Eric Pope's May 2016 Pinning Ceremony Speech
Eric Pope, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, gave the May 2016 Pinning Ceremony speech. He has graciously allowed us to share it with you.
My name is Eric Pope, and I am the comic relief for the May class of 2016. I’m also known as the hand-shake guy over at the hospital because I teach different handshakes to patients and their family members, which they all thoroughly enjoy.
I am honored to come and speak a few minutes for our pinning ceremony. It has been three long years since we started the nursing school journey, for some maybe even a little longer, but here we are. I want to say how truly wonderful this class of graduating nurses is as well. I wish I had words to describe how great they are, but words alone will do these people no justice. So please clap extra hard for them all when the time is right.
Raise your hand if you had a difficult time during nursing school. I imagine that would be everyone. At the beginning of our senior semester I found out I was going to be a father, and for months have been preparing to welcome a sweet baby, and now it’s just a couple weeks away.
Remember we’re going to have difficult days ahead, but never forget what it was like to be that student, how you felt uncomfortable, nervous and eager to learn. I’m sure most of us will train new nurses in the future, remember to treat them well.
As life would have it though, I lost my dad the first week into synthesis. Needless to say this was completely devastating to my family and me. I know there are others that have lost loved ones through this journey, and it wasn’t easy. We become close to the families and patients that we take care of, and I know there have been those here that lost patients, making a challenging job even more difficult. Remember to take time for yourself and the ones that are precious to you.
One of my precious friends Kyle Blevins told me that he wanted to talk to me and share some things. First he showed me the grieving process that we learned in school and I smiled and said that I have that covered, but he also shared with me a scripture that I’d like to share with you because I hope it will help you the way it continues to help me. Eph. 5:15 from the KJV bible reads: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” I’d like to focus on the word circumspectly.
In everything you do, whether it be the death of a loved one, a birth of loved one, a problem you’re facing, any situation you find yourself, any problem or issue, take three mental steps back and look at the situation circumspectly, that is, look at it from every possible angle. This may take longer for some situations, but leave nothing to chance and see the entirety of your life, at each moment, from every possible viewpoint and you’ll be sure to see things with a new perspective. I hope this helps you, as much as it did for me.
Admiral William McRaven - US Navy Seal spoke to the University of Texas graduating class of 2014 and there is something he said that I wanted to pass on.
Sharks – In the Seal Program there is a time when the trainee’s have to swim from San Clemente Island, which is the breeding water for the great white shark. They are taught if a shark circles your position, stand your ground, do not swim away, do not act afraid. And if the shark darts toward you for a late night snack, summon up your strength and punch it in the snout, and it will swim away. In the world there is a lot of sharks, don’t back down to them, and if needed, give them a hypothetical punch in the nose.
Hope – I served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005-2009 and was able to visit various places such as Japan, California and two tours to Iraq. I was in the gym a couple months back and saw on a television that ISIS members were driving around in American HMMWVs that were left behind. I lost some friends there and seeing the place go back to what it was before we intervened really upset me. I lost hope for a while that those friends of mine and others had lost their lives for no reason. Why else would things be the way they are over there –I lost hope, which is a terrible thing to lose.
But one of my Marine friends talked to me and helped me get my hope back.
He said that while we were there we had made a difference. No matter how small it may have been, at that time a difference was made. There may be times when things don’t go well for a patient whom you had been giving care to. Just remember to focus on small victories, and that you made a difference in that moment.
We are graduating with a baccalaureate degree in nursing – So now we will write BSN following our name instead of student NURSE. That’s really cool! There are some here that will plan to pursue more credentials soon, and if you’re like me, a little later. Some of you may become DNP’s, or CNE’s, CCRN, MSN, CRNA, FAAN… That’s really cool too, but I’d like to say something to you that my Papaw once shared with me.
In the military you wear a uniform and on some there are two name tapes. One is on the left and the other is on the right. The one on the left is the branch of service that person is in, the one on the right is the person’s last name. Likewise we have name badges that have our names on them and our credentials following after.
However, the credentials are not really who you are. Yes, I have a BSN degree and seek to further that, but I am really Eric Pope. My name is what I am remembered by and my actions. It’s great to have certifications, but remember the one thing that you will always have, you’ve had it since the day you were born – your name. No one can take your name away. No one can make your name better than you. No one earns your reputation, you do. When your name is mentioned, let it be above reproach, let it be associated with kindness, compassion, a little sassiness, sarcasm, humor, hope and love. This is what you will be known by, be proud of who you are and the name that was given to you.
Be distinguished by your character – never compromise your integrity.
An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it is going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming.
In the words of Mother Teresa: “Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don’t only give your care, but give your heart as well.”
