Meet Victor Lugo | Registered nurse—operating room, dance company director/choreographer/dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Victor Lugo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Victor, is there something you believe many others might not?
One of the first pieces of advice I got from my parents and from older people was to stay focused on one thing and get really good at that one thing. At first I followed it in respect for my parents. I understood the intention of investing time and energy into a career to get reputation, to provide loyalty, to have some financial security (which is important especially in a Filipino household)—I get that. Times have changed and I was always interested in experiencing new things. I work as an operating room nurse full time in my community hospital Monday through Friday, but on the side I have more-than-hobbies such as directing and dancing in CODA (Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance) in Chicago, drawing for commissions, and thrifting/reselling vintage to help keep up with todays economic climate. Not only do I love doing these things for the good of my heart and soul, but they provide a side income that supports my career. My point is, try things that make you happy, if it helps make money that’s even better! Every body talks about following plan A or plan B etc. etc., but little do people know, you can execute multiple plans all at once. Follow your dreams—but have some money on the side to be financially stable. Travel the world but be willing to have time for work. I’d rather be a jack of all trades than a master of one.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a registered nurse. I work full time Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm. I work in the operating room. I help doctors perform their surgeries to help fix people and their medical conditions. You need to be a team player in this field. You have to trust the people working with you, veteran or newbie. The patient is at the center of all this care, and the whole medical team—nurse, surgeons, anesthesia, certified surgical technologists, radiology’s techs, etc. You have to have a team mentality to succeed in this profession.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting the area, I would first do the touristy things of Chicago: visit cloud gate/the bean, the Sears Tower, Portillo’s, Lou malnatis, Michigan Avenue. It gives a quick view of all the things people should do—architecture and art, food, social gatherings. Then I would bring the person to smaller sections of the city to show the culture and nuances of the people. Some places like Wicker park is more hip and trendy for foods, vintage, and streetwear. Other places include downtown Chicago, where the buildings touch the sky, and the streets are bustling. Then finally I would bring the friend to my local neighborhood and just relax to enjoy the peace.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First person I want to give a shout to would be my wife, Liane! She’s always so supportive of all my creative endeavors, big or small. She’s there by my side in my failures and my successes being my number one cheerleader. Second group would be my team CODA. They push me to be a better person, to guide and lead them in the best way possible. They provide me joy and friendship even after such a busy day at work. They only keep going forward and upward—I am so proud of them.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/v_lugo?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=