Monthly Archives: February 2022

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Students share tips on how to fight the ‘seasonal slump’

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While many enjoy the skiing weather that winter in New England brings, many others suffer to get the motivation to go about their regular daily routines. This “seasonal slump” is especially prevalent in students. With the confinement indoors due to the cold weather, excitement of the holidays in the past, shorter days, and now COVID restrictions, many people start to lose energy and become sluggish and less motivated. However, there are many strategies people use to help them get out of this funk, such as finding activities to focus their energy, embracing the cold weather and more.

Starting a new semester in the middle of winter can be difficult. One is not yet in the habit of completing their school work, and it is hard to step back and take a break when the weather outside makes it difficult to get fresh air.

Emily Graves, a Northern Essex Community College (NECC) student, stated, “ It’s hard to go out and be active when it is so cold, and it forces me to be inside more and leaves me with less to do and more to think about.”

Due to this, motivation can slip and it can feel hard to catch back up.

Another NECC student, Cassidy Smith, said, “The weather literally makes me depressed. I have little to no motivation to do anything, and the cold with the gray skies amplify that feeling.”

The gloomy feeling outside the window can mirror in one’s moods and make it challenging to drive oneself to complete the countless assignments due.

These seasonal mood plunges have fallen even deeper in the past two years due to COVID. Not only are people staying inside to avoid the cold, but they are even further isolated due to the virus.

Graves stated, “I definitely think that COVID-19 has impacted the magnitude of the seasonal slump,” she added, “it’s hard enough doing things when it’s winter out, but the pandemic has only elevated that.”

The pandemic can also fuel more stress during this fragile time. Not only are many students wondering if winter will ever end, but they have also been asking the same question about COVID for the past two years.

This lack of a “light at the end of the tunnel” can result in a feeling of defeat.

However, one does not have to allow this funk to control them.

There are many strategies to bring energy and excitement back to one’s life.

Avery Hochheiser, another student at NECC, says, “I like to embrace the cold. Dress cozy and drink hot drinks.” Get a change in scenery and maybe visit a coffee shop to study instead of sitting at a desk in one’s bedroom. Just because it is cold out doesn’t mean it still can’t be fun. Cuddling up in a cozy sweater may not be the same thing as laying out in the sun, but it can offer a different kind of happiness that summer can’t provide.

Focusing on the positives and what you can do can help pull one out of a negative mindset. Graves said she liked to do activities that made her forget how dreary it could be outside. Some of her examples included “painting, listening to music, baking and cooking.”

Smith also agreed that listening to happy music or music that reminded her of summer helped her enter a more positive mindset.

Some other tricks and tips include moving your desk towards a window to increase exposure to sunlight, staying active, getting enough sleep, and not pushing oneself too hard. It is a difficult time of the year, regardless of COVID, so knowing limits helps to determine what one can and cannot handle. These strategies can aid in getting through these four to five more weeks of winter until spring comes to melt the snow and lift everyone’s “seasonal slumps.”

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Students vs. COVID

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A daily struggle with seemingly no perfect or correct answer, yet there has to be a unique solution for every individual. The story of a procrastinating student is overused and treacherously boring to a lot of people, but it still exists and Covid has not helped.

One might come to the conclusion that being stuck in a house while being quarantined and having nothing to do would lead to a higher productivity rate within classes, but the struggles within school have only exacerbated the challenges for a lot of people.

Haverhill resident, Kyle McCarthy, stares down poker chips in front of him as his glasses reflect the green of the table. He talks about how he left his college career at Northern Essex Community College a year ago to pursue a career within the electrical trade. “My struggles with online classes and procrastination helped lead me to this decision,” he said. “Without Covid in the equation I am willing to bet that I would have easily gotten through to (an) associate’s degree in business management and possibly furthered my education.” Whether he ends up back in classes down the road is improbable.

