09/01/2026
We are blessed to have students who encourage one another and witnessing it during this year's Nursing Convocation was so special. Semester 4 Student Rep, Mya Adwalpalker, spoke to the undergraduate nursing program, faculty, and staff. Her words were so beautifully written that we wanted to take the time to share them with our followers in hopes that it will give others encouragement when needed.
Good morning!
It’s so wonderful to see so many faces here today. I’m truly privileged to have an opportunity to welcome those of you that are both new and returning, and I truly hope that what was shared by some our faculty today has left you encouraged as we step into this new semester. If I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet, my name is Mya and I am a 4th semester student here, and in just 115 days, my class will graduate and take the first, and long-anticipated step into our careers. And even though each semester has felt like a step closer to the end of a journey in nursing school, they also in many ways have represented a new beginning, with new opportunities and new challenges. As I look around the room, I’m reminded that there are a lot of stories represented here. Some of you may be excited, and I hope you are, filled with eagerness and determination. Others of you may feel tired, lonely, doubtful. Wherever you may find yourself this morning, there is no greater encouragement that I can give you than the reminder, that the Lord sees you, He loves you and He has great plans for you. In fact most important thing you will ever hear in this program is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He loves you and I so much that took on flesh to die on the cross to offer payment for our sin, so that we could have access to the gift of eternal life, and relationship with Him. In many ways, the heartbeat of this profession models the gospel. Just as Christ came to serve, we are entering a profession built around serving others. We have been given the incredible privilege of stepping into people’s lives during some of their most vulnerable moments—to care for them, to listen to them, and to advocate for them, even when it’s not easy. So my challenge for us today is to strive to have eyes to see needs, and hearts that compel us to meet them as best we can. This program will equip you with the tools to that, but it is up to you to steward them well. And I have confidence that you will. Still, there will be days you will fall short. You will have moments of failure and struggle. But the good news today is that you are not the sum of your failures and shortcomings and that each day you have an opportunity to fall into the Lord’s grace and keep moving forward. When you’re unsure, ask questions. When you’re discouraged or struggling, pick each other up. When you’re exhausted, prioritize rest. When you’re lonely, reach out a hand, there will be someone there to take it and walk with you. When you’re unsuccessful, learn from it and pick yourself back up. Give yourself grace. Give grace to the people around you. Celebrate the small victories, and don’t let the difficult days make you forget why you started. Because one day, the things that feel overwhelming right now will be the things that prepared you to care for someone the Lord knows will need you. So whether you’re 115 days away from graduation or 500, I pray you enter this semester with courage, and with the confidence that wherever this journey takes us, the Lord has gone before us. There is a lot of work ahead, but so much more to look forward to. And by God’s grace, we’re going to get there. There are many reasons why you might have chosen this program, but in all of them I imagine is the common thread of confidence that the Mississippi Christian University School or Nursing has the resources, the leadership, and the call to equip all of us in this room today to be nurses that reflect the heart of Christ in their professionalism, commitment & compassion. Whatever your reason is, I am so glad you chose us!
