Daily Archives: May 7, 2014

News

Wilson talks about choosing two year or four year college and universities

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When students reach their senior year of high school, the pressure to choose a college to further their education can be a very stressful time. Psychology major Maddi Wilson of Salem, N.H. is one of many students who was in this predicament.

Wilson previously attended Campbell High School in Litchfield, N.H. and graduated with honors. She was looking into four-year universities such as The University of New Hampshire, Southern New Hampshire University, and Plymouth State University. Though after extensive back and forth decisions whether to stay home and commute, or go away for school she made her decision to attend NECC.

“I felt it would be better off if I stayed home for the first two years of college, and so far it has worked out very well for me,” says Wilson.

She stays in Salem, N.H. on weekdays with her grandparents so she can commute back. Then on the weekends, she goes home to Litchfield where her parents and brother are.

Wilson is a psychology major who has already mapped out exactly how she wants to complete her time here at NECC.

“I wanted to get my core classes completed first, save money, and then further my education at a four-year university,” says Wilson.

Choosing psychology as her major was an easy choice. Wilson enjoys learning about specific illnesses and mental diseases that can affect a person.

“I find the mental predicament some people are in fascinating. I want to work where I can really help people. I want to make a difference,” says Wilson.

While Wilson spends most of her weekdays studying for classes and exams, the rest of the time is spent at her part time job, or working out at the gym.

“I work at Guess at the Merrimack Outlets in Merrimack, N.H. It takes up most of my weeknights and weekends. I try to fit some gym time in there too, I like to keep in shape,” says Wilson.

Some people may not know that Wilson is also an avid concertgoer. She attends small concerts mainly for alternative bands at venues such as the Paradise Rock Club, or The House of Blues in Boston.

“My biggest concert I’ve been to was Ed Sheeran in New York City, NY at Madison Square Garden. Words cannot describe the experience I had, and the atmosphere I was in. He is my go-to artist when it comes to studying, too,” says Wilson.

Like most students who choose to stay home their first years of college, she balances a part time job, school work, and tries to fit in a social life.

“When I first made the choice to stay home, I was really happy. Then, I got worried that I wasn’t going to make new friends, or really have that college experience,” says Wilson.

As far as her social life goes, she sees friends who come home for the weekend, and visits one of her best friends up at the University of New England.

A year later finishing up her first full year of college, Wilson is more than satisfied with where she is.

“Definitely the best life choice I’ve made so far. I am living at home having home cooked meals, saving money by not being away, I’ve made some great new friends, and I’m making money by working. It’s been a win win situation all the way around,” says Wilson.

She continues talking about the difficulty and hardships that most seniors today go through when it comes down to choosing colleges.

“Some parents, and teachers do not understand the pressure that most of us are put through,” says Wilson.

Student athletes are especially pressured. Some are accepted to multiple colleges, with possible scholarship offers. When it comes to the decision on what they want to choose, it can be very stressful. Parents have to give their input, friends give their opinions, and coaches also want a say in the matter.

“I was a student athlete in high school. I was a cheerleader, and played softball. I know I was not going to go to college for either, but I saw what some athletes went through,” says Wilson.

“If I could give advise to anyone going through this, I would definitely tell them to put all opinions aside and go with what you feel is right. No matter how much people may disapprove, or turn their nose up, it is best to go with the gut feeling that you know is right.”

Right now, Wilson has one year left at NECC. She is planning on taking  10 classes over the course of two semesters in the fall of 2014 and spring of 2015.

Opinion

Wanting a blast from the past

 

Have you ever thought what it would be like to grow up in a different decade? Being born in the 90s was great, but I have always wondered what it would be like to live in another time. I would choose to live in the 50s.

Fifties America was known as “the Golden Years.” After WWII, we were the most powerful and wealthiest nation. The middle class was expanding more and more each day, and it was very easy to find a job. The American dream was a beautiful vision to many Americans because crime, divorce and debt were low, and everything was less hectic than it is now.

One thing I admire and love is the style of the 50s, including the clothing that the women would wear and the classy hairstyles. That’s one of the major reasons why I would want to live in that era; everything seemed so chill and laid back.

I also feel like men had more respect for women back then when it comes to dating. Some men that I have dated act like pigs and have no manners at all. Recently, I talked to my neighbor who grew up in the 50s, and he told me how he still holds the door open for his wife and pulls her chair. I just find that so attractive in a man.

