2024 Nursing grad serving as student keynote at Class of 2025 Commencement

Shamim Nansubuga, RN, 21, graduated from Inver Hills Community College with an Associate of Science (A.S.) in Nursing in December 2024. Shamim is a student speaker at the college’s Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony at TCO Stadium at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2025. This year’s ceremony will be held outdoors.

Along with her A.S. in Nursing, Shamim completed the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate, which gave her training in First Aid, CPR, and AED. She was also an active member of the Black Student Union (BSU) at the college.

Shamim is looking forward to transferring to Metropolitan State University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) and eventually a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.). She currently works as an RN at Cerenity Senior Care. She has previous experience working in the Medical-Surgical Unit at Regions Hospital, OB/Postpartum at Allina/United Hospital, and the Transitional Care Unit at Southview Acres.

Shamim is focusing her long-range career goals on working as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), CRNAs, “play a vital role in successful surgeries and making other medical procedures pain-free. These advanced-practice nurses also play a leading part in moving modern medicine forward.”

Learn more by reading: “10 Things You Should Know About CRNAs/Nurse Anesthesiologists.”

Inver Hills Class of 2025 Commencement Student Speaker

The title of Shamim’s speech is “Across Continents, Towards Purpose.” When asked how she went about choosing the topic of her speech, she said, “I selected the topic of my speech by reflecting on my journey and what has carried me through the challenges and triumphs. I wanted to focus on the idea of purpose how every step, no matter how difficult, has brought me closer to the person I am today.

“My experiences, from moving across continents to pursuing my nursing education, have taught me the power of resilience and the importance of community. I also wanted to highlight the significance of believing in oneself and the role mentorship and support can play in helping others reach their full potential.

“This speech is my way of sharing the lessons I’ve learned, hoping to inspire others to embrace their own journeys with the same faith and determination.”

“Across Continents, Towards Purpose” excerpt

I was born in the United Kingdom, but my journey took me to Uganda, where I completed my high school education. Studying in Uganda taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of education. It became the foundation I leaned on when I moved to America to further my studies.

This journey has shown me that education shapes not only our future, but also our character, and I am honored to stand before you today as a nursing student, a Ugandan Black African, and someone who has travelled across continents in pursuit of knowledge and purpose.

Good afternoon, faculty, family, friends, and my fellow graduates. Today is a moment of celebration—a day that marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. It is a day of reflection, gratitude, and hope for the future.

College is not just about textbooks and exams; it is about dedication, sacrifice, and the passion to care for others. Each of us here has faced sleepless nights, assignments, exams and moments of self-doubt. We have questioned our abilities, struggled to balance coursework with personal responsibilities, and felt the pressures of being college students.

But we persevered. We learned to push through our challenges, to ask for help when we needed it, and to lean on one another for support. Our journey has not been easy, but every struggle has made us stronger, more compassionate, and more prepared for the path ahead.

More about Shamim…

Originally from Brentford, England, a suburban town in West London, Shamim graduated from Gumley House Convent School in West London, Class of 2020. In 2017, she moved with her family to Jinja, Uganda, a city of 300,000 residents situated on the north shore of Lake Victoria, which is famous worldwide as a key source of the Nile River.

“What I liked best about living in Uganda was getting a chance to immerse myself in my culture and heritage,”said Shamim, who moved to Minnesota in 2022, “and all the friendships and experiences I made along the way.”

Shamim is the oldest and first-born granddaughter in her family. She has two two siblings, a sister, Nylah, 14, and a brother, Aydan, 5. In her free time, she loves watching movies—especially Nigerian movies, trying new food places, hanging out with friends, and exploring new places to swim.

Shamim resides in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.

Shamim family, college, and nursing pinning ceremony gallery

Shamim Nansubuga • Q & A

What inspired you to choose nursing as your career field?

I was inspired by the strong, compassionate women in my life, especially my mother, who is a nurse and one of the hardest-working people I know. Watching her care for others with so much strength and grace, made me realize how powerful it is to serve others. I’ve always been drawn to fast-paced environments where I can make a real impact. Nursing just felt like calling something deeply rooted in both purpose and passion.

What did you enjoy most about your time in the Nursing program at Inver Hills?

Honestly, the sense of community. Nursing school is no joke. It challenged me in ways I wasn’t expecting, but I found support in my peers, especially through the Black Student Union and the friendships I built in the program. We leaned on each other, celebrated small wins, and reminded each other of why we started. I also really appreciated the faculty who genuinely cared and pushed us to become the best versions of ourselves.

What was the most challenging part of your nursing studies?

Balancing everything—school, family, and life was definitely the hardest part. There were times I was running on empty, questioning if I could do it all. But every time I felt like giving up, I remembered the sacrifices I made to get here  and the little faces at home who were watching me chase this dream. That gave me the strength to keep going.

