At the age of 23, Northern Essex Community College graduate McKenzie Bova has already faced some of life’s most difficult challenges. She lost both her parents as a teen, worked to get her siblings under one roof, and became a parent herself. But through it all, Bova found a determination to build a different future from the one she inherited.

After her parents’ deaths, college was not immediately part of the plan when she graduated from Everett High School in 2021. Though she had always been academically capable, grief and instability made it difficult to focus on school. She described graduating with “bare bones” grades and spent the next few years trying to figure out what direction her life should take.

McKenzie Bova ’26

“I tried a bunch of different things because I really didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said. “I almost joined the Army. I did a tattoo apprenticeship. I tried dog-sitting.”

Eventually, she decided to give college a chance and enrolled at Northern Essex as an education major. But after completing an internship teaching seventh-grade English, she realized her interests were pulling her somewhere else.

“I loved the kids, but I learned I preferred the lab,” she said.

Bova switched her major to biology and found not only a passion for science, but also a supportive community of professors and staff who encouraged her along the way. She connected with the PACE Program and became involved on campus as a peer tutor. However, just as she was hitting her stride, life had another curveball in store. During the fall 2023 semester, just her second full semester at NECC, Bova found out she was pregnant. She said her grades suffered as she once again tried to balance school and life. She withdrew from several classes and used that time to develop a new plan.

“I had decided to come back full swing the following semester. I redid all the same courses and excelled in them. I managed to do my finals just three days after giving birth in May 2024; I was truly determined!”

As a new mom, Bova’s drive to succeed kicked into a new gear. She completed her associate degree in biology this past fall semester and, using guidance from the PACE program, transferred to the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology.

McKenzie and her son

She is also working full-time. She credits professors Kimberly Waligora and Kevin Mitchell with helping her earn her role as a laboratory analyst at Optimum Analytical in Salem, New Hampshire, where she tests bulk materials and air samples for asbestos.

“I enjoy the process of experimentation and finding end results,” she said. “I just like being in a lab.”

Today, McKenzie balances full-time studies at UML, work and motherhood. She also achieved another significant milestone: moving into her first apartment. And she remains as determined as ever to keep moving forward.

“All my success can be boiled down to two things: the determination to give my son a better opportunity than what I had, and the wonderful skill that NECC has when it comes to creating a close-knit college experience.”

This past Saturday, Bova participated in NECC’s 64th annual Commencement Ceremony, becoming the first member of her family to earn a college degree. Looking back on her time at NECC, she shared some important advice for students who may be struggling or encounter challenges as she did:

“It’s okay to have to do things multiple times,” she said. “It’s okay if it takes longer. You’ll still get there.”