Most community college students are local, but not Sarah Donohoo, a 2019 psychology graduate, who came all the way from Sicily to attend Northern Essex.

Donohoo was born in Boston but soon moved with her Italian mother and her Texan father to Italy, where she spent the first 20 years of her life.

She attended an Italian classical high school that focused on Ancient Greek and Latin, and discovered a passion for psychology.

When it was time for college, she knew she wanted to study in the United States and she looked at both two and four-year colleges in Massachusetts.

Her family had recently settled in North Andover—her father transferred from Sicily to Burlington, MA—so Northern Essex was on her radar.  When a family friend shared what a great experience he had here, Donohoo was sold.

She arrived in the United States on October 1 of 2017 and, just two weeks later, she started accelerated mid-semester classes.

“I’ve loved my time at Northern Essex,” she says.  And, although she only finished classes a week ago, she claims “I already miss it.”

What Donohoo appreciates most about Northern Essex are the “amazing” professors.

Classes with Psychology Professors Krista Titone and Isabelle Gagne helped her recognize that psychology was the right career choice, and she calls them “phenomenal and inspirational.”

She also credits Northern Essex faculty with helping her to discover a love for subjects outside her field of interest.    “I always thought I hated biology, but thanks to Professor Clements, I found I loved it.”

In the fall, Donohoo will transfer her associate degree in psychology to Boston University where she will live on campus and study for a bachelor’s in the same field.  Here long-term goal is to go to medical school and become a psychiatrist specializing in child psychiatry.

Northern Essex offers a Liberal Arts: Psychology Degree which is designed for transfer to a four-year college or university.