Every Merrimack College degree tells a story. The story of Nadia Shah’s ’25, M’26 bachelor’s degree is a life-changing one, comprising more than two decades, several starts and stops and overcoming substance use disorder.
“For anybody who thinks they can’t do it, I strongly encourage them to take the chance on themselves,” explained Shah. “Taking the first step is the hardest, but it made me into a person that I didn’t think I would ever become.”
Shah first enrolled at Merrimack College in 2001, with plans to study pre-med. It was also during that time that the opioid epidemic was ravaging the nation.
“I had a dream of becoming a doctor, but this demon of addiction was very powerful,” Shah said. “It was a quick spiral in terms of my school work and family deteriorating. There wasn’t help. It wasn’t something you talked about.”
While battling addiction, Shah attempted numerous times to continue her academic journey. She noted that she remains incredibly grateful for Diane Shaw, assistant professor of practice in the Academic Success Center, who consistently went to bat for Shah each time she sought to return to Merrimack College.
Eventually, Shah made the difficult decision to leave Merrimack College entirely. As the stigma around substance use disorder began to change, Shah saw greater opportunities to get help. She started attending meetings and is now 10 years sober. She is a mother of three and built a career in the mortgage business.
And while she turned her life around, Shah could not shake the looming presence of not having graduated from college.
“I thought to myself, ‘I’ll never be a doctor, but I can finish my degree,’” she said.
So, she reached out to Merrimack and learned about the Bachelor Degree Completion (BDC) program, designed for working professionals of all levels and backgrounds. The completely online program allows students to apply past credits, which Shah had, towards degree completion. Shah said just 10 days after her initial email, she was already registered for classes.
“It really was a miracle,” Shah said. “I was so scared at first, but this program is geared towards people like me. This program changes lives. It changed my life and I know it changes others’ lives. When I graduated, it was the happiest day of my dad’s life because this was just as much his dream as mine.”
Once she completed her bachelor’s degree in 2025, Shah quickly went from a person who couldn’t finish school to a college graduate to a master’s degree student. While in the BDC program, she heard about the Double Warrior program, and is now just a few months away from earning her master’s degree in accounting.
“Before I even had a chance to take a break or think, I decided I was just going to sign up (for the Double Warrior program) because if I stopped then, I probably would have had a hard time starting again,” Shah said. “Doing the completion program prepared me for what I am doing now.”
Shah’s oldest child is 16 years old and witnessed the difficulties that she went through. Shah’s diplomas from Merrimack College won’t just be a reminder of what she accomplished, but also of what she overcame.
“That is what I want my children to take away from my life experiences,” Shah said. “You can go through tough times and come out the other side stronger.”
