An MGCCC Nursing graduate holds her lamp during graduation ceremonies July 21 at the JC Campus.
The first paragraph of the Vocational Nurse’s Pledge reads, “I solemnly pledge myself, before God, and in the presence of this assembly, to the ideals and purposes of Practical Nursing.”
With that in mind, 75 nursing students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College took that pledge and graduated at the Practical Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony July 21 at the college’s Jackson County Campus. Hundred’s of family members and friends attended the college’s first-ever ceremony featuring students from the JC Campus, the Jefferson Davis Campus, and the George County Center all graduating at the same time.
“Unless you’ve been through it, you don’t know how tough this program really is,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “If I’m ever in the hospital, I want to be in your care.”
Amy Redd, a Registered Nurse and former Gulf Coast graduate, served as the keynote speaker and urged the graduating class to continue down the road toward a career in nursing despite the many challenges along the way.
“I applaud each of you for persevering and getting to this point,” Redd said. “When times get tough, don’t throw in the towel just because the plan doesn’t go like you think it should.”
During the ceremony, graduates received their nursing pins and lamps, which were lit symbolizing Florence Nightingale’s efforts to care for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War.
“At first, I was going to be an English major,” said Michael Hogg, who attended nursing classes at the college’s George County Center. “But I realized that would be what was easiest for me instead of something I actually wanted to do. My aunt mentioned nursing to me one day, and it was like a light clicked on in my head. I knew that was what I wanted to do.”
Although the program was difficult, graduates like Tamika Parnell said it was worth the endless hours of study time.
“It was a long year, but I made it through,” Parnell said. “The instructors I had at the JD Campus were wonderful, and they made sure we got the best education.”
Fellow graduate Lou Jones agrees. She used to be a waitress, but decided to enroll in nursing classes at the college’s JC Campus.
“The journey here was very long and tedious,” she said. “I’ve always been a people person. I was a waitress for years, but I decided I needed a career, not a job. I’m going to like this a lot.”
