Student Speaker Desiree Charles on What Grads Earn Beyond the Diploma
From Far Rockaway, Queens, Desiree Charles is a Class of 2026 Master of Science in Nursing Education graduate—and was the student speaker for the second night of commencement ceremonies in Manhattan on May 21. Charles is the first nurse in her family. She is also a mother, entrepreneur, aspiring keynote speaker, current Long Island resident, and working nurse at Northwell Health. ” I want to show my girls that even if you don’t know which way to go, just have an idea, set a goal,” she said.
Like many SUNY Empire students, Charles enrolled with a specific goal: to become a better educator and mentor for nursing students. Her coaching business, Nurses Will Pass, provides mentorship and resources to women and girls in the nursing field. A colleague’s recommendation led her to enroll at the university, where her GPA has thrived with her hard work alongside supportive staff and faculty members who pride themselves on meeting students where they are. “I’ve been in school my entire adult life and I feel like this is my best experience,” said Charles, who was even inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
The road to a nursing career is paved with sacrifices. During clinical rotations—an essential component of nursing degrees—Charles had to divide her capstone hours between the Northwell Health Institute for Nursing and the Diabetes Education Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center to obtain crucial patient care hours. Though she was initially reluctant because of the scheduling challenges it posed, the experience became her favorite moment from her time at SUNY Empire. “I was so proud to be a nurse. Sometimes, you don’t want to do something, and it could be the greatest thing you’ve done,” Charles said.
During her commencement address at the New York City Center, Charles acknowledged the strength that it takes to be on a nontraditional student path. “Most of us didn’t take this journey on a clear road. We took it on a road that was already full. Full of responsibility, full of people who needed us before we could need ourselves,” she said.
The student speaker commended every graduate who made the continued decision to create space in their lives for learning. “That is not a credential. That is character,” she said. In the room full of new alums, she underscored the importance of making the decision to show up, again and again. “Momentum is a decision,” Charles said. She encouraged her fellow graduates to hold onto the drive and resolve they’ve honed while earning their degrees: “That version of you doesn’t disappear when this ceremony ends. That’s who you are now.”
Looking ahead, Charles will continue to mentor women and girls as she works towards growing her platform as a public speaker. “I want to inspire people like me. When I think about when I started to now, I’m so amazed. Hard work pays off. You just have to stay the course and get it done,” she said.