Daily Archives: October 26, 2020

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Students face difficulties while studying at home

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College life has been turned upside down since the pandemic struck. Rather than sitting at classroom desks many students are learning from their bedrooms or kitchen tables. There are thousands of college students not able to go anywhere to study in a quiet environment during the pandemic. There are some Northern Essex Community College students facing this as well and they are having to adjust in many ways to this new learning approach.

Marriam Saldivar is a student from Northern Essex Community College. Her major is journalism/communications and she is from the Domincan Republic. Saldivar states how she focuses while studying at home. “I make sure to sit at my desk. It’s always been my space for productivity, so it just makes my mind instantly go into that mode. I also music jazz in the background,” she said.

Saldivar states that the most difficult part about studying at home is  that “there are way too many distractions. I’m not in the environment that I’ve always been used to when it comes to doing what students do.”

Not being in a traditional college environment can make students lose focus and not concentrate as well.

Many things can distract students in their environment. Saldivar said, ‘My phone, to be specific I get distracted by YouTube videos and my friends texting.”

Electronic devices can cause a major distraction while studying as well social media.  Being focused is important while studying. It can increase your knowledge while working.

“I always write a to-do list every day of the assignments I gotta do and the jazz music just helps with allowing my mind to stay clear. Without it, I just get a headache,” she said.  Having a clear brain can help students stay focused better during these trying times.

Another student from Northern Essex Community College, Erik Terrio who majors in journalism/communications and comes from Haverhill shared how he focuses while being at home.

“I usually put my headphones on and listen to some music. I block out the distracting noises and it energizes me,” he said. Music can help many students stay focused and help stay on track while doing work.

The most difficult part of studying at home for Terrio is the change in setting. He explains, “I would say the hardest part is that it is a distracting environment. There are too many things around that take me out of school mode and put me into relaxation and chill.”

The environment can make a big impact on how students concentrate while studying. Terrio states what gets him distracted when he is studying. “Could be the dog barking or a family member asks me something. Or it could be something that I think of and start doing. Like, I remember that I have laundry that needs to be turned over, or I get hungry and cook something, or I start web surfing and get distracted with that.”

Distance learning can come with many distractions that students wouldn’t face in the classroom.

Terrio states what helps him stay focused while studying at home. “I think music makes sure that I am staying healthy, like eating enough and staying hydrated and getting enough sleep. Also making to-do lists helps keep me track and snacks.”

It is very important to stay hydrated to eat well, study helps your brain not lose focus. Students are finding new ways to keep their focus and boost their mental health during this challenging time.

A Northern Essex Community College student Bryan Fernandez, whose major is Journalism/communications and is from Bronx NY, but currently lives in Lawrence.

Fernandez states how he focuses while studying at home. “I have to be at my desk if I’m on my bed or in my living room, or anywhere else. I feel like physically placing myself in my work area is the only way I can do my work. It is all a mindset.’’

Doing work on your desk can help people pay attention to them and keep them concentrating and not getting distracted. Fernandez states where he prefers to study at home or school. “Definitely at school. It is a mindset for me. So physically being in a place where I have no choice but to study is really what works best for me. No distractions or temptations.”

Some people prefer to work in school because they have more support around, such as teachers and tutors than at home. Fernandez states what time of day he prefers to study at night or earlier than the day. “putting my phone on and playing music on my Air pods loudly. Somehow I focus better.”

Not paying attention to your phone and not focusing on any electronics can help is good for your mind.

A lot of NECC students have difficulties focusing while studying at home. All these students faced difficulties in many ways and did many different things to help solve their distractions. This pandemic has forced NECC students to find creative ways to stay on track and keep focused on their work so they don’t fall behind and continue to find success.

Home Page News Bytes, News

Students find ways to work with the pandemic

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During COVID-19 especially at the start, 22 million jobs were lost which made it all around hard for many people. We even came to the point America started cutting stimulus checks. This can be hard for many adults most clearly but wha tabout college students?

Many young people have simple first jobs like working afast-food joint or a target. This means many of the jobs come to find out are non-essential.

Looking at some college students we will see if we can find advice through their situations.

First interviewed was Brian Benjamin. He had worked part time for Panera Bread and had worked there throughout all high school.