Another reason I would say is a benefit of living in the 50s is how much less things cost back then. In 1950, a gallon of gas cost 27 cents. By the beginning of the 60s, the price of tuition to Harvard was $2,370. In 2014, the cost to go to Harvard is $59,950, more than 25 times the amount in 1960.

Going to college in the 50s was uncommon; it was more of a dream to some. Starting my junior year in college, I feel like it is nothing but the norm to attend college. Now to survive in this world and have a good job, a college degree is required. Back in the 50s, people had a trade, and companies didn’t require that you have a degree. Even if I did choose to go to college, living in the 50s, the price is amazing. A lot of people that I know tell me how they don’t go to college because they can’t afford it.

In the 1950s, still in the wake of the New Deal, America’s economy much more strongly supported the working class. Sheer poverty was less likely to hold a person out from opportunities. But it’s important to me to not downplay the reality that racism and sexism were strong forces in many people’s lives at that time, and that homophobia was so overwhelming that non-cisgender, heterosexual people faced extremely high likelihood of ostracism and death if they came out.

It’s possible, if we’re careful and attentive, to separate the aesthetic of the 1950s from the bigotry that did, in part, define it. I’m in the fortunate position to be able to look back and see the good in that time, and I hope we can take ownership of those good things without reviving some of the terrible parts of America’s heritage.

When all is said and done, I’m sure tonight I am going to have a dream about living in the 50s.

Editorial

Summer finally upon us

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Monday signified the last day of classes for the spring 2014 semester. For many students of NECC, they will be walking away from the Haverhill or Lawrence campuses and move on to a four year school.

Many students will take summer classes. Some will move on and head straight to work. There’s no “right” way to move on from school — everyone has their own plan. The important part of those plans are to stick with them and to fight for what you want to do.

For those who take advantage of a summer off, make it count. Go to the beach if you want. Go every day. Go hiking, go boating. It may be the last chance you have to goof off, and you’ll want to make the most of it.

The time spent in school can be an amazingly positive time as long as you want it to be. Like everything, your perception and opinion will make the difference in how you react to it. Take finals seriously, and when they’re done, the time spent goofing off will feel even better.

Things will change very fast for everyone. Many of us are headed to four year schools, where the comfort of small classrooms and personal relationships with professors may be a thing of the past. The drive to class will now be the walk over from the dorm for people who are moving away to school.

NECC opens a lot of doors. If you take advantage of those openings, your college experience will be significantly better. Not only for your years at NECC, but the years you spend elsewhere.

Make the most of your vacation, if you’re taking one. If you take summer classes, have fun with them. NECC keeps a lot of their services open during the summer, so head over to the gym or math center and get involved.

Don’t let yesterday’s mistake cost you tomorrow’s success. Say “so what?” Shrug it off, keep your head on your shoulders and things will work out.

The only one who is going to do things for you is ultimately you. Have fun, take class, personal life, and work seriously.

NECC is a good place. I had fun here, and met a lot of great people. They put me in a great position to succeed.

News

Marie Phillips and Lukas Schmid take home Student of Month honor

 

Two Northern Essex Community College students were recently honored for being picked as students of the month. Marie Phillips was student of the month for February and Lukas Schmid was named student of the month for March.

Phillips, an early childhood education student, was nominated by professor Deirdre Budzyna. Budzyna wrote:  “Marie is certainly a strong student.  She has a grade point average of 3.9 and is the President of Phi Theta Kappa.  However, that is not what sets her apart from the others in her class.  Marie is an exceptional human being.  She spends her life working to make others’ lives easier. She juggles her academics, community service, parenting and work with apparent ease and is always looking for opportunities to make someone’s day a little brighter. “

Phillips was also recently named this year’s student speaker for commencement in recognition of her achievements and contributions.

According to Budzyna, Phillips has dedicated much of her time to helping children with limited resources.

“She has volunteered with the STEP program at the Emmaus House family shelter in Haverhill, Massachusetts.  The STEP program was designed to provide homework help and tutoring for school age children who reside at the Emmaus House.  Marie realized that there are many young children residing in the shelter and she has worked hard to design activities for them as well,” Budzyna wrote. “Marie is also a member of the Jump Start program which is a division of AmeriCorps.  Jump Start is a program that works with preschool aged children who live in low income areas to strengthen the children’s literacy skills and prepare them for academic success.  Marie has pledged to complete 300 hours of service with the Jump Start program this year.  She was promoted to the role of team leader in this program.  Marie leads the children in circle time activities, provides individual instruction, reads to children and assists during center time. She is warm, nurturing and creative when interacting with children who are in crisis.  Her maturity and passion for serving the underserved are truly remarkable.”

