"At last we are here celebrating the Associates Degree of Nursing graduates of 2023, its been a long hard few years for these students facing all the challenges and falling back behind on some things due to the world wide pandemic that lasted 3 long years, I want to say as your director I am so proud of each and every one of you." I sighed, this graduation cap keeps slipping off my head pulling my hair because of the bobbypins holding them in place. I uncrossed my legs flatting out my gown and recrossing them 'Do these things always take this long?' I thought to myself. "Alex Galloway has maintained a 4.0 all year and was picked to speak today, give her a warm welcome." Director Eli spoke with a booming voice. Many clapped some had shouted, making me way more nervous than I should be.
I walked with my head high and reached the mic, wiping my hands on my gown and looked up. " When I walked through those doors 2 years ago I did not imagine I would've made it this far." I heard the crack in my voice and I froze. 'Come on Alex keep it together.' I thought hastily. "I am going to be real honest with you guys, I didn't make a speech to bore you into eternity, I have come here today to say, I am foremost proud of the people I have worked alongside for two years, we have come so far and done so well I can't help to say, I will miss every one of you. So to keep it short and simple, are you ready to get on and see what good we are capable to achieve in this world or what?" I smile and people clapped and gave me a few shouts. "Without further due, congratulations to the class of 2023!"
I released my cap from my hair and threw it up in the air and many followed after, the cap, felt foreign in my fingers, but once it glided out of my hand I felt free, I felt confident. Today was the day I thought was going to be amazing, but it all changed in one moment.
"Alex!" yelled my best friend Marley, she ran up to me embracing me in a huge hug. "We did it! Aren't you excited?" I smiled at her and I nodded. "Of course I am excited, I was about 10 seconds away from dropping out, this was was harder than I could ever imagine." She laughed and shook her head at me.
I walked up to my parents, their eyes are gleaming with pride and I can't help to feel my heart warm up with affection. "Hi momma, hi dad!" I embraced them with a big hug. Without them, I would not be here having my ADN. I am more thankful for them pushing me to get the hell out of this small town.
"Honey, we are so proud of you!" my mom put her hands on both sides of my face squeezing my cheeks. "You can no longer tell me you haven't achieved anything in your life, my little girl is grown up and now is going to be a nurse!" she squeals. I smile my eyes filling with tears. "Momma, I couldn't of done none of this without you and dad." she looks at me with wide eyes and grabs her chest and falls to the ground, "MOM!" I scream, bending down to feel her pulse was thready, making me panic. "Mom, are you okay tell me what is going on?" she looks at me and kept grabbing her chest. "I can't breathe." she says so silently. "Call 911 tell them that her pulse is thready and her breathing is at 10 respirations a minute." I was frantic, dad was just staring at me hoping I could do something, but I froze. Everything was in slow motion, my heart was thumping slow and everyone was around me, staring, watching my every move. I need a minute to think. I looked down at mom, she is no longer breathing. "Shit, shit, shit." I said nervously. I got on top of her folding my hands one topping the other starting compressions. "Where the hell is that ambulance?" I yell.
One, two, three.
Breathe.
One, two, three.
Breathe.
One, two, three.
Breathe.
I sweep my hair out of my face, leaning down to see if she is breathing. I listened and I heard a small breath leave her lips, her eyes opened just slightly. " I knew you can do it." she rasped out. I heard the ambulance pull up and the weight lifted off my shoulders.
"Ma'am, I'm going need you to move from your mother for a moment, I need to hook her up to the machines okay?" I looked up and was met with caramel brown eyes. "Yeah, of course. Make sure to take care of her." I said a lot harsher than I meant it to come out.
"Dad, go ahead and ride with mom, I'll meet you there." I said softly, seeing his eyes soften, he grabbed me into a hug. "Baby, I am so proud of you." I smiled and mentally patted myself on the back. "Okay, get going I'll meet you there, I love you." He nods and climbs into the back of the ambulance and they take off.
I took a deep breath in, running my hands through my hair.
I look up around me and see all my familiar classmates staring at me, "I am okay, everyone continue on with this special day." I said smiling sadly.
Director Eli makes his way through the crowd.
"Well, I know this was a very scary moment for every, but this is what the real world is. Alex, I want to tell you, you responded amazingly." Eli spoke with awe.
"I mean, it was either I saved her or I let her die, and to be quite frank, I'll be damned if my mom died on my watch. So I have you to thank for making sure I was going to do my best as a nurse out in the real world. Thank you." I looked at everyone and nodded, headed out of the cafeteria.
Cheers to 2023, I guess.