“It was an easy and simple job that worked for the time being,” he said. When corona had hit, and the country startedto shut down he realized how dangerous working a food chain might be during apandemic. Panera had shut down and he decided to leave it at that along with few coworkers. He stayed home often afterwards like everyone else but as normal heneeded to work again to keep an income.

“I debated going back to Panera but didn’t really want back in the food business and didn’t want to wait. So instead Itook up landscaping with my Dad,” he said.

He then explained that he and his family believed it was a safer route working there instead of up close with hundreds of people even with the precautions.

This way it was a smaller group with his father and him being able to work safely the way they wanted. This job has also been considered essential which was a huge plus that led to his friend Danny Wezeza, a fellow NECC student to join along in the work.

Kolbe Powell has been an assistant manager for years at Market Basket and has loved it, making friends and new relationships. He took a year away due to going to Umass Lowell for his freshman year but is coming back and going to NECC due to the pandemic. When COVID-19 hit it was different for him because Market Basket did not close but rather cut down onhours. He found himself working less then he used to with this and fear of the pandemic due a close person he lives with having heart issues.

He stuck it up and has been focusing on towards school even more then he was with freed time and has been doing well.

But as others such as Benjamin, he knows you should start saving money when you are young without many bills.

“I think I’m going to be taking off the following semester to start building up again at my savings account especially with the need of a new car and my future. Whether it is at Market Basket or elsewhere I have to figure out,” he said. Without corona, taking time away from school would not have been necessary.

The last person interviewed was Sara Levesque. Before coronavirus, she had worked at Plaistow Pizza and as a home health aide.

When corona kicked in the pizza restaurant  shut down and cut down on hours big time due to having way less people work at once, so she quit.

She did not want to take the big cut on hours or run the risk of the virus with having a rare heart problem herself.

She began working as a home health aid full time all summer and even throughout school.

Working this job was perfect for her because it was with one person who does not leave her family or home health aide.

Also, it gave her plenty of time for schoolwork with having free time on the job to do all her online work. “I found the perfect opportunity for me during these hard times and I’m glad I did,” she said.

People have struggled during these times but it is not about being knocked down its about getting back up.

These college students have found their own ways to work with the pandemic and you will find yours if you have not yet.

 

Features, Slider

A Halloween like no other

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Now ten months in, it is no secret that the year 2020 has been anything but traditional for the entire country in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With Massachusetts deemed an initial hotspot for the virus, towns within the state have come well acquainted with the prohibition of large gatherings.

As October arrived, people in Haverhill, initially considered one of the state’s danger zones, began to raise the question as to whether or not another tradition in both the state and throughout the country, Halloween, would also be heavily altered.

Associated side by side with Halloween, Haverhill citizens raised concern about trick or treat before October even arrived. Mayor Jim Fiorentini initially reassure his town there would in fact be a trick or treat, quoted in a Haverhill Gazette article on Sept. 17 that “Trick-or-treat is a wonderful time for kids, and whether it be car parades, leaving out candy without contact, each neighborhood organizing on their own, or something else” finishing with “”Unless our community spread gets worse and we have to cancel everything, it is our intention as of now to do something, so have those costumes ready.”

That enthusiasm would not last very long. On October 1st, Fiorentini would inform citizens that trick or treat would in fact not be a city-wide trick-or-treat, following Haverhill Board of Health’s advisory against the celebration,  according to 97.9 WHAV.

Lifelong Haverhill resident Christine Benjamin, 46, expressed her sorrow for the Haverhill children being robbed of what to them is the most appealing aspect of the holiday, “I feel really bad for the kids and parents. I did trick-or-treat as a parent for twenty-six years between my two children and my nephew when I was a teenager. It’s got to be so hard to tell your kids they won’t get to go out this year” said Benjamin. She says with her children now well past the trick-or-treat days, she still feels the spirit of Halloween in the excitement she gets from decorating the lawn, and the movies on TV.

Connie and Robert Smith, residing in Haverhill for north of seventy years, were also disappointed in the city’s cancellation of the event. “We understand that they’re worried about safety. It’s probably the right thing to do, but I can’t think of a way you can really explain to a little kid” said Connie. “I get a sense of joy out of answering the door and seeing the costumes, so I’ll miss it too”.

