Teen of the Week: Ikea Johnson [Capital (Annapolis, MD)]

After school one afternoon in late February, Ikea Johnson, a junior at Annapolis High School, went to her part-time job as an office assistant at the Carroll H. Hynson & Son Real Estate & Bail Bonds office on West Street. With her supervisor's permission, at 3:55 p.m. the honor roll student left work five minutes early. She wanted to go to her home on Clay Street and tackle her homework assignments.

Nearing Timothy House on West Washington Street, Ikea heard two women screaming and crying. A third woman was on the ground. The injured woman, who had Downs syndrome, fell after tripping over an object on the concrete walkway. Her head hit the sidewalk, causing a deep gash that bloodied her face. More blood was pooling on the walk. The victim was unconscious and had stopped breathing.

"I ran over and announced I was first aid certified," Ikea said. "I began clearing the area and learned the victim has Downs. I told one woman to call 9-1-1. The other one, I sent into the building with instructions to return with an AED (automated external defibrillator) or a first aid kit."

Ikea added, with a hint of weariness, "She came back with tissues."

The teen swiftly moved through proper first aid procedures. She'd already cleared the area and made sure everyone else was safe. There were no other signs of danger. She'd dispatched people to call for help and obtain first aid supplies. Then, Ikea checked the victim's vital signs and set to work.

She knelt alongside the middle-aged victim, locked her elbows, laced her fingers, placed the heel of one hand on the center of the woman's chest and began rigorous chest compressions. During the first set of compressions, the woman's eyes opened and rolled into the back of her head. Undaunted, Ikea steadily kept performing compressions and breath checks until an ambulance pulled alongside several minutes later. Medics jumped out to take over.

Ikea continued her walk home.

"What Idea did is a true representation of the person she is," said Odessa Ellis, a full-time staff member at Annapolis High and a fellow member of Asbury United Methodist Church. "She is a compassionate person, and she always has a deep concern for others."

Referring to Ikea as a "model student," guidance counselor and former Marine Marcelino "Lou" Bedolla said of her life-saving actions, "I have to give her credit for such a swift response to the situation. I believe that she handled herself with a level of maturity that is rare to find in a junior, let alone any adult."

He continued, "She has that cool, calm demeanor that reacts to the toughest situations as if she was a seasoned professional. ... I also give credit to our Center of Applied Technology-South with providing her with those life-saving skills. If I was back in the Marine Corps, I would want her as our 'Doc' any day of the week."

The varsity cheerleader didn't realize she was a hero - thanks to her training, Ikea was ready to jump into action.

"When I first heard that Ikea had performed CPR including chest compressions, which can be very tiring if you are performing the process alone, I was not at all surprised," said Samantha Hall, her assistant cheerleading coach. "She has that caring and considerate way about her. She is like a very rare jewel. I have given her the nickname 'She-Ra Princess of Power' after the fictional cartoon heroine of the late '80s."

Growing up, Ikea suffered from low self-esteem, she said, and had been bullied through ninth grade. Yet, looking around, Ikea realized many of her family members are employed or volunteer as caregivers for people in hospitals and nursing homes. Instead of nursing her own ego, Ikea decided she wanted to help others, too.

A self-described "science nerd," Ikea signed up last fall for the health science careers courses at CAT-South in Edgewater. After the first lunch period on "A" days, the teen hopped a shuttle bus at Annapolis High and rode the short distance to CAT-South. There, she'd spend three hours in class before returning to Annapolis High.

Instructor Julie Siefert, a registered nurse and the nursing assistant instructor at CAT-South taught Ikea how to do CPR.

Siefert said: "She is compassionate and thoughtful of others always. We are very pleased that she was able to put the skills learned at CAT-South to help a person in need."

Siefert pointed out students who successfully complete the health careers course that Ikea took are trained and certified in Heartsave CPR, AED and first aid. The one-semester course "is the basis for the allied health career completer and includes fundamental requirements and skills of allied health careers," and is the foundation for students entering the center's honors nursing or honors medical assistant courses. Full-time at Annapolis High this semester, Ikea plans to take those classes senior year.

During high school, Ikea has been a summer volunteer at the Bywater Boys & Girls Club. Last summer, she was a six-week volunteer counselor at the Summer Enrichment Academy, held at Bates Middle School. SEA is an enrichment, reading enhancement and motivation program for students ages 8 through 18 interested in the performing arts. Ikea has also volunteered in her church's soup kitchen, at the Light House shelter and Annapolitan Assisted Living.

Annapolis High theater arts teacher Victoria Barstow said: "She has been a breath of fresh air in my theater class. She entered ready to take risks, with a positive attitude. This is more rare than normal with high school students." The teacher noted Ikea is an accomplished dancer, too.

Barstow added: "With students like Ikea, one does not worry about the future of our citizenry. We are all in better hands with young adults like Ikea Johnson."

Ikea lives on Clay Street in Annapolis with Torrie Wells, her aunt and guardian, a professional caregiver. Ikea has two brothers, Charles Jackson, 18, and Paris Watkins, 15, of Severn.

Though she doesn't graduate until June 2013, Ikea plans to apply to several colleges. Her major, Ikea said, will be nursing and biology.

"I want to save people and change lives," she said.