After years of education, many are walking across the stage this month to receive their degree. Among the graduates are local nursing students, who have endured a lot over the last year.

That includes Hadiye Raymond, who hasn’t been able to spend much time with her family due to her hectic schedule.

She is one of several graduating from Maria College this month after a year that included virtual lectures, cramming clinical hours, and helping vaccinate the public.

Rebecca Petrucci-Little also knows all about it.

“When this first started, my husband was like ‘isn’t this really scary?’ and I said ‘it’s not scary; it’s just really makes me want to go out and help and be there for the patients,’ ” Petrucci-Little said.

She makes a two-hour commute from Middletown in order to achieve her goal. Petrucci-Little says it’s challenging but also a really great experience.

“I learned a lot about myself in the process, that this is definitely what I’m born to do,” Petrucci-Little said.

Mujtaba Murtuza is starting to feel the same after pursuing nursing as his second career. With the opportunity to return to hospitals and volunteer at clinics, he now calls this his dream job.

“I really just wanted to be out there, especially on the front lines to care for our patients and to help with the pandemic efforts,” Murtuza said.

He says the pandemic only motivated him more to continue with nursing. This summer, he’ll take his board exam with a RN career lined up at Albany Medical Center.

“I felt like this was part of my calling to come and help out in these efforts,” Murtuza said.

The graduates celebrated their achievements with the Conferral of Degrees & White Tea ceremony this past weekend.

With a degree in hand, Raymond is also preparing for the board exam. Her plan is to become a RN at Ellis Hospital. But until then, she is looking forward to having more time at home.

“I want to show [my family] that it’s important if you have a goal, it doesn’t matter what your age is, or your background is,” Raymond said. “I’m happy that I did. It was hard, but it was worth it.”