Pomp and Circumstance

Every year, another rite of spring comes to pass. And today is no exception. I received invitations to attend my alma mater's commencement exercises for my grad school and my undergrad college. I called some of my close friends and some of them are going. Even my best friend in college is going. And so, I will go. I am really looking forward to it for some reason.

I still remember that fateful day in spring... Everyone was excited. In one place. And wearing those black gowns. I remember my grad school ceremony better as it was more dramatic. There was a "hood" ceremony as opposed to none for my undergrad. Unfortunately, nursing has one of the most innocuous colors: apricot; which was this pale peach kind of a non-color, really. Who decided this color? ACE is to be blamed as they are the ones who "standardized" these colors. I also know that my gown had the velvet orange, white and blue for the hood facing and the facing for the gown was velvet apricot. And so was the tassel. I also had gold honors cords; it was a pretty funky color combination. And then that music starts... Who decided that "Pomp and Circumstance" will be de rigueur music at this time? Nevertheless, it imbues a certain drama to the ceremony. Along with the good ol' college march and fight songs, there are no other pieces of music that evoke memories of time spent in the academe. And one by one, the names are called. Magister Scientiae Altrixis... No words will ever surpass those after my name was called for it was a validation of all the hard work and sacrifices that I did.

The one thing that I remember most from the commencement speaker at my first commencement exercise was this: "Now you can begin to forget almost everything that you have learned in nursing school. Everything you need to succeed you will learn from the people whom you will meet in your daily interactions as a "nurse". It doesn't matter to your future patient the meaning of those complex medical terms or whether the economy of a third-world country should matter. What matters is your compassion and your ability to make him feel better. Nursing is not an exact science; what works for one does not work for another. It is the "humanness" of this noble profession that sets it apart from the others. It is also this "humanness" that makes it the perfect salve for this imperfect, diseased world." Or words to that effect.

How true. With advances in technology and people living longer than ever before, nursing has become an endless pursuit of continuing education. Nevertheless, the basics remain the same: to alleviate pain and suffering, to comfort the dying and to grieve with the living.