Augusta University celebrated its class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies on May 9.
Isaiah Romano, Jataisa Alexander and Diya Patel, all graduating with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), were gathered in the aisles in between seating, talking amongst each other before it was time to walk.
Romano shared that it hasn’t been easy to imagine that this day would finally arrive.
“After getting through nursing school and going through a tough journey, I’m really excited to be here,” Romano said.
Patel said that making it to the finish line is an “unexplainable feeling.”
“Every semester was different, every semester was a roller coaster,” she said. “God put us here.”
A bittersweet moment
Alexander said that she hopes to see her younger sister also attend AU because of the support she was offered during her time there.
“The resources here at Aug are top tier… they help you so much through academics,” she said.
One student commencement speaker, Tazheara Butts, graduated with a degree in social work. She said she’s headed to Chicago this summer to begin a new collegiate journey as she pursues her masters degree, with a vision for a career in child and family welfare.
“It’s a very bittersweet moment,” Butts said after the ceremony’s end.
Her time at AU was centered around self discovery.
“My first year I came in I was very undecided. I thought I knew everything,” Butts said. “I didn’t know a lick of what I thought I knew.”
