For many, graduation day is a momentous occasion that marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. It’s a time when loved ones come together to celebrate a remarkable achievement. For one extraordinary mother-daughter duo, the joy of graduation was multiplied, as they shared the experience of completing their nursing education together.
Jessica Van Wagenen and her daughter Keelin made history by becoming the first mother-daughter pair to graduate from East Carolina University’s registered nurse program. As they embarked on this journey together, they often found themselves being mistaken for sisters. Jessica would proudly clarify that she was, in fact, the mother, and they were pursuing their nursing dreams together.
Jessica, a retired Marine, had put her educational aspirations on hold to raise her daughters. However, she eventually decided to revisit her goals, and her daughter Keelin joined her on this journey. Jessica reflected on her decision to prioritize her family, saying, “I always thought the girls needed some sort of stability because we were always picking up, moving, and with their dad kind of in and out all the time.”
Keelin expressed her admiration for her mother’s perseverance, stating, “I tell her every day that I’m proud of her, and she continued to do what she wanted to do.” Both women have already begun their nursing careers, with Keelin working as a pediatric nurse at ECU Health and Jessica serving as an operating room nurse for Carteret Healthcare.
The experience of attending nursing school together has created lifelong memories for the mother-daughter duo. Jessica fondly remarked, “It’s pretty exciting. It’s really nice to be able to share that with my daughter. We will always have that together.” Keelin added, “It feels cool. Some people went to school with their siblings, some with their significant others, I just get to say I went with my mom.”
Their heartwarming story serves as a testament to the power of determination and the importance of never giving up on one’s goals. As they embark on their nursing careers, their bond will undoubtedly continue to inspire and motivate them.
