Victoria University Polytechnic Graduation 2023
On Tuesday, 28 March 2023, I attended the Victoria University Polytechnic graduation.
It was held in the morning at Flemington Racecourse, a beautiful venue. On the racecourse, the horses were doing their last laps and the roses still in bloom were edging the greens. In the middle of the course, a large billboard read, “Congratulations, Victoria University Graduates”.
Inside, the graduands were getting gowned. I took a walk inside the gowning room; the mood was electric. There was a mixed aroma of freshly brewed coffee and fresh bouquets that, at 8:30 am, was most inviting.
Graduates were posing for photos with proud mums and dads. Amongst the crowd of black gowns and coloured sashes, I found some of my former students sipping on large cups of coffee as if to get some courage. They were ecstatic, delighted to be there.
Graduation is a unique and wonderful event. It represents success, completion, closure, and the beginning of a new phase. It is a time of congratulations and celebrations and a time to wish graduates well on their journey.
Of the Diploma of Nursing students at the graduation, all were now doing something exciting. Some had commenced the Bachelor of Nursing at Victoria University, one was studying Social Work at Deakin University and others were enrolled in graduate programs or working in their chosen areas of nursing. As they approached the end of their course, most were uncertain about their future, but now, they have achieved their dreams.
Among the guests was Marie, a former student whose son also graduated that day. Although Marie and I have kept in touch through social media, I have not seen Marie since 2011, when she completed the Transition Program in the Diploma of Nursing at Victoria University. Since then, she has completed the Bachelor of Nursing and is now well-established in her nursing career. It was wonderful to see her again. So many years have passed, but for me, it seemed like only yesterday when Marie was pondering on whether or not to continue with her studies.
Meeting with past students and seeing how much they have achieved is always a privilege. Often, I have a feeling of standing still while students have moved on to a different level. The more I think of this, the more I see it as my goal: to teach, support, inspire, and guide students to follow their hearts and reach for the stars.
Congratulations to all graduates and to the nursing graduates: welcome to the field.
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