Class of 1993
After a soul-searching cross-country bicycle trip in 1990, former business marketing professional, Julia Sarazine knew she wanted a career rooted in service, flexibility, and human connection. That journey led her to Shoreline Community College’s Nursing Program, where she found not only a top-tier education but also lifelong friendships and a strong foundation for a remarkable career.
“Nursing was a second career for me,” Julia shared. “I wanted to do something that helped others, something with a flexible schedule, and I’ve always been fascinated by the human body.”
Julia went on to become a board-certified family nurse practitioner, earning her doctorate in nursing and working in general medicine, surgical ICU, HIV care, and palliative care. Eventually, she founded Sarazine Mindfulness, LLC, where she taught mindfulness and resilience skills to over 3,500 individuals, including healthcare professionals, veterans with PTSD, and corporate teams. She’s a published author, national speaker, and certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor.
Now enjoying retirement, Julia reflects on the beauty of nursing:
“Once you get your solid education and training, you can weave your way through so many opportunities and directions. It’s not just one job. Also, you’re with people in a really vulnerable time in their lives. That kind of human connection is something we’re all craving now – and it’s important.”
She credits Shoreline’s skilled faculty for preparing her to thrive in her first role at a hospital. “I was one of 6 brand new nurses (many of which came from 4-year programs), and I felt really prepared. What our professors had focused on was meaningful and relevant. It was what we needed to know. I was very appreciative.”
Julia was proud to share that she remains connected to her Shoreline nursing cohort. She recently reunited with her study group friends from 30 years ago. “We just got together in Napa. Oh, did we laugh! Our time at Shoreline was only two years, but it was an intense and impressionable time. Everyone had a different story, diverse backgrounds and responsibilities and we all coped together.”
Thank you, Julia, for sharing your story! It’s a powerful reminder of the impact nurses make and the importance of showing up with compassion, determination, and a good sense of humor.
Julia’s advice to our Shoreline students is “Do your best each day and trust that it makes a difference. Sometimes, it’s the laughter that helps carry us through.”
In a beautiful full-circle moment, Julia recently established a new endowed nursing scholarship for Shoreline students. She shared how joyful and meaningful it was to give back to the program that shaped her career, and how easy it was to work with the Shoreline Foundation to name the scholarship. Her hope is that other alumni who are able will consider supporting Shoreline’s ever-growing programs and help empower the next generation of students.