Hi! My name is Ifechi and I am a sophomore at GWU. I am majoring in public health and minoring in psychology on the pre-med track. I love connecting with people from all around the world while sharing stories, culture, and experiences. My Christian faith is an important part of who I am, and it inspires me to serve others with kindness, joy, and integrity. I love exploring new places, going on walks, crocheting, working with children, and giving back through community service! Some fun facts about me: I am originally from Canada (yes I speak French), I went to boarding school, I volunteer at a hospital, and I worked as an orientation, babysitter & camp counsellor over the summer!

Hometown

Waterloo, Canada

Major(s)

Public health

Minor(s)

Psychology

Clubs, organizations & involvement

100% triumph (Christian ministry) Honors program Lived on the Mount Vernon campus Orientation leader

Describe your college experience

My college experience has definitely been a roller coaster—in the best way. As I mentioned, I went to boarding school, which made the transition a bit smoother because many aspects of college life felt familiar. I came in with an already developed sense of independence, but I also had to learn—and unlearn—a lot. I quickly realized that some of the habits that worked in high school, like waiting until the last minute to study for an exam or staying up way too late on a school night, simply wouldn't cut it in college. Beyond that, I have genuinely loved my experience. There's a saying that "the people make the place," and that has absolutely been true for me at GWU. I've found an incredible community through student organizations, church, different schools across campus, random conversations in lunch lines and dining halls, and even on the Vern. Those connections helped me find a real sense of belonging. On top of that, I absolutely love living in the city! It feels like there's always something happening, whether it's on campus or around D.C. There's always somewhere new to explore, so it's never a dull moment.

Tip for future students

Get your planning on! Plan everything—hangouts with friends, assignment deadlines, study sessions, athletic events, meetings, office hours, interviews—everything. Staying organized will make your life so much easier. I highly recommend using Google Calendar along with a physical planner to keep track of it all. Just as importantly, make sure you maintain a healthy balance. Don't overload yourself by taking too many credits or spending every waking hour in the library, because you'll burn out. At the same time, don't spend all your time going to events and hanging out with friends while pushing your academics aside, because your GPA will suffer. College is all about balance. Prioritize your responsibilities, but also take care of yourself, make time for fun, and get enough sleep. Lastly, don't be afraid to talk to new people. This is college—it's a fresh start. It's not like high school where everyone already has their established cliques. Everyone is looking to meet people and build friendships. You never know who might become your best friend... or even your future bridesmaid!

Favorite class

General Psychology! My professor was absolutely amazing. She made every lecture engaging by sharing personal experiences and real-world insights instead of simply reading off the slides. That made the material much easier to understand and actually enjoyable to learn. She was also incredibly generous with extra credit and genuinely wanted every student to succeed. She made herself available whenever we needed help, and it was clear that she truly cared about her students. That class ended up having a much bigger impact on me than I expected. It sparked my interest in psychology and ultimately inspired me to pursue it as a minor. It completely changed the way I think about people, relationships, and human behavior, and it's become one of my favorite subjects.

Career goals

After college, I plan to attend medical school and, ultimately, become a pediatrician. I have always enjoyed working with children, and I want to make a positive impact on their lives by providing compassionate, high-quality care.

Ideal way to spend a free night

If I'm not too tired from the week or attending a church event, I love spending time with friends—whether that's going to an event on campus or hopping on the Metro to explore somewhere in the city. One of my favorite memories was when my organization hosted a trip to the Museum of the Bible in collaboration with students from several universities across the area. It was such a fun day getting to meet new people, build friendships, and explore the museum together. It was both an exciting and deeply meaningful experience. I also love trying new food, so grabbing a meal with friends or spending time together in the dining hall is always something I look forward to. Some of my favorite conversations and college memories have happened over a shared meal. And every now and then, I enjoy doing something spontaneous, like when a friend and I went ice skating at the Dupont Circle rink for free—it was such a fun night!

High school or secondary school

Wyoming seminary college preparatory school

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite place on campus is the Vern! Not only because I lived there during my first year, but because of the incredible experience I had. It will always hold a special place in my heart and truly made my freshman year so much easier to navigate. Living there, I met some of my closest friends, built great relationships with the staff, and learned how to better manage my time while commuting between the Vern and Foggy Bottom. Because our campus is so small and close-knit, almost every place became a social hotspot. Whether it was running into a friend at the gym, catching up over a meal at Pelham, studying together for an upcoming exam in Ames, or laughing with friends on the Vex shuttle after a long day at Foggy, there was always a sense of community. The Vern quickly became more than just the place where I lived—it became home, and it’s a place I’ll always look back on with so much appreciation.