Words of Wisdom from the 2016 Commencement Speakers

As the summer heat climbs and the days grow long, we wish all Labouré students, faculty, and staff a restful and safe summer. 

For students who will be taking classes this summer, we know it will be doubly hard to resist the call of the beach and extra time with your families. Here is some inspiration from our student commencement speakers to help motivate you as you continue to dedicate yourselves to your goals.

Kellie McLaughlin, RN, BSN, 2016 valedictorian of the RN-BSN program

"In the Senior Capstone course, we were taught that, no matter what hand you are dealt with in your life, you will always have the opportunity to continue your education, as the learning process never stops. As the saying goes, “we learn something new every day,” and we are continuously participating in lifelong learning. Whether in a college classroom, online, or picking up strategies from your peers, there is always more to acquire...

If you were to ask me what my overall Labouré education has meant to me, I would tell you that it has meant the world to me and I am ever so thankful for this opportunity. As Steve Jobs once said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you love.” I love everything about being a nurse and I couldn’t be happier with my career choice. "

Deborah Beck, 2016 valedictorian of the Associates Degree program, with a degree in Radiation Therapy 

"As Radiation Therapists, we will be helping our patients battle cancer by administering life-saving radiation. The job requires an extreme attention to detail along with the technical skills needed to operate a linear accelerator, but it also much more than that. It requires a heart full of compassion and empathy. We see our patients on a daily basis and give them the strength and courage they need to complete their course of radiation. We celebrate with them on their good days and we try to lift them up on their bad days. I fell in love with this profession last summer during my clinical rotation in Plymouth. We were treating an elderly palliative patient, and, as the therapists, EMT’s, and I were moving him from the treatment couch back onto the stretcher, he stopped us and held out his hand to me. I took it and asked him if he was okay and he said he just wanted to thank me for my kindness. I was truly inspired by this gesture and determined to make a difference in all of my patients’ lives."

Happy summer learning, students!