Robert favored the idea of leaving a bowl of candy out, stating “It doesn’t seem like that would be a super spreader. Leaving a bowl out at least just for the kids in the neighborhood, wipe it down once it needs to be filled back up. But even then you’ve got a number of kids all touching the same surface, there really isn’t any way to avoid all contact, but I don’t know, it seems like they can come up with something better than nothing”.

This idea has not yet been ruled dead, as individual neighborhoods may be allowed to host only their own residents.

In an interview with Alicia Russell, NECC student and mother of three, says she planned on sitting this one out even before Fiorentini cancelled the event. “Only one of my kids is in the age range that he wanted to go. But working in the hospital, I never wanted to take a chance of getting it from my son or anyone else and then putting the people at work or the patients at risk.”

Russell is working hard o become a nurse through the NECC program.

She added “we plan on coming up with an idea like Easter, hiding Candy around the house or outside if the weather is nice. We don’t want him to keep having things taken from him from this whole thing that he, or any kid for that matter, can’t fully understand.”

Features, Home Page Featured News

How students plan to spend Halloween during COVID-19

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As Halloween begins this upcoming holiday season, many celebratory plans have been negatively affected (or even canceled) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dressing-up in costumes for communal “Trick-or-Treating” and attending chilling “Haunted Houses” are only a couple among the countless cancelled festivities of this beloved Holiday, causing a sense of despair among many —especially within the NECC community. Despite hardship, students have found several safe, alternative ways in which to spend and appreciate their Halloween of 2020.

Jeremy Isabelle, a journalism and communications major whose favorite candy is Almond Joy, typically loves visiting the bloodcurdling haunted houses at Canobie Lake Park — enjoying the thrill of being chased by loud chainsaws.

Isabelle reminisced on a childhood memory of the gothic, Victorian-style house near the street of his home, of which was always particularly frightening during fall season.

This year, Isabelle will be pumpkin carving in attempt to keep alive the holiday spirit. When asked if he feels that COVID-19 will cause a long-term effect on the celebration of Halloween, Isabelle stated, “I feel bad for my sister, she’s only a sophomore in high school — and for future generations.” Isabelle believes that social distancing will “encourage future people to be more conscious of personal space.”

Bryan Fernandez, a journalism and communications major whose favorite candy is gummy worms, proclaimed his love for Halloween while disclosing his annual ritual of watching his three favorite scary movies: “Monster’s House”, “Cabin in the Woods”, and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Fernandez normally spends his Halloween dressing-up in costumes and partying with friends. This year, he will instead be galivanting social-distanced style — a “Netflix Party” over group facetime.

Fernandez and his friends plan to simultaneously watch scary movies on Netflix while using technology to collectively practice social distancing. As multiple households interacting with each other could potentially increase the risk of virus spread, Fernandez says that he doesn’t think “trick-or-treating” will come back for a long time. “It sucks for the children—It gives kids their first taste of independence. Halloween is an important part of childhood,” said Fernandez.

Although many traditional Halloween activities are at high-risk for coronavirus spread, there are still various others that can be enjoyable alternatives.

Alternative activities such as pumpkin carving, scary-movie marathons, virtual Halloween costume contests, and/or having a family “Haunted-House-Candy-Scavenger Hunt”, are all ways in which to celebrate safely. Both Isabelle and Fernandez have remained positive in discovering new ways to enjoy the holiday. How will you spend this spooky season?

Home Page Featured News, News

Educators discuss the challenges of online learning

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Since March of this year, students have had to adjust to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But teachers and professors have had to adjust as well. While many educators at NECC have taught online classes prior to 2020, they are now forced to adjust their teaching to exclusively online, which presents its own set of challenges.

Patricia Portanova, an English professor at NECC, says, “I think the most challenging part is creating engagement and connections with students. Because we aren’t able to actually physically be in a room together, it’s really hard to get a sense, I think, of personality, a sense of good will, because so much of our interaction is through text on a screen or brief videos. It’s very transactional or one-way as opposed to sort of a back and forth communication between students and faculty.”

