Wait....I have to graduate?

In case you are new to this here blog, I have been in college for 5 1/2 years. I started out as an elementary education major and then, at the end of sophomore year, I switched back to nursing as my major (I applied to Luther as a nursing major). I will complete nursing school next Wednesday afternoon. One week from today. 5 1/2 years of my life coming to a close.

Don't get me wrong - I am psyched to be done with classes, homework, papers, living in the middle of nowhere Iowa. I am not so psyched to have to leave my nursing family. Can they just follow me around & work with me for the rest of my life???

This past Saturday morning was the Nursing Pinning ceremony for the December graduates. There are only 4 of us out of 26. Needless to say, we are all super close. And it was crazy that 4 of us are basically done (granted we pass our finals, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there...).

The familia. We used this for our Christmas card (to come later...)

My aunt and godmother was able to come down as well. Her daughter (my cousin) graduated from Luther in Nursing in 2003.

One of my best friends from Luther: freshman roommate, senior roommate, & Luther nurse, Megan. She came down to support me after working ALL NIGHT! 

My two best friends since 9th grade, Beth & Sarah, were able to come down as well. So sweet of them!

We chose Jayme, our pharmacology and senior Med/Surg professor and clinical instructor to give the benediction. She is famous for her crazy stories from all her nursing experiences. She talked about how it is time for us to create our own stories now. I definitely got a little choked up towards the end!

I chose my academic advisor and Pediatric professor and clinical instructor, Corine, to pin me. She has been such a big support for me in the nursing program since she was there since the beginning. And she's written countless references for me. I was talking with her after the ceremony and she told me that the professors in Rochester (where we worked last year) really miss our class and she enjoys writing my references because they are so easy. Aw!

A close up of my pin. Hopefully I get a chance to buy it in May! Super expensive! 

From left: Will, Kelly, myself, & Hannah. All of us December grads aka the cool kids.

Myself and Corine

Our Monday Med/Surg clinical group with Jayme. Seriously, the best clinical group I have ever been a part of. We are so close and I'm so, so sad to have to leave these girls. We enjoy getting to work together and we do it so well. 

Hannah and I. The only 2 of the December grads to take every single senior class in one semester. We went crazy, but WE DID IT!

Megan aka one of the sweetest girls I know. Always so positive and fun to be around!

Mallory and I. We were table buddies up in Rochester for class everyday.

Our nursing family. Except for 4 people who couldn't make it. The best group of people I could have ever asked to be a part of. We have unconditional love and support for each other and I don't think I could have made it these last 2 years without this group. I'm gonna miss them all SO MUCH.

 But really, we're just a bunch of goofballs.

We had to recreate our goofy picture from the nursing banquet where Will stood way off to the side. Except this time we all said "Everyone look at Will." Too funny.

And we found out yesterday afternoon that the first of us got a job offer! Kelly received a formal invitation to the nurse residency program at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. So proud of her! We're going out for celebratory drinks on Friday!

I love these goofballs!!