Many students have dropped out of college since Covid has entered the scene, but some have left and come back. Gregory Spaulding, a NECCO business major from Haverhill, talking through a headset while playing Madden says, “When everything went to online I was about done with my degree and I just wanted to go back to working in heating and air conditioning, but knowing that a degree in business would help me out later in my trade career, I ended up coming back to finish the job.”

Covid won round one against Spaulding, but there are still 11 more rounds to go in this fight and he seems to have taken the momentum.

There have been plenty of fights with students against Covid that have surpassed the normal two years for a community college.

Some classmates have just fought through the major changes that have happened after the coronavirus took a firm grip on every college.

Another NECCO student from Haverhill, Cameron Stratton, has managed to get through most of his major in psychology while also maintaining a role on the basketball team. He misses a shot on a miniature basketball hoop and grudgingly states, “Things have been all over the place since Covid struck. While juggling everything I just take it one step at a time and keep the finish line in mind.”

Continuing to do sports in college could definitely help keep focus for students and the first step to beating procrastination is focus.

This may be a struggle to many, but there is no definitive number behind this fight as far as a winning or losing battle. A devil’s advocate to this battle of students versus Covid are the people who put their head down and approached the schoolwork as an opportunist. As David Brickley, a successful student from NECCO under a business management major from Haverhill, sits in his chair that has clearly been surrounded by more than two cats, he claims that being on zoom for most of his classes has made it difficult to meet new people. He joined the school during the Covid outbreak and looked to the brighter side of things and said that it gave him adequate time to do his schoolwork as well as keep bonds with his close friends.

During Covid one’s focus can easily change from school to an exposure or actually getting the disease, but as long as you can take it step by step, come back to the work that needs to be done then you can get the degree. No one in this article is completely sure what the future holds for their career and maybe that’s the way it should be. With an undecided future the possibilities are endless and as much as Covid has delayed progress across all parts of the world the students still won.

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Why are high school students choosing to become dual enrollment students at NECC?

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High School Students in Newburyport are now taking dual enrollment classes at Northern Essex Community College, however, they all seem to be doing it for different reasons, paving the way for their future. Whether it is to prepare, save money, stand out, or explore interests, becoming a dual enrollment student has its benefits, with minimal downsides, they say.

Some students say their goal at NECC is to learn about their passions and further their understanding in different subjects. Take Newburyport Junior, Olivia Hansen, as an example. Hansen is currently taking biology focused classes (she wants to major in biology at her four year college) laying the foundation for future education and interests.

“I wanted to take some biology classes at NECC because I thought that it would allow me to explore that subject a little more to make sure it is what I want to do with my future. As a high schooler, I was also able to go beyond the classes my school offered and learn about something that interests me.”  NECC offers courses that Newburyport High doesn’t.

Hansen is currently enrolled in classes like marine biology and general ecology, something she can’t take in high school. She is currently looking to major in biology on the pre-med track in college, where she can hopefully transfer her NECC credits.

Other students, such as Newburyport Junior Cassidy Smith, are enrolled in the dual enrollment program to earn their associate’s degree before her high school graduation. Smith, pursuing nursing school, wants to gain credits now, and save money on her future classes. “I wanted to get my associate’s degree so I would have a notch under my belt for hopefully getting into a good nursing program. I also want to save money; community college credits are much cheaper and more affordable, but I am still getting an education.”

By earning her degree before her high school graduation, Smith will stand out to four year colleges for her extra efforts in her studies. Based on their website, NECC credits, on average, cost $245, whereas other colleges on average cost $636, said Education Data.

Smith, as well as other dual enrollment students are getting certain credits done at NECC, saving them tons of money in their future educational careers.

Finally, Junior Gianna Mckeown is taking NECC classes to see what she is interested in, and what she might like to major in when she goes to a four year college. Mckeown said she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do in college or what she was interested in, so she is using the dual enrollment program to find out. “I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. I am testing out classes at NECC, so I can see if there is anything I am interested in. This semester I am taking an accounting class. I am really interested in it. I might consider it as a career path now that I have had a chance to explore it.”