Thomas Greene, also an English professor, agrees, “The hardest part is connecting with the students. It’s just not in our nature to learn this way in the way that it is in our nature to learn from a live person in the same location,” he said.

Greene further explains that humans struggle to learn online due to socio-biology and evolution. “Humans evolve in certain environments, and then the behaviors that we feel comfortable with are based on what our ancestors did,”  he said. “And so ancestrally, humans have been communicating face-to-face for 200-300,000 years in some form of language. Writing is a relatively new technology, only about 6,000 years old.  If someone wants to learn something, like a practical skill, wood working, or yoga, they don’t want to learn it from a book. They want to learn it from a person who can demonstrate and explain and answer questions and coach.”

The challenges for educators are not felt at just the college level. Teachers with younger classes feel pressure as well. Brendan Molloy, an eight grade English Language Arts and Civics at Hunking School in Haverhill, is working under a hybrid learning model with students spending two days a week in school and three days learning remotely.

Molloy describes it as, “On a given day, I’ll have somewhere between 9 and 15 kids in front of me and then somewhere between 9 and 15 kids at home on their computer. And so, I’m both facilitating the remote learning and teaching the kids that are present in the building and trying to maintain continuity within my units in designing active instruction for the two days that they’re with me and then more self-guided remote facilitated work for the 3 days that they’re home.”

“There are a lot of difficulties in this,” Molloy explains. “One of the major difficulties is that I have now over a decade’s worth of curriculum that I’ve designed that I’m happy with. And trying to rewrite some of my materials that are tried and true to sort of fit this new rhythm is interesting. The other thing that’s a little complex about it is trying to figure out the right balance of which content should be prioritized for in-person and what content can be left to remote.”

Molloy not only has to structure lesson plans for students, he also has to respond to feedback from his students’ parents.

One of Molloy’s challenges is, “Finding the right balance of meeting diverse student needs. I’ve heard from parents who are overwhelmed by the amount of work that I’ve given and are having a hard time keeping pace. And I’ve heard from parents who are concerned that I haven’t provided enough work to their kid and that they don’t have enough work to do in the day. That’s sort of emblematic of the difficulty in walking this tightrope of not overwhelming students with work while also providing enough rigorous material to keep parents and kids occupied and satisfied at home.”

Greene agrees with Molloy that setting up an effective curriculum is critical for student success, “A big part, I think, is course design. The course has to be set up in such a way that it’s not creating an additional obstacle. The learning is already hard enough. Creating more obstacles in the way is just making it worse.”

All three educators agree that a key to success for both students and teachers is effective time management.

“I think that self-time management has been really challenging for students, and for faculty, to be fair. I think the stress of the pandemic makes it really hard for anyone to think clearly, to be productive, to get organized, so I think we’re all collectively struggling with time management and getting things done,” says Portanova.

For NECC students, resources are available for those struggling not only with their classes, but for those dealing with the current learning environment itself.

Portanova explains, ““The first piece of advice I always give is to contact your faculty directly and just let them know what’s going on in your life. We are all going through a lot right now and direct communication is very important. Faculty are very empathetic towards students’ situations and what they’re going through and so if you can just let faculty know that you are struggling, they’re going to do their best to help you. The second piece of advice, I would say, is to take advantage of our student support services. Academic coaching is fantastic. They’re amazing at supporting students who are struggling with time management and getting work done. We have writing tutors, ESL tutors, we have fantastic librarians. We have excellent counseling services on campus. We have basically any type of student support you can think of. And everyone is here to help students be successful.”

 

Opinion

Julia Child: Larger than life, in stature and legacy

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Julia Child’s culinary journey really began to materialize in the 1950’s, when she was settling down in France with her husband, Paul Cushing Child. Julia attended the renowned Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in France and then began contributing to a cookbook with two French chefs she befriended. It was with these fellow chefs that Julia taught cooking classes to the French people while adding to her arsenal of recipes and knowledge of food, particularly the French cuisine.

