My First Vietnamese Graduation Ceremony

 27 June 2024

Dear Friends and Family, 

"The" day has finally arrived and the campus has been buzzing with activity in preparation for graduation the university's first group of graduates!! Their theme for this year is: SOARING.  It truly is a historic milestone.  

There was a master and mistress of ceremonies so that the entire graduation was available in Vietnamese and English.  If the speaker presented in Vietnamese, a translation was available on the board and visa versa.  The young woman is wearing a traditional ao dai.  Young women wear white or pastel colors and as a woman gets older, tradition holds that the colors can be more vibrant.  The older women present wore their ao dai in a cacophony of colors.  Simply beautiful!!

Vin University has used one of my nursing student's picture to promote the event.  She is truly beautiful on the inside and outside and seriously smart.  She plans on taking the NCLEX and relocating for a time to the US to work.  I certainly hope so.  It would be a joy to have her join us in the US, knowing that she will return a leader of Vietnam's nursing profession.  

There was a great deal of pomp and circumstance at graduation.  The speakers included the university President, the Provost (who was the former dean of the College of Health Professions at Oregon State University), representatives from U. Penn and Cornell- which are the two Ivy League schools which helped Vin University develop from the ground up.  A very impressive speaker was Prof. Sir David Payne, a pioneer in fiber optics and internationally recognized researcher. What is amazing to consider is that a mere 6 years ago, this area was all farmland!  No campus, no homes, no businesses. 

In Vietnam, celebrating events with flowers is the norm and graduation did not disappoint. 

Dozens of large stands of bouquets encircled the auditorium entrance. They had a photo op set up for grads and families. 

I sat with the Faculty of Nursing.  This pic is with the people that I worked with last summer and this summer.  Such a great group of people who genuinely care about the students and the future of nursing in Vietnam.  They are all distinguished individuals in their own right. 

While my time at Vin University has come to a close for this trip, my writings will not stop.  Actually, I plan to get caught up on stories that I've not yet shared.  When will I return to this magical place?  God guides my feet and my path.  We will see!

Peace to All,

Karen