 2022, wow. What a difference a few years and a graduation makes. Most joyful post ever. Many congratulations on all of it.
Congratulations Kristen! Got tears in my eyes reading this post. You are going to make so, so many people feel so, so well cared for. You go girl!!!
I love happy endings. Of course, this is not the ending but the beginning. We just attended a grandson's high school graduation . The class was enormous and like you, I was thrilled to see the procession and hear the music. To me it represented so much hard work and so many possibilities just waiting to be chosen.
Félicitations, Kristen!!
Love the pics! Congrats x 1000!
Congratulations!! I’m teary eyed and so happy for you!!
Well earned congratulations to you. Your friend is a great photographer!
Congratulations!!! I just went back and read your March 30, 2022 post, What Do I Even Title This A Hard Life Update. When I read it on that day, I remember feeling like I was hit with a bucket of ice water and I felt sad and not at all hopeful. Even though you said "And I know that whatever my future looks like, I will be ok. God will take care of me, and there will always be people around to support me." The truth of those words has been evident from March 31, 2022. Kristen, I'm so happy for your patients who will thrive under the care of the nurse with a big heart and the eagerness to help them get better. This is more than making lemonade from lemons. This is light and love chasing away darkness.
Aww, thank you, friend!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this ALL sooooo much! What a huge inspiration you are to your daughters, your family, your friends and all of us! YOU GO, GIRL!! So dang proud of you!!
I love the picture of you throwing your cap in the air, it reminds me of Mary Tyler Moore, “ I’m gonna make it after all!”
PS, I Love your shoes!
Shine on, Kristen!
I'm so so so happy for you!
Congratulations. It's so wonderful to see you so joyous.
YOU DID IT!!!!
Congratulations! I'm a professor of math at a CC (and I teach a lot of nurses in our BSN transition program--they all need stats!). Graduation is one my favorite parts of the year--I always volunteer to help with line up. For the majority of time, I lined up students, adjusted robes, and gave thumbs up. Now, I do the same for faculty (who are totally worse to wrangle 🙂 ). You did it and you did it well!
CONGRATULATIONS! thank you for sharing your pictures. I liked all of them but I especially liked the last 2,,,,sheer joy. Which is so appropriate after all your discipline and hard work.
Speaking of pictures I couldn't stop looking at Zoe and how grown up she seems. I started reading your bog when she was so little. Time really is passing and you are going in a great direction.
Beautiful, joyful post! Congratulations on a job superbly done!!
CONGRTULATIONS! You put in the work and it paid off! Job well done!
Huge congrats. ❤️
Somehow I missed this til now! Congratulations, Kristen! I'm so happy for you! Glad your family got to take part on your special day to celebrate your achievement! Let your new life begin!
Wow! Congratulations! And yes! We would have all been there if we could. I left my first marriage over 30 years ago, returned to college and now have my masters in social work and an amazing new hubby and child. It is indeed OK! Reach for those stars!
Congratulations! Of course you could do it!!!
Onward and Upward, it only gets better from here.
Amazing and happy news! Well done!!
Love, love, love this!! It's been so fun to watch your journey through nursing school and see how you've thrived! You are a rock star! Congratulations on all of your success!! (Also, that purple looks great on you!)
Congrats and well done! So glad your two girls could be there to share in your happy moment. Can't wait to hear about your next adventure in nursing.
Hugs!
Coleen
Kristen, I am so, so happy for you! A heartfelt congratulations!! YOU DID IT!
A beautiful post. Brought me to tears. Your girls are lovely. You look fantastic
You’ve come a long way baby! ( a catch phrase from Virginia Slims ladies cigarettes from back in the day). Many congratulations!
Congratulations, Ms. Summa Com Laude! You have done a wonderful job and you will be a needed and appreciated member of the medical community. The field is always changing, improving and you will be a positive part of that!
All best wishes as you continue in your chosen, fascinating field!
So very happy for you and you should be proud of yourself!!!!
Congratulations, Kristen! Thanks for the graduation photos!