Budzyna said Phillips is also a student leader: “ She is an active member of the early childhood club. She is a member of PACE (Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence).  She is also a member of the Student Leadership Development Program at NECC.  She actively participates in leadership programs as well as community service.  Marie also volunteers her time as a student ambassador for NECC, a position that is only awarded to the strongest leaders on campus.  She also works as a new student orientation leader, welcoming new students onto campus and introducing them to all the programs NECC has to offer.”

Budzyna said Phillips was awarded the Pearson Prize this year and named a Pearson Prize National Scholar. “This honor is award to only 100 college students throughout the United States each year,” she said. “Recipients not only strive for academic excellence, but also work hard to make a difference in their communities.”

In conclusion, Budzyna wrote that “Marie’s commitment to her education, professional development, community service and leadership opportunities are exemplary …. She approaches every task and opportunity with a positive spirit and willingness to make the world a better place.  Anyone who comes  into contact with Marie is truly blessed.”

Engineering physics student Schmid was nominated by professor Chaitanya Hiremath.

Hiremath praised Schmid’s positive attitude, calling him a “friendly, respectful and conscientious student,” who is “a pleasure to have in class.”

“In the laboratory, Lukas not only works very well in a team and performs the experiments thoroughly but he also cares about the partners and helps them in understanding the concepts,” Hiremath wrote. “Lukas is a great Engineering Physics I student at NECC and I wish him the best in life.”

News

Kelsey Terry named student trustee

 

In May 2013 Kelsey Terry became the new NECC Student Trustee.
In May 2013 Kelsey Terry became the new NECC Student Trustee. Photo courtesy of NECC Newsroom
Kelsey Terry has been voted in as Student Trustee at NECC for the fall/spring semester of 2014/2015.
Terry has been a student at NECC since spring of 2012 where she studies Liberal Arts with concentrations in biology, psychology, and philosophy. Terry currently is a math tutor in the math center, a work study student for the math department, a presidential student ambassador, a student senator where she is the Executive Program Chair of Haverhill, Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a student representative on the finance committee and Terry was an embedded tutor for developmental math courses in the fall of 2013 and will be returning to that role in the fall of 2014.

“I plan on being the voice of the student body. I also plan on presenting issues, concerns of the students to the board as well as respond back to students once I receive answers. I will be accountable for what my title entails and will represent the student body as a whole,” said, Terry.

Many students voted for Terry because of what she has accomplished on campus. “Her commitment to the students and being the voice of the students is taken seriously and she does not fear anyone, she makes sure her voice is heard. When she does stuff she is committed to the end,” said Josephine Sebagaisha, a biology major.

Terry has demonstrated determination to find out the truth, said Jasmine Chazulle, a Liberal Arts major. “She is also does a lot and is very active,” Chazulle said.

Terry has proven time after time of her dedication to NECC and the students who know here are noticing. Students at NECC have had nothing but great things to say about Kelsey Terry when they heard she was going to be the Student Board of Trustee member.

“Kelsey Terry is one of the most hardworking, dedicated, honest people I have ever known. She is a true asset to the Northern Essex Community and I have absolute confidence in her ability to fulfill the trustee position with integrity,” said Crystal Pringle, a physical science major.

Students are also noticing how she takes on student issues. Terry tackles issues that most students are not even aware of being in existence..

“I see that her attention is directed towards a number of student issues at the college, many of which haven’t even registered on people’s radar. She is an earnest problem solver who doesn’t take the efforts of students and faculty for granted, is never complacent, nor is she indifferent to change,” said Brandon Fitton, an engineering science student.

Donna Passemato, a liberal arts student, has been a fan of Terry since the moment she met her a year ago in the Spurk building lobby during a fundraiser. She was amused by Terry’s humor. Passemato remembers the first thing that Terry said to her when they first met, “Centimeter of plasma refers to what, and how do you measure the depth of blood exposed to the elements?” Passemato answered back with, “Hi, I’m Donna Passemato. Nice to meet you.”

