LAST I Four brothers from Aba, Nigeria, round their way to Harding Lo pursue medical degrees. Freshman Akachukwu Eze was the youngest and last to arri\'e on campus in rail 20 16. H e lived off campus with his older brother, senior Bubu Eze. The two brothers aid they were influenced by medical missionaries that worked in and around their hometown. Akachukwu and his brothers were only 16 years old when they entered college. HowC\·er, this early age was not abnormal for the brothers. Nigerian students started school at age three, whereas Americans sta n ed at ag;e fi\·e. Akachukwu and Bubu's older brothers were Harding graduates and attended medical school in Washington D.C. Bubu aid he encouraged Akachukwu not to feel tied to a medical major, but to do whale\'er he enjoyed doing. "There is a lot or effort put into being here and going to school," Bubu said. "\Ve are going to make the most or it." Although studies were important, Akachukwu looked for opportunities to make rriends and socialize in a ne\,· school and country. He enjoyed BUT singing and thought about de\'oting some of his schedule to one of the singing groups on Harding·s campus. "L like chapel and I like the singing," Akachukwu said. "I like the singing more than the teaching . ometimes." Akachukwu and Bubu had a Nigerian community attend Harding \,·ith them. Senior Chukwuma Umezurike also had a father in the medical rield and was influenced by the same medical missionaries to attend Harding. \\'lien they entered into a new culture, they said it wa. nice to know friends rrom Nigeria and to have them close during such a big transition. ·•1t helps you adjust better," Umezurike said. "You have someone that you can talk to easily someone [who] is going to guid you through the things y u don't know." Harding ah ays brought in great students from all around the world. The Eze brothers and the small Nigerian community around them were just another slice or Harding's greatness. The brothers hoped to return to ~igeria and other parts or Arrica to sen ·e omeday. Freshman Akachi E ze is the last of four brothers to arrive in the US. to attend H arding. E ze and his brothers were influen ced by the medical missionaries who worked in their hometown of Aba, Nigeria. I Photo by Macy Pate 180 ),- PF.OPLF.
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