Fostering a Healthy Future
Alumna finds fulfillment with career in nursing
When Julia Morrissey wanted to change careers, she knew exactly where to go— Washtenaw Community College, where she earned her Associate Degree in Automotive Service Technology after high school.
“I wasn’t satisfied at my job anymore,” said Morrissey. “I had all my pre-requisite courses already completed from my previous degree at WCC, so I knew I could get my associates and get working fairly quickly.”
Fulfilling a dream
Morrissey entered the nursing program at WCC in 2004. She is currently enrolled at Eastern Michigan University working towards her bachelor’s degree while working full-time at the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.
She also serves as the Vice- Chair of the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council.
It’s the role she had been dreaming about for years. “I really do believe that nursing is a calling,” Morrissey said. “To be given such trust without question is an honor. To be part of someone’s life—to be by their side and advocate for them is amazing. I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Faculty support
She attributes her successful career change to the faculty at WCC. “I could come to class and know that my instructors would be there for me and that they wanted me to be successful. They believed in me so I could believe in myself. It was what I needed.”
To learn more about the nursing program at WCC, visit nursing.wccnet.edu.