“She will add her talents, and dedication to a multiplicity of pursuits-intellectually, mathematically, and steadfast,” wrote Passemato in an e-mail.

According to Massachusettes law Chapter 15A Public Education Section 21 Board of Trustees for section 5 institutions; membership; qualifications; tenure; vacancies, it is stated that, “There shall be a board of trustees consisting of 11 members. One member of such board of trustees shall be a full-time undergraduate student member from said institution and ten members shall be appointed by the governor.”

“I understand the numbers, concerns, and I am here to represent you, the student body. I am a dedicated student that prioritizes everything I do,” said Terry. “I will use my skills and experience to make sure I, the Student Trustee, representing the student body is heard. Being a student trustee means making decisions which impact the lives of people. I will be making a difference to my school as well as local community.”

Features, Photo Gallery

NECC’s white knight sheds his armor

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President Lane Glenn conducts a presentation inside the Hartleb Technology Center.
President Lane Glenn conducts a presentation inside the Hartleb Technology Center. Photo courtesy of NECC Newsroom
His feet brace the black tar like a locomotive, switching and taking turns, one after the other. The cool weather adds to the intensity, attempting, with great effort, to rein President Lane Glenn back, down to the realms of ruin.

He resists the oppressive wind; his lungs, accustomed to the attacks, continue to operate efficiently without interruption. Liberating sweat bleeds through a blue and gold shirt, whipping. A sensation of rich fire burns through his legs. He is running for his life, a means by which health and happiness drive his legs to extend beyond the demands that come with being the college president: the responsibilities, the meetings; the frustration of witnessing, in plain view, the destruction of what could have potentially been a great concept.

It can be difficult to accept failure, even more so when it clouds judgment and critical thinking. Looking back, he finds he is not alone in the fight. A group of similarly dressed runners pump their arms and moderate their breathing to endure the formidable, seemingly unending journey that they, despite all obstacles, pain, are willing to see through. Beyond escape, he finds himself, amid the President’s running club, calm and collected, in knowledge that the hardest part has yet to come.

As with any high position or lofty title, the role of college president comes with a significant amount of recognition and responsibility. Since replacing Dr. David Hartleb, who retired June 30, 2011, after whom the Technology Center is named, Glenn has taken the role as NECC’s fourth president to new heights.

Glenn’s accomplishments, as president for only three years, have been unprecedented. He has consistently and effectively focused his authority into progressing student success, support for underprepared students, among other things. Most notably, he expanded the college’s relationships with local high schools and partnered with local employers, such as Raytheon, to develop programs that deliver the skills most needed in the job market.

Indeed, Glenn has come a long way from serving as NECC’s vice president of academic affairs since 2006. In fact, it only preludes what else he has done for the college, which include, but are not limited to, the following: putting in place the college’s associate of science degree in lab science. The program was developed in partnership with 10 local employers, and an innovative Early College Program at Amesbury High School, which has been called a statewide model. Glenn also spearheaded NECC Riverwalk, bringing together credit programs, adult literacy programs, and non credit personal enrichment and career programs in one location for the first time.

Of course, without taking away credit where it is due, Glenn didn’t just develop the uncanny ability to convert opportunities into results overnight. Prior to coming to NECC, Glenn was dean of academic and student services at Oakland Community College in Michigan. He has also served as director of learning services at Lansing Community College, also in Michigan.

Lane Glenn gives a speech after a run, for which he was awarded a medal.
Lane Glenn gives a speech after a run, for which he was awarded a medal. Courtesy photo by Ernie Greenslade
When he’s not at work, Glenn leads the President’s Running Club, and engages in physical activity of almost all variances, as fitness is an important part of his life (and, occasionally, coming in first place). Furthermore, although he isn’t known for theatricality or making a scene, do not be fooled. Glenn holds a Ph.D. in theater from Michigan State University.

Yet these are all things we’ve always known about Glenn (except for that last bit, of course). Because of his involvement in many events and decisions related to the college, few have seen what Glenn is like outside of being president. Without too much difficulty, it’s easy to recall the dark blazer, the pleated pants brisking through the Haverhill Campus on a day without remembrance — the charming, winning attitude that breaks through even the most coy and standoffish of people, with an air of ease that lowers even an enemy’s defense to allow for genuity, of the highest caliber, to have its day — the practiced yet naturally alluring smile pasted, brightly and smartly, on the college’s website or the NECC Observer. Yet there’s very little known about the person behind the smile, and what troubling thoughts occasionally slip through the rigid, optimist creed Glenn lives by and holds himself to.