Before attending Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in 1951, Julia Child majored in history at Smith College. This was nearly twenty years prior to her foray into her culinary education. After graduating from Smith, Julia Child worked in intelligence, communicating highly classified content about various operations for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Julia was directly responsible for helping to create a successful shark repellent for the OSS by means of cooking and releasing said repellent underwater to deter sharks from venturing near mines. I had never known that until I researched her more and I think that that is fascinating. Overall, Julia Child had a wide and thorough range of education in her background. You could say that she was extremely disciplined as an individual due to this.

In my opinion, I would say that Julia Child IS the culinary industry, and that her hand in the history of food as it exists in our culture today is of the utmost influence. I do not want to sound precocious, as a 31 year old who people probably think has no clue. But, growing up with my grandparents, more specifically a grandmother who at one time ran a catering business, and raised me with a truly great food awareness, I can say confidently that Julia Child is one of the most important culinary figures in our world’s recent history.

Julia Child brought classic French cuisine to the tables and televisions of mainstream America. Julia Child was the conduit in which the American people could satisfy their growing interest in the French culture and their food. Techniques and concepts of cooking that were for so long seen as inaccessible and daunting to people all over the world were now made less intimidating by the instruction of the talented and knowledgeable woman chef. It didn’t hurt that her personality and perspective were so endearing. She was cheerful, personable, humble, funny, and candid, which helped to kind of ease readers and viewers of hers into this less anxious space where they were able to achieve the same type of results in the kitchen as she did.

I am drawn to Julia Child’s contagious spirit. The thing I love the most about her, or that I find the most interesting about her, is her sense of humor. Obviously, I look up to her as a chef and a mentor. Honestly. I watch “The French Chef” reruns or clips of her online, and I know I will get the best start to finish demonstration on whatever dish or technique she is showcasing. Her culinary legacy is undeniable and why we all watch her or use her as a point of reference in our own culinary journeys. However, to me personally, I think it is so amazing and rare that none of the regimented, undoubtedly stressful years of her time in the Service or cooking in France had a detrimental effect on Julia or her spirit. In a world where hierarchy exists, and at a time when women had even less rights, Julia Child, in all of her six feet and two inches, always managed to smile, laugh, talk to us as if we were in her kitchen with her, telling us it would all be okay. She didn’t take herself too seriously, and I respect her for that, as well as for many other reasons. Food is special, and it can be intense at times, but if you can’t enjoy yourself while you are doing it, then what is the point?

I think Julia Child exemplified that spirit and showed us that with a little hard work and a good attitude, anyone can make magic in the kitchen. And if you drop a chicken on the floor, it isn’t the end of the world…Just wipe it off or something, no one will ever know.

Editor’s Note: Nicholas Rossi wrote this as a paper for a Culinary Arts class and recently shared it with the NECC Observer. We welcome student submissions, feel free to send them to observer@necc.mass.edu.

Campus Life

COVID-19’s effects on the college experience

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Covid-19 has undoubtedly changed every aspect of modern life, and education is no exception.

Due to the current global pandemic, schools and administrators have been forced to make tough decisions regarding the reopening of schools this fall.

All Massachusetts schools were shut down last March, initially only for two weeks but eventually through the end of the year.

When it came to different universities and high schools, there was no universal reopening decision. Many Massachusetts universities opened up to some extent, but some have remained completely online, such as Northern Essex Community College.

According to NECC student, Xander J-Fowler, “It doesn’t really feel like… college,” because he is unable to study oncampus.

Most first year college students look forward to the physical classes and new environment, but Fowler said he feels like “it’s just been the same as high school.”

By not being able to have on campus classes, though for students’ own safety, it is hard to feel as though these recent graduates are truly moved onto the next aspect of their lives.

Merrimack College freshman and former Northern Essex student, Kylie Stuart, said “online classes have mostly affected [her] academic plan rather than [her] normal everyday life.”

Stuart was used to attending college full time, in person, when Covid-19 initially hit the United States.

Other schools have moved forward differently than NECC, but with very different circumstances, and some students at other universities weighed in on what their lives currentlylook like as well.

Ellen Nickodemus, a freshman at the University of Miami, when asked about safety precautions stated “Some teachers don’t wear masks in class,” regardless of the risks.

Alongside the leniency inside of the university, Florida has much less regard for the seriousnessof this illness, she said.  Nickodemus stated that “there’s a lot of tolerance in Florida for people disobeying the laws,” and that people constantly walk around high traffic areas, maskless.

