Judivine Sydouane '26
Trauma and Burn Intensive Care Nurse | Springfield Memorial Hospital
Growing up in Cameroon, Judivine Sydouane ’26 witnessed firsthand the impact healthcare professionals can have on families during difficult moments. Those experiences inspired her to pursue nursing.
“I grew up around hospitals because of my family’s health experiences,” Tagakou said. “I saw both the good and difficult parts of healthcare, and I wanted to help people the way nurses helped my family.”
After moving to the United States in search of educational opportunities, Tagakou chose Illinois College because of its close-knit campus community and strong nursing program.
Upon graduating from IC’s nursing program, Tagakou has secured a position as a Trauma and Burn Intensive Care Nurse at Springfield Memorial Hospital while she prepares for long-term goals of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
Tagakou says Illinois College’s partnership with Memorial Hospital gave her valuable clinical and professional experience.
“I started as an intern and then became a nurse extern,” she said. “Those opportunities helped me feel comfortable and confident in the clinical environment before graduation.”
She credits faculty mentors and hands-on learning experiences with helping her transition successfully into healthcare.
“The professors cared about us academically and personally,” Tagakou said.
As she prepares to begin her nursing career, Tagakou says Illinois College helped her build confidence, resilience and professional readiness.