How to See the Forest for the Trees
Everybody’s college journey looks different. For junior Laura Nduka, it took a step back to see the broader picture.
Following an intense first semester as a Biomedical Science major, Laura Nduka knew something wasn’t right, despite her stellar experiences outside the classroom. Her biomed classes were overwhelmingly difficult, to the point that Nduka decided to take a leave of absence. It was the right choice.
Still determined to discover her true calling, Nduka returned home and reconnected with the things that matter most to her—art, crocheting, and spending time with her brother, who has autism. Nduka found herself fascinated by her brother’s occupational therapy (OT) team.
“He would see an occupational therapist at school, then come home knowing how to wash his plate or wash his hands. Things we couldn’t teach him, he was able to learn through OT,” Nduka said.
Laura Nduka and her brother.
After some time and reflection, Nduka returned to Bradley recharged and ready to take on new challenges as a Kinesiology major with a minor in Studio Art. She plans to bridge the gap between the two fields by designing her own OT visual aids and client materials.
Nduka credits one professor in particular, Dr. David Dominguese, for helping her solidify her decision.
“I would stay back for help and have great conversations with David,” she said. “Since he is a PT, he was able to give me a lot of insight on how the world works and what the industry looks like. He was definitely one of the first professors that I ever had a super deep connection with.”
Even after finding her calling, Nduka, like so many Bradley students, wasn’t content to focus solely on classwork. She soon started Hooked, a crochet club, joined the K-pop dance troupe K18, and started working with the CEO club to build up her poster making business. She’s been combining her interests and building her skills ever since.
“Being involved in multiple organizations has definitely helped me with my communication skills and my overall confidence,” she said. “There are so many opportunities at Bradley, and there’s just a lot of freedom that comes with being a Bradley student.”
—Jenevieve Rowley-Davis