My name is Ijeoma Uzoaru and I currently live in Champaign. I've lived in many different places throughout my life. I moved to Oak Park, Illinois from Nigeria when I was 5 years old. I've been exposed to healthcare my entire life due to being from a family filled with healthcare professionals.  My mother is a BSN prepared RN supervisor here in Danville and my father is a physician at Carle Foundation Hospital.  I have many aunts and uncles who are also nurses and physicians and they have all contributed to my growing interest in healthcare.  Interestingly, I grew up here in Danville where I went from 4th grade all the way to freshman year of high school. I moved to Aurora my sophomore year of high school to attend a school called the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy which is a government subsidized, co-ed, dormitory style high school for students.  IMSA was not my first choice because when I was younger my interests were mainly in the arts and I had initially planned to attend an arts school in Michigan called Interlochen.  That did not come to fruition because my father stressed the importance of needing to have a practical career path in order to obtain advantageous employment later on in life.  
	Even with all the guidance and resources I was blessed to have around me, I floundered during the early years after high school because I was not ready to commit to a career path and was not sure of what I really wanted to do with my life. I acquired my CNA license in california in 2008 but have spent the majority of my time working in the capacity of a monitor technician.  It was during this time that I was finally sure that nursing was in fact the right choice for me.  Being able to help the healthcare team provide care for those who are sick or injured is very emotionally satisfying for me.  Most people truly appreciate the care that they receive because even if one is not able to go to the bathroom independently, the person still wished to have their dignity in such a vulnerable position.  I chose Lakeview College of Nursing because I know people who have personally attended the program and I have received excellent and positive feedback on the training and education that is provided.  The potential to accelerate through the program was also attractive in my selection along with my desire to acquire a Bachelors degree.   I feel as though having a Bachelors degree is important because it makes one a more educated and well rounded clinician as well as improving ones marketability during the tough economic recession that is currently affecting the USA.
	I've lived in the west side of chicago and in southern california (Anaheim, Corona, and Newport Beach area). Traveling is something that I love to do and I try to go to a new place at least once a year. I also enjoy playing the bass guitar, reading, surfing the internet, dancing, and meeting new people. I'm particularly interested in telemetry, critical care, mental health, and travel nursing but I am very interested in exploring other areas of nursing as I continue to progress through the program. I've never been one to shy away from new challenges and I am looking forward to embarking on this new adventure known as nursing school with all my fellow classmates and teachers.