Mckeown has a busy schedule at her high school, leaving her with little time to explore her interests in the school day. Taking asynchronous classes, such as accounting, has allowed her to have time and means to learn about new areas on her own time.

Becoming a dual enrollment student, for all its perks, has very limited cons, these students say.  According to Hansen, Smith, and Mckeown, the only con of being a dual enrollment student is that it brings extra work on top of their average school load.

However, the girls are clearly very motivated and passionate about their education, making it all worth it. Early college is a program where high schoolers get to go above and beyond.

These girls, along with many others, have taken advantage of this program, advancing their educational careers. The consensus amongst the three was that early college is the way to go; it saves money, time, allows for exploration, standing out, and many other advantages.

As Hansen said, “becoming a dual enrollment student was the best decision I have ever made in my academic career.”

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COVID-19 and online learning leaves lasting mental health impacts

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Massachusetts schools were ordered to be suspended from in-person

learning by March 16, 2020, by Gov. Charles Baker.

Now in 2022, after a year and a half of online learning students have finally returned to in-person school. But how has the last year and a half affected the mental health of students?

I interviewed NECC dual-enrollment students Olivia Hansen and Avery Hochheiser to answer that pressing question.

During the lockdown, Hochheiser recalled that “honestly, Covid had been hard because of the social isolation. Not interacting with people my age and being stuck at home all day was just hard. There was less motivation and excitement about doing things because I was at home all the time.”

A UNICEF study showed that during this time of isolation, “The general situation in the countries and their localities has affected the daily life of young people as 46% report having less motivation to do activities they usually enjoyed. 36% feel less motivated to do regular chores.”

Covid-19 has diminished the motivation from the same routine repeated from being stuck in their homes.

Now more than ever Olivia Hansen says, COVID-19 has affected her. She tells me, “It made me realize (how) much I missed out on during the past two years, and sometimes it can make me sad. It has also been a large shift going back to school and getting back into the habit of doing school work and having to socialize with the other kids at school with who I haven’t interacted with in the last year. It can be stressful, but there is a lot of support available for students.”

Schools such as Newburyport High School have been implementing accessible mental health resources not only on their website but also allowing access to a counselor any time during the school day.

Covid is by no means over yet so it is unknown the depth that COVID-19 will have on American’s mental health.

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Help available for students navigating FAFSA

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 Free Application for Federal Student Aid also known as FASFA is an application that the federal government uses to evaluate a student’s financial status to know the loans and grants he/she can qualify for. 

FAFSA for the school year 2022-23 is currently open for students to fill out. It is a wonderful opportunity that many do not have access to. To be eligible, you must be a degree seeking student, and you must be an eligible citizen 

Filling out the FASFA application can be difficult, especially for students and/or parents who are filling out the application for the first time. The good news is that Northern Essex Community College offers help. 

One person a student can get into contact with is Erika Callahan who is a coordinator of financial aid. Callahan has been at NECC for almost nine years. She has also been the coordinator for almost two years and previously was a senior financial aid counselor. 

For the students out there struggling to fill out the application Callahan said “We are offering some virtual and in person FAFSA workshops in March and April so keep an eye on your student email account for more information. In addition, students all have an assigned financial aid counselor that they can reach out to if they have any questions and/or concerns.” 

Callahan also advises students to apply for FASFA as early as possible. The earlier the application is submitted, students then have a bigger period to plan out the cost of the remaining bill. 

Another key fact about FAFSA is that the application opens in October and the Massachusetts priority deadline is May 1. This gives students seven months to complete the FAFSA in a timely manner for the upcoming academic year 

Students can apply at studentaid.gov. 