He’s a man who never seems to be in one place for too long, slipping in and out of rooms, smoothing through the orderly chaos of a meeting or an unexpected encounter with yet another suit smiling and shaking his hand. Sanity, ebbing and flowing, holds his tongue in place. Regardless of sitting through a luncheon or speaking at an event, this is business as usual, and President Lane Glenn is no novice: the business of leading a life that begins with a handshake and ends with a smile is second nature to the NECC President.

So is establishing relationships and bringing people together. Two weeks ago, Glenn and others celebrated Gov. Deval Patrick’s announcement of $1.2 million going to Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School to rebuild their machining labs. According to Ernie Greenslade, Director of Public Relations, it was the result of a conversation Glenn had with s Greg Bialecki, Massachusetts’ Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. Upon a chance encounter, Glenn saw Bialecki and reached out to him about the machining program at Greater Lawrence Vocational Technical High School. It is a non credit program that receives grants so that it can be offered, but with little to no up to date equipment to train people on, it has been near to impossible to manage.

“We’re trying, there’s this demand, there’s jobs available, but we just don’t have the equipment to train people for these jobs,” said Greenslade. Shortly after, NECC partnered with Greater Lawrence, along with some machining businesses, and wrote a grant for $1.2 million to fund the machining program.
“He doesn’t want the credit, he just wants to make it happen,” said Greenslade.
But even the most successful of people have experienced failure of one form or another, suffered from some mistake, and Glenn is no exception.

“I think the problem that someone like Lane Glenn occasionally faces, because they’re so optimistic, so much of an idealist, is that they may sometimes fail to prioritize and set a reachable goal for their ideas,” said Greenslade.

As a dreamer, Glenn has sometimes fallen short of his goals. It has resulted in unborn seeds that could have blossomed into a grant for people in need, a program in demand but without supply. In spite of his past error and failures, Glenn maintains, unbroken, his vision of helping people and making a difference.
He’s running by himself now, the competitive beast within unraveled and hungry. The loops, white lines organize and measure the outburst of athletic energy. For a while. Eventually, he allows himself to be consumed by the moment, to coarse through his veins. The pain unleashes him into the element. He is in his domain, where nothing survives except the light of his optimism.

Glenn runs faster; his legs ignite, his breathing thickens. And suddenly, suddenly he feels nothing: a height of inexplicable feeling whites out and numbs everything, solidifying, to great pleasure, the chaotically beautiful crescendo of his transformation. And suddenly, Glenn is no longer running. He is free.

News

NECC holds annual Campus Classic 5k

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The 5k racers cross the start line.
The 5k racers cross the start line. Photo courtesy of NECC Newsroom
On May 3, NECC hosted their 2nd annual Campus Classic 5k on Haverhill campus at 10 a.m. with a Fun Run for children starting at 9 a.m.

Walkers and runners were welcome, and 189 of them participated in the race, including NECC president Lane Glenn who placed 16th out of 83 male runners, with a time of 22:15.
Different running groups like Merrimack Valley Striders and North Shore Striders were also present at the race, representing their team.

Members of the NECC community were also encouraged to represent the school while running the race.

Overall first place winner for the Campus Classic 5k was Jon Fiva, age 35, from Cambridge with a time of 17:01. Second place winner was Larry Fowle, age 31, with a time of 17:30. In third place was Connor Hayden, age 26, from Bradford with a time of 19:28. And following closely behind him was 11 year old Sean Kay from melrose with a time of 19:50.

First place in overall female winners was Kirsten Kortz, age 35, of Somerville with a time of 21:20. Second place was Nancy Corsaro, age 55, from Methuen with a time of 21:50. Third place was Laura Seddon, age 29, from Amesbury with a time of 22:27. And in fourth was Kristina Richard, age 22, from Peabody, with a time of 23:01.

Alan Segermain, age 59, from the Merrimack Valley Striders said the race was on “A beautiful day, a nice course, a nice field.”

He said the people racing, the volunteers, and the crowd were all “friendly and inviting,” and he enjoyed running the 5k with his fellow striders.

Segermain’s time was 28:27 and was placed 40th out of 83 male participants.
This was Segermain’s and the Merrimack Valley Striders’ second time coming to the Campus Classic.

