By Nina Soso, Augusta University
Graduation season is a time for celebration for students and their families. A graduating student inspires a sense of excitement and pride in those around them. For the Lagora family, the excitement this May will be doubled.
Azalea Lyrrehs Lagora and Frazhier Bien Lagora are siblings who are both graduating from Augusta University’s College of Nursing next month. Frazhier, the eldest of four, and his sister, Azalea, immigrated from the Philippines in 2018. Since their father was unable to travel with them at the time, they stayed with their aunt in Miami while their mom worked as a nurse. Frazhier Lagora had to put his own studies on hold to help care for his youngest brother.
Things changed for the family around 2020 when their mother got a new nursing job in Georgia at Piedmont Augusta Hospital, formerly University Hospital.
Neither of the siblings knew exactly what they wanted to study in college. Azalea Lagora first tried out animation in AU’s Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences before deciding it wasn’t for her.
“Nursing wasn’t my first choice because I doubted myself. I’ve always been very shy, and it used to be difficult for me to connect with people from different cultures or walks of life,” Azalea Lagora said. “But I’m so glad I took the risk. Nursing helped me come out of my shell. It allowed me to meet people with incredible stories and backgrounds. That’s something I never expected to enjoy as much as I do.”
After consulting the elders in his family, most of whom are also nurses, Frazhier Lagora decided to complete his nursing prerequisites at Augusta Technical College. He was anxious to restart school because he didn’t know the culture and communicating with patients in a second language was so anxiety-inducing that he dropped out due to struggles with his mental health.
While many would quit, Frazhier Lagora saw this as something to overcome, not be beaten by. He applied to Piedmont to be a patient care technician and used this as an opportunity to work on his skills.
“I was able to improve myself, and it gave me the courage to go back and apply to Augusta University,” said Frazhier Lagora.
In Fall 2023, the siblings started their first semester in the nursing program.
“I was ecstatic,” said Azalea Lagora. “It was never a competition for us. We didn’t have any friends before we attended the program, so we got a lot closer when we started nursing school.”
“It was harder to develop those connections at first,” Frazhier Lagora said. “So we decided to help each other succeed. I rely on her a lot. She makes the semester calendar and always reminds me when things are due and when I should be reviewing for an exam.”
The Lagoras were able to form new friendships while in the program, and these bonds made all the difference.
“It would not have been as fun or rewarding without the help and support of others,” shared Frazhier. “With them, I think about home less now.”
“Being in the nursing program at AU, we finally felt like we belonged,” Azalea Lagora said. “It felt like home again.”
Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a rewarding journey filled with hard work, late nights and a lot of determination. For both Azalea and Frazhier, it was also an opportunity for excellence.
“I got to meet a version of myself I never thought I could become,” Azalea Lagora said. “Patients during clinicals would say, ‘You’ll be a great nurse,’ and it gave me a sense of reassurance that I made the right choice. I get to be someone I’m proud of.”
Both exemplify strong academic achievement, graduating with honors.
With their mother being the breadwinner for the family, the siblings felt compelled to help her with the finances wherever they could. In 2023, they were both awarded scholarships at the Annual College of Nursing Scholarship Ceremony. Azalea Lagora received the Class of 2008 Scholarship, and Frazhier Lagora was awarded the Class of 1972 Scholarship.
“It’s the least we can do,” Azalea Lagora said. “Maintaining our grades, earning scholarships – we wanted to make sure our mom didn’t have to pay anything for our education.”
“We feel very fortunate and grateful for the scholarships given to us,” Frazhier Lagora said.
With graduation approaching, the siblings are excited for what is next. Family members are traveling from Florida and the Philippines to celebrate their incredible achievements.
“Nursing will bring a lifetime of different experiences, and it’s always evolving. I’m excited to graduate and move on to the next phase of life,” said Frazhier Lagora, who plans on going into medical-surgical nursing, with his ultimate goal to become a nursing instructor at Augusta University.
Though she wants to explore different specialties, Azalea Lagora is also planning on going into medical-surgical nursing.
“I’m a copycat. I copy everything he does,” she said. “I like to learn from him and our family, who all did med-surg, so I decided to try that first.”
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