Children often look to their parents for inspiration, but for Rebecca Milliron, following in her mother’s footsteps took on a special meaning when she graduated from Galen College of Nursing’s Louisville campus, wearing her mother’s graduation gown and receiving her nursing pin from her mother, Melissa. 

This mother-daughter-duo always knew they wanted to pursue a career in nursing.  

“I think it all started as a child with me; I was always wanting to take care of animals or babies. I got accepted into a nursing program, but I had met this guy and decided that I was going to get married and not go to nursing school,” said Melissa. “Later, I decided after my kids were all in school, I was going to pursue my nursing degree. I knew that’s what I always wanted to do with my life. My heart just cares so much, you know, I knew that was the right path for me.”  

Though she originally thought she wanted to be a music therapist, Rebecca’s call to nursing is one that she’s always had a feeling about since she was young. From learning how to help her mother care for her brother, who has a rare disability, to losing her grandfather young, she knew she wanted to care for others.  

“For me, I think I always knew in the back of my mind,” said Rebecca, an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) student. “Before I actually started into nursing, my grandpa unfortunately was at a nursing home where he was neglected and died from that. And that really sparked it in me. I was like, I’ve got to start caring for these people myself, because if it’s going to get done, it’s going to be by me, and it’s going to get done right.” 

Although Melissa and Rebecca attended Galen College of Nursing’s Louisville campus at different times, their experiences overlapped unexpectedly. One of their instructors, Buffy Simpson, taught both mother and daughter and even remembered Melissa years later. 

Throughout nursing school, Rebecca also leaned on her mother’s experience for guidance, particularly when navigating challenging courses and preparing for exams. When Rebecca struggled with her transitions course, Melissa helped her study and encouraged her not to give up. 

“She said, ‘You didn’t get this far to only get this far,'” said Rebecca. “It always replays in my head every time I’m going through it.” 

That encouragement helped Rebecca push through setbacks and recognize that difficult moments were part of the journey, not the end of it. 

Both women credit Galen with preparing them for the realities of nursing. Rebecca remembers a clinical experience in the ICU where a nurse gave her opportunities to take on responsibilities and apply what she had learned. 

“I was in an ICU, and the nurse that I was with was really phenomenal,” she said. “Actually, she worked with my mom, too. And she let me do so much. I felt like a real nurse. I learned a lot from her.”  

Melissa also appreciated how Galen’s instructors prepared students for the demands of the profession, emphasizing the dedication and study required to succeed. 

“For me, I would say, I think the instructors did a really good job in preparing you and letting you know this is something you need to make sure that this is what you want to do, because it’s going to be hard.” said Melissa. 

As graduation approached, Rebecca knew exactly who she wanted to pin her: her mother. 

“She’s been so inspirational, and, like I said, when I feel like I should just quit, she keeps me going,” Rebecca said. 

The moment became even more meaningful when Melissa offered Rebecca her own nursing graduation gown. The two would graduate from the same college and celebrate at the same church, with Rebecca wearing the gown her mother had worn years earlier. 

“I think it’s really going to hit then,” Rebecca said. “I’ll be like, I’m walking in her shoes, it feels like.” 

For Melissa, seeing her daughter choose nursing and follow in her footsteps at Galen was a source of immense pride. 

“I’m very proud of her, extremely proud of her,” Melissa said. 

When asked what she would say to her mother during the pinning ceremony, Rebecca had a simple answer: “Probably thank you. That’s probably all I could get out. I’m probably going to cry.” 

As Rebecca begins the next chapter of her nursing career working in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, she carries with her the knowledge gained at Galen and the encouragement from her mother that helped her persevere. For this duo, graduation represents more than earning a degree. It’s a shared milestone that celebrates their commitment to caring for others and the special bond that helped bring them to the same stage.