"go get them, kid"

All 26 of them stood in a single file line infront of the door. Each one dressed in thier finest. some wore full suits, others black slacks, and a long sleeve white buttom up shirt with a tie, and one wore black pinstrip pants and a black top. No matter what they were wharing they were all there for the same purpose. excitment danced in thier eyes as they tried standing still. Some were reminising, some were laughing, some had already started celebrating prior and smelled of alcohol. Soon the doors opened and with a sigh of occomplishment all 26 of them walked through the doors and onto the stage, sitting in alphabetical order in the chairs alined on stage. The lights overhead blinded students to the faces in the back rows.
The ceremony started...
During the many speeches from the MC, the chairman, prinicple, teachers and their medical directer, the 26 students sat in relief that they had made it to this moment. Two of them chatted silently to each other about the people in the front rows and thier attire. Others gave each other nuckle punds during some of the speeches. Soon two of the students stood and addressed the autitorium. the class president convade some of the classes funny stories and some of the great moments. Then the only female student stepped to the mic and spoke of the class and the great guys she had been sitting with. Next came the awards...many of the students were granted awards for special achievments..then came the moment.
One by one each of the students were called by name to the podium and given an envelope. Each of them made contact either through hugs or hand shakes with the faculty, then took thier seat and clapped for thier counterparts. After the last student was called the enitre class rose and with a booming voice the MC annouced "congratulations, class 72!"...
These 26 people had been paramedic learners during thier classtime, paramedic students during ther clinical time, paramedic interns during thier field time...but they were now paramedic graduates as they rose and were applauded by friends, family, preceptors, co-workers, supervisors and chiefs. Thier hearts were full of thankfulness and excitment, thier minds full of relief and thier spirits ready to party. They had made it..how? Through long days in class, long nights pouring over thier books, long clinical shifts on thier feet and long field hours where they learned to connect all they had learned with the reality of the bleeding, screaming, panting or even dieing patient before them. But they had made it!
After applauses the graduates stepped from the stage and were welcomed by open arms of friends and family in congratulations!!! After the congrates some of the students made thier way to a bar and restuarant where they laughed, sang and even danced to thier victory.....but the begining had just stared these 26 graduates were on thier way to more tests, practicles, and ride outs to claimed thier state certs...
the thought of that next journey nugged my mind that night as i sat with them all celebrating....i had made it this far by the grace of God and i knew he would carry me the rest of the way-i was sure of that!!! I was excited to be now a graduate and done with this chapter of the paramedic life..but i was thankful and honored to be graduating and now celebrating with 25 of the greatest guys ever...people asked me how it was being the only girl in the class and going through all that with 25 guys?
Yeah there were ruff moments..but like i told the audience that night. " they took care of me and i wouldn't trade any of them. They are 25 of the most amazing guys ever."
congrates to class 72 and in the words of my preceptor "go get them kid"

"PRAISE GOD ...WE MADE IT!" -student of class 72