Segermain said that Merrimack Valley Striders have more than 20 runners.
He said about 6 of them met in Methuen before the 5k and rode to the campus on bikes to warm up before the race.

Some runners even ran to the campus to prepare for the 5k. “We get here by running or riding,” Segermain said.

Dave Leonard, age 61, another Merrimack Valley Strider said that he came back this year to make up for the year before, where during the race he had fallen over a speed bump.

Leonard said his goal was to “run the race upright,” this year, and he succeeded. Leonard’s finished in 55th place out of 83 male runners with a time of 32:36.

Chuck McAllister, age 38, placed 49 out of 83 with a time of 31:24. McAllister ran 23 miles before coming to the Campus Classic 5k and participating in the race. He said “I went the long way,” to get the Haverhill campus. He said he is preparing for a 50 mile race that is coming up. He said the 23 miles was great, but the 5k was horrible.

Uncategorized

President’s Day Trivia Contest winner announced

 

Each year, Professors Richard Padova and Andrew Morse from the Global Studies Dept.

sponsor a Presidents’ Day trivia contest. The subject for this year’s contest was presidential

assassinations. Two students answered all ten questions correctly. The winners were Robert

Williams and Michelle Roberts, and each received a gift certificate for Tripoli’s Bakery in

Lawrence. Thank you to all of this year’s participants and we look forward to next year’s

contest.

Sports

Knights win the championship

 

NECC's baseball team, the Knights, jump and hug each other after a victory on the baseball diamond.
The NECC Knights jump for joy as they win the championship game. Photo courtesy of NECC Newsroom
In a winner-take-all second game on Sunday, Daniel Bonito (Swampscott) twirled a three-hitter to give the Northern Essex Community College baseball team the Region XXI Championship over Massasoit Community College at Colombo Field. As a result, Northern Essex will be heading to the NJCAA World Series in Texas for the third consecutive season.

Massasoit captured game one, 12-5, to force the deciding game, which the Knights won by a score of 8-2 to send NECC (20-12) to the NJCAA World Series for the third straight season.

“It was a long tough day. It was a battle. Both teams were great. Massasoit showed why they were the No. 1 team. In the first game there was nothing we could do, they just beat us,” Northern Essex head coach Jeff Mejia said. “It was a battle between two really, really good teams and it was just a pleasure to be a part of that. As a coach, I feel honored to coach these guys. We have a great group of hard working kids.”

After Massasoit put up 12 runs in game one, the top-seeded Warriors had a difficult time all day with Bonito. The southpaw was outstanding on the bump for the Knights, going the distance surrendering just three hits and yielding two unearned runs. Bonito struck out seven and worked around six walks and one hit by pitch.

In fact, Bonito walked the bases loaded on two occasions — in the second and ninth innings — but he escaped both threats unscathed.

“We say that a lot about Danny, that is is effectively wild,” Mejia said. “But then he gets in a groove and he is tough to hit. He was heavily recruited out of high school as a pitcher, but I also liked his swing. When he came here (after transferring from Western New England College), I told him you’ll have a chance to swing and pitch and he told me ‘just let me know when I need to win the big one’. He stopped a three-game losing streak for us earlier in the year and today was obviously his biggest game of the season for us.”

Bonito did not allow a hit until two outs in the fourth on a double by Matt Levasseur. The only other hits Massasoit could muster came on an infield single in the fifth and two-out single in the eighth.

“I honestly just tried to stay calm,” Bonito said. “I’m one of the oldest guys on the team. I’ve been there (in pressure situations) before. I just concentrated on throwing strikes and getting my outs and having my fielders help me out.”

Massasoit starter David Tarr and Bonito matched zeroes until the top of the fifth, when the Warriors scored two unearned runs.

However, NECC bounced right back in the bottom of the frame when leadoff hitter Jonathan De La Cruz (Haverhill) connected for a two-homer homer to knot the score at 2-2.

Bonito settled down after the fifth. The sophomore retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh frames as part sending down 10 straight Warrior batters from the fifth through the eighth innings.

In the sixth, the Knights put up a three-spot thanks to a two-run triple by Michael Crisostome (Lynn) and RBI single from David Quazada (Lawrence) to take the lead for good.

Leading 5-2 in the last of the eighth, NECC added some insurance, as MacDaniel Singleton (Everett) cashed in with a bases clearing double to round out the scoring on the day, 8-2 in favor of the Knights.