What advice would you give students thinking about becoming registered nurses (RNs)?

Do it with your whole heart. Nursing is not just a job, it’s a commitment to serve, to grow, and to keep showing up, even on the hard days. It’s okay to be scared, but don’t let fear stop you. Build your support system, ask for help when you need it, and remember your “why.” Also believe in yourself more than you doubt yourself. You’re capable of so much more than you know.

What do you like best about your duties as an RN?

I love being there in the moments that matter bringing comfort, clarity, or calm to someone who’s scared or in pain. I thrive in fast-paced environments, and I love being able to make quick decisions that help people. But more than that, I love the human connection, hearing people’s stories, advocating for them, and knowing I played a small part in their healing process.

Three words that describe you as a registered nurse:
COMPASSIONATE. ADAPTABLE. HARDWORKING.

What person has influenced your life the most and why?

The two people who have influenced my life the most are my mum and my younger self. My mum showed me what strength, selflessness, and perseverance look like. Watching her work hard and care for others with grace and compassion planted the seeds of purpose in me. She’s been my role model, my biggest cheerleader, and my constant reminder of what it means to lead with heart.

At the same time, my younger self inspires me every day. She had big dreams and faced many challenges, but she kept going with faith and determination. I carry her courage with me in everything I do. I’m proud to say I’m becoming the woman she and my mother both believed I could be.

If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?

If I could make one thing happen on Earth right now, it would be for every person to experience true peace and genuine happiness. The kind of peace that quiets the noise of fear, anxiety, and division—and the kind of happiness that isn’t tied to material things, but rooted in love, purpose, and connection.

I believe the world would look completely different if people felt safe, valued, and supported. Families would thrive, communities would heal, and we’d begin to see each other not as strangers or threats, but as fellow human beings just trying to live and love in peace. That kind of world is possible, and it starts with us choosing kindness every day.

One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:

EVENTFUL

Shamim Nansubuga • 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Swimming
2. Place you would most like to visit: The UK
3. Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Always willing to try new things and put myself out there
4. Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Retire my parents 2) Buy homes and secure generational wealth for my family 3) Build schools and healthcare centers in underserved communities in Uganda
5. Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: Love in Every Word
6. Time period you would explore if you could time travel: Victorian Era
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: I want to make a positive difference in people’s lives by helping those who may not always have the support they need. My goal is to inspire others to believe in themselves, just as I’ve been encouraged to believe in my own potential. I want to show people that they are capable of achieving great things and help create opportunities that allow them to thrive.
8. Your national bird if you were your own country: Phoenix
9. Dream occupation: CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist)
10. Person you would most like to meet: Jesus
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Different languages
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Lack of compassion and unity

Learn more about Nursing at Inver Hills by contacting:

Admissions
Inver Hills Community College
651-450-3902
admissions@inverhills.edu
Virtual Visit

More about the Nursing program at Inver Hills…

Nursing is an exceptionally rewarding career where you can make a real difference in people’s lives. Our graduates exceed the national NCLEX-RN pass rate and go on to enjoy great job security as registered nurses (RNs) in this high-demand field. Nursing is a competitive application process that requires a separate nursing application in addition to applying for admission to Inver Hills.

Awards

Nursing (Traditional Track) A.S. degree: 64 credits
Nursing Mobility (Licensed Practical Nurse) A.S. degree: 64 credits
Nursing Assistant  certificate: 5 credits

Nursing Program Planning Guide

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Why study Nursing at Inver Hills?

The numbers tell the story.
Our student success is plain to see. Inver Hills nursing graduates are primed for success, achieving nearly 5 percent higher NCLEX-RN pass rates than the national average. More than 90 percent of our graduates find employment as RNs within one year of earning their A.S. degrees.

Be surefooted and confident on your pathway.
Many students enroll at Inver Hills and complete prerequisite courses before applying to the Nursing program, which is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Nurses make a genuine difference.
Nurses give medicine a human face. They truly care about their patients. They go above and beyond to make sure their patients feel safe and secure during an often very difficult and frightening time in their lives. Nurses are kindness personified in the healthcare system.

You can enter the field in more than one way.
You can earn a Nursing Assistant certificate by completing one 5-credit course. You’ll get the training you need to enter the healthcare field as a nursing assistant or home health aide, and also be prepared to take the state registry exam for certification. The Nursing Traditional Track A.S. and Nursing Mobility–LPN A.S. are 75-credit degrees that prepare you for a fulfilling career as a professional registered nurse.

Nurses are in huge demand.
The ongoing nursing shortage brings job security and great wages to this career path. RNs in the seven-county, Twin Cities metro area earn a median wage approaching $43 an hour. Top earners make nearly $50 an hour. Nurses with advanced degrees make even more: nurse anesthetists in Minnesota earn a median wage topping $100 an hour.

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