YOU DID IT! Is it weird that I am proud of someone I never met? 😉
You have done well, and have earned ALL the hearty congratulations that the world can give!!! You are going to be an awesome RN, and I can only wish to have someone like you as a nurse if I am ever in the hospital again! "Well done You"
Thank you, and no, it doesn't feel at all weird to me! I've been so proud of internet friends too.
I cried as I read this! I'm so proud of you - I never went to college, but my children did (one RN, NP) and I know how hard you worked to get here! congratulations!!! You Go Girl!!
Awwww, thank you!
Woot!!!!
thanks for the pictures. they are terrific. you look over the moon as you should. so glad your family was there.
Dear Kristen,
I have been reading your blog since your children were very young. I wanted to tell you from the bottom of my heart- congratulations! You're joyous pictures say it all. It was all worth it. What a wonderful role model you are for your daughters and peers. Undoubtably, you will positively impact the lives of many patients with your knowledge, skills, empathetic attitude. You really understand how a few comforting words or a smile can help a person. My best wishes for you and your nursing future!
Oh yes, yes to the comforting words and smiles. I see this in action all the time at the hospital and they do make such a world of difference for people. It's the non-medical side of medicine. 🙂
Big congratulations to you, Kristen! You did it! And you did it well!
Yay Kristen!! This post brought tears of joy for you!
Huge CONGRATULATIONS! I almost never post, but I’ve been following your blog almost since the beginning. I’m SO HAPPY for you- even shedding a happy tear.
I graduated from nursing school at 36 and I so remember that incredible feeling. YOU DID IT!
I cried reading this. Congratulations!!! Such a well deserved accomplishment.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! So very happy for you!!
Hip, hip, hooray for you! I've loved watching your confidence bloom over the years. I agree, Pomp and Circumstance is a very inspiring marching tune. Heard it twice in two weeks time with both kids getting their Masters.
Wishing you the best of luck in your new career.
Oh my goodness! I love this post! You made me cry! Once again, congratulations!
Congrats!!! So happy for you and glad to see you looking so joyful! You will make a wonderful nurse. 🙂
Congratulations!
Doggonit, you made me cry at work!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations! I'm proud of you!
Rock Star! Congrats on graduation, glad you got to walk with your class and celebrate your amazing accomplishment!
You are radiant! I am so happy for you.
Yippee! Happy for you
You go, girl!!!
I can’t even hear that graduation tune, Pomp and Circumstance, without crying.
And summa cum laude, too - wow!! We're thrilled for you, Kristen, and yes, you know if we were all there we'd fill up every seat. 🙂 All of us, so happy for you, so proud of you!
I'm so proud of you!
Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you!
Congratulations Kristen! You are so inspiring and got beautiful pictures.
Congrats!!! Don't let anyone stand in the way of your dreams! 🙂
You radiate joy! Your patients will be lucky to have you.
Congratulations! What an awesome achievement!
So thrilled for you, you are a superstar
SO SO proud of you!!
Yes, Mia does take good photos (I may be a bit biased on that one 🙂 ).
Congratulations! It's wonderful to see all your hard work pay off!
I'm curious about the phonetic pronunciation of your name on the placeholder card. Do you provide that in advance? Seems like a great idea but I've never seen it at another graduation -- although I haven't been to one for quite a few years.
Yes, they had us all write a phonetic pronunciation of our names so that there was at least a fighting chance that the announcer would get them right! 😉
Yeah so happy for you to be graduating, no not happy but proud of you for doing it!! What a jouney it has been, but you pursued your dream and finished in flying colors with such good grades!!! Now to make you some good money and do the things you want in life without regrets!! I am so happy for you, again.
AWESOME ACHIEVEMENT KRISTEN! CONGRATULATIONS! A JOB WELL DONE!
Thank you!
Good job Kristen!!! A long-time follower, first time commenter. So proud for you, go out and take care of folks that need a smiling, caring RN!
Congratulations!
Wonderful photos, you look radiant! Congratulations on your amazing achievement!
Also, I love how they wrote out how to properly pronounce your name. I live in Europe where names often are butchered and I love acknowledging the correct way to say a name even if it is not one that the dominant culture is familiar with (I guess it is less of an issue with your name, but still).
Yes, they had us all submit a pronunciation of our names to help out the announcers!
And thank you. 🙂
Congratulations!