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Student leaders advocate for free college bill

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Whether you’re into local politics or not – college students across Massachusetts are looking towards a particular bill heading to the State House soon.
Student advocates say we have a very real possibility of passing “an act to guarantee debt-free public higher education.” This bill (H.1339) proposes exactly what it sounds like: no more costly tuition to attend public MA colleges. The Board of Education would cover mandatory fees of students. Any Massachusetts resident with a high school diploma (or equivalent, like a GED) could be financially covered in any university program, certificate, or otherwise. It would be applicable regardless of full-time or part-time course commitments, and would not be restricted based on the area of study.
The state representative championing this motion is Natalie M. Higgins. Dozens more are petitioning for it as well, including more local representatives like 18th Essex District Rep. Tram T. Nguyen of Andover and Third Essex District Rep. Andy X. Vargas of Haverhill. Ultimately, proponents of this act take the stance that the Commonwealth should “guarantee free public higher education as a right for all residents.”
The bill details that eligible students and new graduates would be annually notified. There is also mention that mandatory fees like textbooks and materials could be covered as well. Some questions remain to be ironed out regarding its limits and restrictions. Is there a cap on semesters or credits? Are additional costs like transportation, technology, and access to the internet secured as well? How much of this is still up to negotiation?
The description of this bill is offered to the public online: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1339
Student leaders here at NECC are eager to support this bill’s movement and petition for its growth and success. Andrew Venditti, last year’s Newman Civic Fellow and current Student Government member, is taking the lead in making the NECC student body aware of this great opportunity they could support in helping themselves and future college students.
Interested in learning more and advocating for this potential bill? You can sign the student-run petition in the C-Spurk Building on Tuesday (Feb 22) and Wednesday (Feb 23) from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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Student Government Association seeking new members

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Northern Essex’s Student Government Association (SGA) needs new members for this semester, with several open positions that need applicants before elections at the end of the month.

 SGA is a student-run forum dedicated to listening to student concerns, raising discussions with senior administrators, and reviewing budget requests from NECC clubs and organizations.

 Last Thursday, SGA voted and approved a request from the Radiologic Technology Club to provide additional funding to help graduating students prepare for upcoming board exams, according to SGA’s Facebook page.

 “We’re here for the school, so if there’s something that we can do to help another club, we have the funding and we have to spend it, so if we can spend it a good way by helping another club, we will do it,” said Johanna Hernandez, current interim President for SGA.

 COVID-19 has made planning in-person events more challenging. Since the start of the Pandemic, most clubs have been hosting their meetings online via Zoom.

 “I’m not seeing as many students involved, but we are seeing different students involved, specifically at events, because, maybe before they weren’t able to,” said Stephanie Haskell, coordinator of student activities.

 With fewer people on campus than in the past, reaching out to NECC students has presented difficulties coordinating extracurriculars.

 “I feel like it’s a different type of pandemic fatigue now,” said Haskell. “Some of us are starting to transition back in person and that’s like a whole nother thing after we were just stuck by ourselves in our house for two years.”

 One of the biggest challenges can be simply getting the word out, with weekly emails, blackboard announcements, and bulletin board postings not being nearly as effective as they were in previous semesters. 

 “A lot of time we can connect on social media, honestly, communicating to students is the hardest part.” said Haskell

 Last December, SGA lost its president, treasurer, and marketing chair when each member graduated. With the secretary position already vacant, this left four open positions.

 Vice president of the Lawrence campus, Johanna Hernandez, was voted interim president after former president, Iseline Mendoza, graduated.

 “I started caring for my classes, I started paying more attention, I did more homework, and I was like I cannot fall behind because I’m here and these people are supporting me to be better. So it was kind of motivational,” said Hernandez

 However, joining a club isn’t always the best option for some students, with heavy course loads, part-time jobs, and children leaving no extra room for extracurriculars. 

 “The pros and cons of joining a club depends on a person’s schedule, and mine was already packed and joining a club doesn’t earn any extra credit so, it didn’t seem there was much for me to gain personally,” said former NECC student Ava Tavares.

 If you are interested in joining a club, any student with six credits and good academic standing can apply for any position by Feb. 23. Voting will occur between Feb. 28 and March 2.

