From Togo to Millau, future nurse Boévi Lawson wants to take time with patients

Boévi Lawson est arrivé du Togo à Millau pour être infirmier. Midi libre – Pauline Chaliez

Third part of the Midi Libre series which has chosen to discuss the journeys of future caregivers in training at the IFSI (Nursing and Care Assistant Training Institute) in Millau.

Boévi Lawson is a 3rd year student at Ifsi in Millau and has great professional plans. Born in Togo in 1995, this young man, although not yet thirty years old, reinvented himself to flourish professionally. "After obtaining a baccalaureate in literature and philosophy, I decided to study psychology because human beings fascinate me&quot ;, he says. "I obtained one of the 50 places in the clinical psychology degree in 2019. My plan was to become a clinical psychologist specializing in criminology."

The choice of Aveyron, rather than Canada

This specialty does not exist in Togo, he knows that he will have to continue his studies abroad and that this type of masters is very firm. He hesitates between Canada and France. Very close to his family, he decided, in consultation with them, to favor France where two of his father's brothers are located, one in Paris, the other in Rodez and of which he masters the language, the Togo being a French-speaking country. "I then embark on the Campus France procedure with four wishes for masters which are refused to me and three wishes for 3rd year of licenses where I am accepted" , explains the student. He registered in Tours and in September 2020, he obtained his visa. But due to lack of places, it is oriented towards work psychology: "I quickly knew that it was not made for me".

Accepted to Millau in summer 2021

The health crisis and confinement made his arrival in France very difficult. "I was in real discomfort, disappointed by studies. My uncles and their wives were there for me. I wanted to stay in the health sector and it was they who sowed the seed of Ifsi, he confides. I started doing my research and made two wishes on ParcourSup in February 2021: the Ifsi in Rodez and the one in Millau. In June, I knew that Millau had selected me, I felt good, I had hopes of a new project, I was already dreaming of becoming an emergency nurse." 

“Create a dispensary in Togo”

"My desire to become a nurse is strong, I was strongly supported by my educational advisor. I will soon be professional. I plan to work in medicine in France but in the medium term, within five years if possible, I would like to create a dispensary in Togo with my brother, a medical student in the USA and with a Togolese national who is also doing her IDE studies (state-certified nurse) there". But first, Boévi Lawson will return to Tours, where his partner studies psychology, to complete his internship at the CHRU in the infectious and tropical diseases medicine department. He is a future nurse full of resources: "Despite the difficulties upon my arrival in France, I managed to create a network in Tours. Having an open mind and curiosity is essential to understanding others and broadening your knowledge. My goal: to constantly improve my practice."

A future career in medical service

In September 2021, the young Togolese joined the training with joy. "Starting this training enlivened me. Biology, psychopathology, the link with humans made me happy. I found meaning in the teaching units, in everything we did." Boévi Lawson says that at the start he lacked confidence in him and explains how, throughout these three years, he relied on the professionals he met, the trainers and other students to learn, draw on internships, develop his practice and question it. Finally, although he did not doubt his ability to provide quality relational care, technical care also became obvious to the nursing student. He realized that he was planning to move into a medical department, to devote a little more time to the patient. "Being in an emergency is not in my DNA", he jokes. "It’is a challenging training course and I have a thought for those who couldn’not make it to the end."

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