![Jessica Mooraj]( "Jessica Mooraj")
MassBay Community College student Jessica Mooraj, 2021 (Photo by Jessica Mooraj).
Jessica Mooraj of Sudbury, MA, earned her bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature from Brandeis University and went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration from Northeastern University, leading to a career in the finance industry. “When I had my two daughters, now both teenagers, I took time off from the workforce to raise them. Once they were in school full-time, I wanted to try something new. I wanted to go back to college to change my career focus to psychology, which I have always been interested, but I didn’t want to end up over my head with schoolwork, and I didn’t know how to start the process,” said Jessica.
“I called Framingham State University (FSU) to inquire about their programs, but was told I would need some pre-requisite classes to get started. After some further research, I learned about the MassTransfer program and how easily credits can transfer between FSU and MassBay, as well as the cost difference between the two colleges, so I enrolled at MassBay,” she added.
“I grew up in Wellesley, but never knew MassBay offered such a high-quality education. I was surprised by the academic rigor of my first class, Human Growth and Development. I can say, it was the most work I have done in a college class and I learned so much. That class alone changed my whole mindset about the educational quality a community college can offer to its students.”
In addition to the classwork, Jessica says she has been most impressed at MassBay by “the phenomenal professors, as well as my classmates. My peers are my age and older, some are going back to school to become nurses, some are immigrants attending MassBay to launch new careers, others are people who work full-time — their stories and life experiences are amazing. I have learned as much from my classmates as I have from my professors. It’s fascinating to hear their perspectives, and I now look at education and life through a different lens.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut things down, Jessica used her classes as a haven away from it all. “I appreciated the flexibility of MassBay’s online classes. I was able to complete my classwork after my kids went to bed, which fit in perfectly with my schedule.”
Jessica added, “I am now interested in earning a master’s degree in psychology. I plan to transfer to University of Massachusetts Boston in June to pursue a career in mental health counseling. I feel much more confident applying as an adult learner. I was out of the classroom for more than 20 years, but I have been so happy to be part of this community. I would tell other adults returning to the classroom to turn to your local community college because they will help you on your path towards success with professional or personal development, career advancement, or a career change.”