Grueling migraines weren’t going to keep Beatrice Agbayewa from her dream of becoming a nurse.
The Chicago Heights resident did take more than a year off from a nursing program at Rasmussen University to get the migraines under control and was already dealing with a thyroid problem. But she kept remembering how much she loved the program and that classes were moving her closer to a career where she would help people.
“During the time I was in school, I really enjoyed it,” said Agbayewa, who will graduate in May with an associate’s degree in nursing from the Romeville university. She already has a bachelor of science degree in integrated health studies from the University of Illinois Chicago.
“I enjoyed the classes and learning about nursing and felt like, ‘wow, this is really my passion,'” she said. “All I could think about was I have to get better so I can go back. … I knew I would do anything to make it happen.”
Agbayewa was diagnosed with migraines her senior year in high school and had them in college, but then in nursing school they came back worse. She spent most of her days sick and withdrew from the quarter in December 2022. She has aural migraines, which affect her vision and they come in bursts of three days.
She came back to school in September 2024, determined to make it.
“It is considered a disability because of the neurological aspect and because of that, I was able to get accommodations, which made school easier for me,” she said. “I can’t really look at screens as much, so I wear glasses just to look at screens to reduce the effect of the migraine, and I’m given extra time to complete other assignments.
Agbayewa said she always wanted to be a doctor, but decided medical school wasn’t for her. But she said nursing school was a challenge because “you have to live your life around the program.”
“For my school you don’t get to choose your class times, so whatever times they give you … you have to be there,” she said. “Clinicals can be everywhere and I had one over an hour away.
“I have a few friends in medical school and a few who are doctors of physical therapy and they said they wouldn’t go to nursing school if anyone paid them,” she said.
Her dream job would be in labor and delivery, though she’s also interested in cardiology. She passed her nursing boards and has been president of the school’s Student Nursing Association for the last two quarters and on the dean’s list.
One strong influence was her mother, who is a case manager for people who have mental and physical disabilities. Her father works in information technology and also influenced her strong work ethic. Both parents are from Nigeria.
“Just watching her do that, I thought, wow, I would love to be able to be somebody who could help someone, make them feel better or be able to be an advocate for anyone who needed a voice,” Agbayewa said. “We were taught that nurses are a patient’s first line of defense.”
Her good friend and classmate, Kanyinsola Ojoro, said Agbayewa was an inspiration to her and other students.
“She’s very motivating and a very, very smart girl,” said Ojoro. “Any time I was about to give up, she kind of snapped me back into my senses.”
Ojoro said when they were studying for an exam, Agbayewa would come to her home so they could work together.
“She’ll be a great nurse. She cares about people,” Ojoro said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
