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Merissa Williams

Biography

Profile: These are some of the words used by Merissa Williams Brickey’s professors and mentors to describe the young lady: heroic, outstanding, admired, warm, encouraging, genuine, compassionate, humanitarian, community-minded, leader, hard-working, deserving.  That just scratches the surface when describing this honors graduate of Northeast State Community College (NSCC) in her native Tennessee.  But to know Merissa, you must first understand what this dynamic young lady had to overcome to earn those words of praise. When Merissa was a junior in high school, she was involved in a near-fatal traffic accident. “Sustaining life changing injuries, I was forced to redirect my dream of attending an engineering school in Michigan,” recalled Merissa.  “Instead of going away I would need to stay at home so I could be cared for.” Despite a long period of recuperation and physical therapy, Merissa still managed to graduate with her high school class on time and delivered the valedictory speech.  As she finished her address that night in 2008, the auditorium at Sullivan North High School erupted in cheers for this valiant Scholar. 

Inspiration:  The teacher who influenced Merissa the most was Michael McAninch, one of her drafting instructors at NSCC. “During my years at Northeast State, Mr. McAninch was a beacon of hope for me.  He believed I was capable of doing work accurately and in a timely manner without needing unnecessary accomodations, only the ones I requested.  I fully believe that I would not have been as successful if it had not been for Mr. McAninch believing in and guiding me.”

Aspiration:  Merissa has chosen surveying and mapping sciences as her proposed major and construction management as a minor.  She has also pledged to give back to the world some of the kindness and compassion that she received during the long, difficult times spent after the accident by assisting others as they overcome life’s obstacles.

Making a Difference: An achievement Merissa is most proud of is graduating from high school as valedictorian in the class she started with her freshman year. This despite the auto accident that almost claimed her life that prevented her from attending school for more than half of her junior year.

Accolades:  Merissa’s name was constantly on both the President’s and Vice President’s Honors Lists at NSCC during her years there.  She was also named to “Who’s Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities.  She was also a finalist for the “Most Outstanding Student” award at NSCC.

Interesting Fact:  Merissa said some teachers and administrators at her high school insisted that she would not be capable of taking regular high school courses following her auto accident, “much less attend college and be as successful as I have been.”  During her final college semester, she not only took 21 credit hours and made straight A's, “but I also searched for and found mine and my husband's first home and planned our wedding essentially on my own.”

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