A Cuban woman stirred an explosion of pride during a graduation ceremony in the United States when her cousin was called to the stage to receive her diploma as an advanced practice nurse, in an emotional video that went viral on TikTok last Saturday.
From the audience in the auditorium, possibly in Virginia, the family member could not contain their excitement and shouted at the top of their lungs: "Long live Cuba, yes we can, that's my cousin, damn it, let's go, yes we can."
The video, posted by the account @aniuskaescobedo, features graduates on stage wearing black gowns and caps with gold tassels, at a typical university academic ceremony in the United States.
The overlay text in the recording sums up the sentiment of an entire community: "Cuban doctors in the USA, it can be done, damn it."
The graduate obtained the title of Nurse Practitioner, one of the most common paths taken by Cuban health professionals who emigrate to the United States and cannot immediately practice as doctors.
In the U.S., doctors trained in Cuba must undergo a process that includes credential verification, medical licensing exams, and a hospital residency, a journey that can take between five to ten years from their arrival in the country.
In response to that demand, many choose to become advanced practice nurses, which first requires obtaining a registered nursing license and then completing a graduate program in advanced nursing.
This professional figure has extensive clinical competencies: they can diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and treat patients independently in many states.
It is not the first time that an achievement like this resonates within the Cuban community abroad. A Cuban doctor who graduated in 2023 shared his experience under the motto "the sacrifice is worth it," in a story that connected with thousands of fellow countrymen in the diaspora.
In June 2025, a Cuban-Mexican couple also celebrated having validated their dental degrees in Puerto Rico after two years of intensive study.
Graduation ceremonies have become moments of collective catharsis for families who have supported years of economic and academic sacrifices, and social media amplifies that emotion, turning it into a shared symbol.
Cuban national pride and personal emotion merge in moments like the one captured in this video, where a shout from the audience encapsulates years of effort: "That's my cousin, damn it."
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