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So, I graduated!

You guys! I wore my cap and gown!

Kristen in cap and gown.

I have never been so excited to wear what is essentially a weird hat and a muumuu.

Kristen in graduation gown.

I gave my three tickets to my friend Mia (who is also a divorced single mom with an RN)…

Mia and chiquita.

Kristen and Mia.

And also to these two girlies:

Lisey and Zoe.

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!!

Lisey and Zoe

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. 😉

Kristen and classmate.

And I got the brief and delightful moment of having my 4.0 officially recognized when I walked the stage.

Kristen's name card.

My actual diploma will be mailed to me, so this is just an empty placeholder for now.

Kristen holding diploma.

Kristen in cap and gown.

The day after graduation, Mia took some pictures for me, which is such an improvement over my usual option of iPhone selfies. 🙂

Kristen holding stethoscope.

These scrubs were a gift from a reader who was decluttering some of her scrub collection…thank you Ali!

Kristen in purple scrubs.

Kristen in purple scrubs.

Kristen in purple scrubs.

I did a very small modification to my graduation cap.

Kristen in grad gown.

And I think I’m gonna put my cap on my office wall.
Kristen holding grad cap.

It feels slightly defiant, slightly triumphant, and extremely satisfying. 😉

Kristen grad cap.

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:

A sad Kristen.

and I want to tell 2022 Kristen: It’s gonna be ok.

Kristen in purple scrubs.

You’re gonna be ok.

Kristen holding stethoscope.

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!

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Lee

Saturday 7th of June 2025

Congratulations!

Maggie

Friday 6th of June 2025

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).

Kristen

Friday 6th of June 2025

Yes, they had us all submit a pronunciation of our names to help out the announcers!

And thank you. :)

Rebbie

Monday 2nd of June 2025

Congratulations!

Diane

Saturday 31st of May 2025

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!

Bridgette Gauthier

Friday 30th of May 2025

AWESOME ACHIEVEMENT KRISTEN! CONGRATULATIONS! A JOB WELL DONE!

Kristen

Friday 30th of May 2025

Thank you!

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