Emily Thompson Human Services

Emily Thompson of Amesbury had a perfectly good job as a licensed nurse assistant (LNA), but always felt there was something missing. She found what she was looking for when she enrolled at Northern Essex Community College and participated in the internship program.

She recently attended Northern Essex’s May commencement where she accepted her Associate in Science Human Services with honors degree.

The 30-year-old who grew up in Stratham, NH, said after she graduated from Exeter High School she went directly into the working world. She started her family a short time later and motherhood took precedence over higher education.

After becoming an LNA, she worked for a number of years in a nursing home. She found she loved working with the geriatric population, but felt limited. “I always knew there was more for me to offer.”

In 2013, when her three children were no longer babies, she enrolled in Northern Essex’s Human Services program. As part of the program she completed her internship at Amesbury/s Senior Center. It was there, that she felt like she found home. Before she had even completed her degree, she was offered a full-time job at the center.

“I love my job there,” she said. “It is so rewarding. They sometimes come in lost, scared or concerned about something. By the time they leave my office they know they have someone else facing the challenge with them.”

Thompson intends to continue her education at Salem State University and earn both a bachelor and master’s degree, but her heart is at Northern Essex.

“I’ve loved my experience here,” she said. “I’m sad to leave. I’ve face lots of challenges, but had a real network of support.”

To learn more about enrolling at Northern Essex for the fall, visit the website or contact Enrollment Services at, admissions@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3700.