“It is obviously a great feeling to go to the World Series and I’m really excited to go with this group of guys,” Bonito said. “That is a good Massasoit team and it was nice to finally beat them.”

The Warriors had defeated the Knights four consecutive times this season, before they claimed the most important one, sending NECC to the NJCAA World Series for the third straight season.

Opinion

Enjoy the experience the whole way through

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If you are planning on attending a sporting event anytime soon, stay for the whole game. Sporting events are long, get over it. If you are planning to go to a sporting event, whether it is a Red Sox, Bruins or NECC game of any sort, plan ahead. Make the necessary arrangements and mental preparations you need in order to stay for the entire event.

People come up with a million reasons not to stay the whole time, but why go if you are just going to skip the end; it is the best part!

Consider this, you see a trailer for the new Avengers movie and freak out. This is the movie you have been waiting to see since the first Avengers movie ended and now it is almost here. You go online and order tickets to the midnight premiere months in advance. Then, once you are there, you realize you still have work the next day and need to sleep at some point. As a result, you decide to leave halfway through and end up missing the best part of the movie you have been waiting years to see. Does that make sense? The answer is NO! If you make the conscious decision to attend an event such as, in this case, a movie or a sporting event then you must understand the consequences.

Some may say, “I leave early to skip the traffic.” This is a misjudgment because there are at least a thousand other fans in the ball park with the same mindset that take off at the same time creating the traffic everyone is trying to avoid.

Others will submit that they need to get up early for class or work the next day; too bad! As stated before, you must attend these events preparing for the consequences. If you have class or work the next morning be prepared to be exhausted throughout the day. Grab an extra cup of coffee, energy drink, or just call out sick, but do not leave the game early.

Instead, grab a few beers and some friends and watch it at someone’s house. That way, when you decide you need rest for the following day, you can go to bed and DVR the end of the game so you don’t miss what everyone is talking about the next day around the water cooler.

WEEI reported a situation recently that radio personality Howard Stern attended a basketball game at Madison Square Garden where the New York Knicks hosted the Brooklyn Nets. He understood that he needed to get up at 4:30 AM but insisted on going to the game. Then, when he left his court-side seats at the end of the third quarter in a close game, he was called out by the TNT commentator, Stan Van Gundy, on live television. Stern was offended and lashed out at Van Gundy on his radio show.

Any number of fans would love to see that game from those seats, don’t waste the tickets by leaving early. You have already spent a fortune on travel expenses and the tickets themselves, but what is the point if you don’t appreciate the full value of the event.

Let’s say the opponent is not the greatest and maybe someone gave you the tickets just to unload them because of the opponent, this doesn’t mean the game couldn’t potentially be an instant classic regardless of who is playing. It happens all the time where one of the top teams gets taken down by the underdog.

One day, years later, when you look back at the game everyone still remembers, you can say you were there and you experienced it in person, unless you slip out three-quarters of the way in. I’d also argue, if you don’t care about the game because of the opponent then you shouldn’t go in the first place.

One of the biggest reasons fans leave a game early is because they assume the game is over based on the score and time remaining. There are many examples of this being false. Just this past year on October 13 the New Orleans Saints were playing the New England Patriots in Foxboro, MA and had the ball with a four point lead and under four minutes remaining in the game. A large number of fans left the stadium thinking the game was lost and immediately regretted the decision because with no time left on the clock Tom Brady threw a touchdown pass to give them the win.

On the same day, the Red Sox faced a similar situation when they were down late in the ball game but turned it around. As the Patriots did, the Red Sox came up clutch and walked off with the win thanks to a home run, courtesy of David Ortiz. The examples go on and on, but the point is if you leave a game before the final out whistle or buzzer then you are a fool.

On a final note, yes I understand athletes get paid millions of dollars to play a game but they still put in hard work day-in, day-out to put on a good show for you; show some respect. By leaving early you belittle their efforts as a professional. That’s like leaving the dentist half-way through a cleaning because you’re not a fan of his/her jokes.

Sporting events are supposed to be a fun experience, one that allows you to escape from your everyday life and, by leaving early, you are depriving yourself of that extra time to deny reality and see an amazing event.

If you plan on leaving before the end of a game then don’t bother showing up to begin with. The effort to get there is no longer worth it and therefore you should save your money for something you feel is worth your time.