Behind Adekoya’s infectious smile is also the excitement of
beginning her journey to obtain the title of doctor.
The Grayson, Ga. native has accomplished the phenomenal feat
of being accepted into six medical schools: the University of Tennessee College
of Medicine, the Meharry Medical College, the University of Kentucky College of
Medicine, the Florida State University College of Medicine, the Indiana
University School of Medicine and the Medical College of Georgia School of
Medicine. She’s decided to attend the Medical College of Georgia, which is located
near her hometown.
With her sight’s set on becoming an OB-GYN, Adekoya, 21, said she believes what’s made her such an attractive candidate for medical school is simply her warm personality and passion for helping others.
“I think what helped me to standout was the interview
process. I was able to show them that what I had to offer was more than what
was on paper,” said Adekoya, who will graduate summa cum laude with a
bachelor’s degree in biology.
Letina Banks, biology instructor and academic advisor, said
she knows exactly why so many distinguished medical programs courted Adekoya.
“Nellena has been a superb student from start to finish. She
is a shining star,” Banks explained. “No matter what, she always has a smile on
her face, is always humble and displays a caring personality. She is a model
student and has never been afraid to ask questions or ask for help. She truly
has what it takes to be a great physician – she will be a great physician.”
Adekoya’s interest in practicing medicine stems back to
before she was a kindergartener.
“Since I was a four-year-old I've wanted to become a doctor.
I used to watch a show called ‘Rescue 911’ with my mother and I was inspired to
help people in need,” said Adekoya. “From there I took science classes,
shadowed physicians and volunteered. I’ve never had any other career option in
mind.”
According to Adekoya, a self-proclaimed soccer enthusiast,
who donates much of her free time to coaching area youth, FAMU has served as a
foundation for her ability to excel in and out of the classroom. She was a
recipient of FAMU’s Life Gets Better Scholarship, which offers a full-ride to
National Achievement and Merit Semifinalists who maintain at least a 3.5 GPA in
high school and major in the areas of science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM).
“FAMU gave me every tool I needed, both academically and
socially, to form a great foundation for medical school,” Adekoya said. “We
have some of the most caring and available professors around. I'm very proud to
be a Rattler.”
While Adekoya is poised to become one of the nation’s next
leaders in medicine, she asserts that everything she has accomplished to get
her to this point is not about her.
“My main goal is to help as many people as I can,” she said.
“Once I'm established, I'd like to do my best to institute free or discounted
medical care services every year. I'm not interested in fame or fortune, just
impacting lives.”