Massachusetts schools, including Northern Essex Community College, seem to be the strictest when it comes to newly implemented rules surrounding the global pandemic.

Looking forward, hopefully schools will be able to open back up in a safe enough manner for the American people, but until then it seems as though many Massachusetts schools will remain online.

Arts and Entertainment, Campus Life

Welcoming the reopening of the MFA

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May 2019 (pictured from left to right) Michael Hearn, director of libraries, three NECC art students, Marc Mannheimer, art faculty, and Susan Leonardi, librarian: attending a “thank you” celebration with the Pozen’s at the M.F.A.
May 2019 (pictured from left to right) Michael Hearn, director of libraries, three NECC art students, Marc Mannheimer, art faculty, and Susan Leonardi, librarian: attending a “thank you” celebration with the Pozen’s at the M.F.A. Courtesy photo

The Museum of Fine Arts has always been a place for people of all ages to gather and dive into their vast collections of paintings, photographs, fashion pieces, short films and the occasional live performance arts.

With the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic putting everything that required people’s physical attention on hold, the social gathering of these people ceased.

For the past several months students with a fascination for the arts haven’t been able to actually walk past the infamous Appeal to the Great Spirit statue seen from Huntington Ave and spend the day devouring the artifacts within the museum’s walls, however the museum has finally announced its reopening on September 26th.

To students like Mackenzie Pike, first year Boston University student, who believes there’s nothing quite like roaming the halls of the M.F.A, this is great news!

“I always looked forward to the familiar pieces that I had become more and more drawn to each visit, as well as the excitement of a new exhibit.” says Pike.

As a NECC student myself, I wanted to learn more about how our school plays a role in the University Membership program we’re apart of and how other students like me can benefit from it.

After reaching out to Director of Libraries, Michael Hearn, I was informed that just three years ago our school had begun the Pozen Community College Program which, thanks to Bob and Liz Pozen, allows NECC students free admission to the museum. “The Pozen Community College Access Program is now part of the University Membership Program, and students, faculty, and staff still receive free general admission by presenting a valid college ID.” Hearn says.

For those who feel comfortable visiting the museum in person, remember to wear a mask, keep a safe distance between yourself and the workers, bring your student I.D, and enjoy what the M.F.A has to offer.

Sports

COVID trumps sports

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Throughout the last six months, our daily plans have taken a heavy turn around in one way or another, and it’s clear that we’ve had to make adjustments that we’re not quite accustomed to.

At NECC, all classes are remote for this fall semester, and teachers and students have been forced to be in a situation where they thought they wouldn’t be in 12 months ago, wherecommunication and questions aren’t as straight-forward as before.

The effect COVID has had on people has affected people both positively and negatively.

Sports is an example of this, where interaction is key for their roles as coaches and athletes.

Coaches atNECC have had their fair share on this new experience.

“Remote learning has been extremely difficult for me to navigate. It is much more difficult tocorrect errors, mechanics and see how they perform during a training session,” says Nelson Desilvestre, Head Track Coach of NECC.

“It has become more imperative that the athletes train on their own. They need to have themotivation to do the workouts without the structure of an organized practice. This makes itdifficult for me to evaluate and teach the athletes.It is much more difficult to correct errors, mechanics and see how they perform during a trainingsession. All in all, it has been frustrating and not nearly as fun as it used to be.”

These COVID regulations has been a roller coaster ride for hard-working coaches nationwide,and Desilvestre has been unfortunate to be on the receiving end of these COVID problems.

“COVID has caused many distractions and cancellations. We now are at a standstill not knowing what is coming next. That creates problems in motivation and setting goals because there is nodate to work towards and be ready to compete.”

Although the pandemic has been a sad reality for the majority of coaches, this isn’t the case at allfor all coaches.

“From an esports coach’s perspective, I believe COVID-19 and remote learning have made mycoaching experience easier overall.” claims David Arivella, Head Esports Coach at NECC.

“I had already been managing our esports players in an online environment using Discord in thepast. Students are now more likely to be on their computers doing classwork so I can easily reachthem all throughout the day.”