February 2007 - Austin College

A Balancing Act for SuccessWhen he was young, Emmanuel Nwelue ’08 suffered fromsevere asthma. He received shots three times per week for a yearbefore the medicine finally helped him become healthy. It was then,Nwelue said, that he realized what he wanted to do with his life.“I saw doctors and nurses more than anyone outside of myfamily and teachers,” Nwelue said. After his doctors helped him getpast his ailment, Nwelue wanted to pass along the support bybecoming a doctor.That was the beginning of his interest in health sciences. Howhe chose to pursue his dream at Austin College, however, is anothermatter. In high school, Nwelue was looking at large schools likeTexas and Texas A&M. Going to a small college and continuing hisbasketball career never crossed his mind. However, Austin Collegeoffered something that those bigger schools could not match: hissister Carol ’05 was a standout volleyball player for the Kangaroos.Carol asked Nwelue to visit Austin College several times whileshe was a student, and through herpersistence and persuasion, theyounger Nwelue decided thatAustin College and Coach ChrisOestreich’s Kangaroo basketballteam were for him.The Nwelue siblings were onlyat Austin College together for oneyear, but Emmanuel said, “going toschool with her for one year wasworth being here three yearswithout her.”PHOTO COURTESY OF ATHLETICS DEPARTMENTIn reflecting on his decision to attend Austin College, Nweluesaid he knows that he made the best possible choice. “I think thepre-med education at Austin College has prepared me well. Learninghow to study, struggling through tough times with academics andsports together, is the best skill Austin College could give me.”Nwelue plans to study sports medicine, osteopathic medicine,or possibly pediatrics when he leaves Austin College.Hehopes toattend the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth.For now, Nwelue is in the midst of handling the challenges ofthe basketball season. A two-year starter for the Kangaroos, he hasused his strength and athleticism to become one of the team’s bestrebounders and defenders.Nwelue’s versatility on the court mirrors his ability tohandle the stress of pre-med preparation and the rigors of a longbasketball season.“If you can balance the demands of sports and of academics atAustin College while doing premedpreparation,” Nwelue said,“when new challenges presentthemselves later, you’ll be betterprepared to handle them.”HOMETOWN:Lewisville, TexasACADEMIC FOCUS:Psychology Majorwith a Chemistry Minor;Pre-Medical PreparationTEAM POSITION:6’ 2” GuardEmmanuel NwelueAUSTIN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 35