May 11
North Shore Community College (NSCC) gave Bridget Ngu-Atem ‘26 the challenges and opportunities she needed to push herself further as both a leader and a student—all without breaking the bank. Her story highlights the incredible opportunities, caring faculty, and vast resources available to NSCC students at every step of their academic journey.
“I realized that North Shore was not like other communities; it was better because it had space for everyone. I never had to worry about finances, I was just here to study and continue to grow,” she said.
Dedicated to leadership and service
Ngu-Atem immigrated from Cameroon shortly after finishing high school. At first, it was difficult to connect with people.
“When I got to the United States, it was a new environment. I didn't know a lot of people, and I had to start afresh. I was the kind of student who was very enthusiastic; I like to talk to people, I like to help people, but it was so, so hard for me because everyone was so reserved,” she said.
She soon enrolled at NSCC as a first-generation college student, and she began taking classes, including Introduction to Psychology with Dr. Jean Lendall. With a professor who saw her potential and peers who supported her, everything clicked.
“From there, I saw North Shore for what it really was, and I became more engaged. Now, I always go to faculty to ask questions, and I always look for more opportunities,” she said.
At NSCC, Ngu-Atem found countless opportunities to hone her leadership and collaboration skills, dedicating herself to a wide variety of campus activities—everything from theatre to serving as the president of the College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She began working as a tutor and found that helping others motivates her to learn even more.
Her peers elected her as the Student Government Association’s vice president of academics, where she advocated for expanding the Tutoring Center and increasing awareness of the College’s academic resources.
“Leadership isn't about you working alone—it's not about you struggling to make things work. The best thing to do is to build your team,” she said.
A bright and ambitious future
From the age of 11, Ngu-Atem always knew she wanted to be a neurosurgeon, and after seeking out shadowing opportunities with many different types of physicians, she still found herself drawn to the challenges and rewards of neurosurgery.
Ngu-Atem earned her STEM Transfer Foundation associate degree, and she studied under the biology pathway. Her STEM coursework has provided a solid foundation for her ambitions, and the Honors program has fostered academic excellence.
In addition to other requirements, Honors students must complete an Honors project, and Ngu-Atem chose to research dementia, focusing on early detection and the role of caregivers. After reading countless pages, attending online conferences, and reaching out to researchers, Ngu-Atem completed her Honors project.
She chose to present her project at the Beverly Senior Center in order to connect with her local community, with nearly 30 community members attending her talk. Several attendees approached her afterward to thank her, some with tears in their eyes. Ngu-Atem was moved by their vulnerability as attendees shared their stories.
She gave her presentation again in Lynn on May 14—not because it was a requirement, but because she is dedicated to spreading dementia awareness.
Ngu-Atem will continue pursuing a career as a neurosurgeon, but she now finds herself at a crossroads: she could begin her bachelor’s degree, or she could enroll in a nursing program.
Why nursing? Ngu-Atem wants to get a well-rounded view of medicine so that when she is a doctor, she can provide more than just diagnosis and treatment—she can connect with patients and truly provide healing.
“It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of empathy to take care of people. I've seen how critical nurses are—they connect with every single part of the patient,” she said.
Whatever her path, Ngu-Atem will take every opportunity she can.
“You have to put in the work, and you have to tell your own story,” she said. “Take the time and go out into the world—there are people out there who are excited to help you, you just have to show that you are ready.”