Overheard on Commencement Weekend
The May 9 commencement ceremony at Municipal Auditorium was the culmination of a weekend’s worth of activity.
The day before, master’s and doctoral students at the University were honored in ceremonial hooding ceremonies, while Bachelor of Science in nursing graduates received pins, a tradition dating back to Florence Nightingale.
At each ceremony, students were invited to speak. Here are some of our favorite quotes:
“Getting here took arduous work. It meant long nights studying for difficult exams and many moments of questioning ourselves. We showed up when we felt confident and when we didn’t, when sessions fell short of our expectations and when progress felt slow.
“Through it all, we learned that becoming a clinician was never about getting everything right. It was about getting better-better at listening, better at adapting, and better at seeing the whole person.”
Carly Kiesling, Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
“The world we return to today is not waiting to celebrate us. It is fractured, loud, anxious, and weary. Division often replaces dialogue, and cynicism can feel safer than hope. Genuine leadership has never been more challenging or more necessary in our lifetime.
“We did not come here just for a credential. We came because something within us refused to remain small. We believed, even when it was inconvenient or costly, that knowledge is a responsibility, not just a reward. You are not leaving with only a degree. You are leaving with a mandate.”
Christopher Edwards, Executive Master of Business Administration
“This doctoral journey has been our own personal roller coaster. There were exhilarating climbs where we felt on top of the world, and there were those sudden, heart-in-your-throat drops that made us question everything. There were twists and turns we never saw coming and moments we just had to close our eyes and hold on tight. But we didn’t ride this coaster alone. We had an incredible support system.”
Ashley Ray, Doctor of Education
“To my fellow graduates: it has been an honor to walk this journey alongside you. The dedication, compassion, and resilience I have seen in this group gives me so much hope for the future of healthcare.
“To our faculty and mentors: thank you for guiding us through this journey. Thank you for challenging us to think critically, to ask better questions, and to become not just knowledgeable providers, but compassionate ones as well.”
Jessica Besgrove, Master of Science in Nursing
“For these are the hands of a nurse, the hands of a person that does a job that not everyone can do. These are the hands of a nurse, the hands of strength compassion and love These are the hands of a nurse, These are my hands.”
Destiny Combs and Carrie Wilson, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, reading "Reflections on the Hands of a Nurse," by Mark Darby
