At the Toi Ohomai graduation
ceremony yesterday, Keri-Marie joined more than a thousand students at the Rotorua Events Centre who saw their dreams become reality.
"It took me four and a half years to get here," the 23-year-old nursing graduate said.
"It's surreal."
After a year of Covid-19 lockdowns, and suffering losses in her family, Keri-Marie said the ceremony brought her to tears.
"It was tough. We were going into a world of unknown. We didn't know if we were going to make it or if our degree was even going to finish.
"When you're already crawling through your whole degree, and to be told it might not happen was hard."
The support of her fellow nursing students kept her going.
"We had to keep each other in line. Hats off to the girls, really."
Her mother, Julie Teiri Adlam, is proud of her daughter's perseverance.
"She almost gave up so many times. Today, it's time for partying and family. She deserves it."
To cap the official celebrations, graduates paraded through Rotorua streets, led by an honour guard of Māori warriors.
Toi Ohomai graduation parade through Eat Streat. Photo / Andrew Warner Toi Ohomai also held graduations for 615 certificate and 958 diploma students who could not attend ceremonies last year due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Marketing co-ordinator Jessica Barnett said Toi Ohomai effectively had two years of students to applaud across the stage.
"We've had people fly in from all over the country, many with three generations of their family coming in support.
"We're stoked."
In total Toi Ohomai will hold 14 ceremonies across Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatāne, and Taupō between April 7 and April 16.