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A year in review: Haverhill woman reflects on her first year as a business owner

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As the date marking the opening of her business quickly approaches in just a few weeks, Haverhill local Ellen Farmer reflects on her first year as a small business owner. Farmer, who’s a member of Haverhill High School’s  class of 2014, opened Monarch Nutrition on Winter Street in March of 2021 — just a short seven-minute drive from NECC’s Haverhill campus.

She has had the rare experience of not only being a young business owner — opening Monarch at just 24 years old—but also opening a small business at the peak of a global pandemic.

Her goal, says Farmer, in opening this business was to bring a healthier alternative to her hometown while also creating a positive setting for customers. “I wanted it to be a place where people could escape from their lives for a minute and have a happy, healthy atmosphere.”

Owning a business has countless difficulties on its own —add on the stress of a deadly virus and you’ll understand just what business owners like Ellen faced. Farmer shares that while she may have not known what was going to happen each day, she reminded herself to “trust the process.”

This motto must have paid off; Farmer says her encouragement to push through these hardships comes from her customers testimonies. “I have heard the most heartwarming stories and comments from customers which just remind me that I really did it!”

These relationships are what she values most, says Farmer. “Without these connections, they would just feel like customers—and I want them to feel welcomed and like they’ve made a friend.”

Among the uncertainty and chaos that came with opening nearly a year to the day that the pandemic began, Farmer has simultaneously had the chance to inspire the many young women in her life. For instance, current NECC student and Monarch employee, Reese Leblanc, shares “I’ve learned so much just from working here and talking with customers.”

Leblanc says that her employment at Monarch encouraged her to create healthy habits and has provided her with a happy environment to go to every day. Starting as a customer and working her way to being an employee, Leblanc has watched Farmer grow as a business owner and person.

“Monarch has made me a better person”, Farmer says. “I have become a leader and mentor to my employees and to my customers. While I definitely have my flawed moments, Monarch allows me to grow. It’s all a journey.”

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Student Life Coordinator keeps students connected with NECC

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Student Life Coordinator, Stephanie Haskell, has a lot on her plate at NECC, but she is an integral part of the Northern Essex community.

Haskell is from Concord New Hampshire and has been working at Northern Essex for over three years now since September of 2018.

 There are many important aspects of Stephanie Haskell’s job here at NECC. “Another area I oversee is all the student clubs and organizations,” said Haskell. This is certainly one of the most important responsibilities of Haskell. She makes sure that all of these clubs have all of their appropriate paperwork and everything they need to thrive. This includes the Student Government Association. She is actually the adviser of the Student Government Association.

Another one of  Haskell’s important responsibilities is overseeing running Northern Essex Student Life’s social media accounts. This includes the Northern Essex Community College TikTok account.Haskell is also responsible for organizing social and educational events. The college hosts several of these events within a standard semester. Furthermore, Haskell is on many different boards within the Northern Essex community that are essential to the prosperity of the school.

When asked about what she loves most about her job here at Northern Essex,  Haskell said, “I love actually being at the events because I get to meet the usually new students.”

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Evanescence brings transformative music to live show in Worcester

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Grammy winning alt-rock band Evanescence brought the audience to life with their long awaited Jan. 20 show at the DCU Center in Worcester last month. The concert, which was originally scheduled for Dec. 18, 2021, had been rescheduled after members of the band’s touring circle had tested positive for COVID-19. Evanescence’s lead singer, Amy Lee, took to her social media on Dec. 13 to issue a statement letting fans know the last five dates of the tour would have to be rescheduled for the start of 2022.

“We’ve done everything we could to try and make it work but with multiple positive Covid tests in our touring party it just wouldn’t be right to continue the show schedule as is,” Lee said on her Instagram account. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to you incredible fans for making this dream a reality, and making it mean so much more that we ever imagined it could. Thank you for your understanding. We love you!”

Evanescence released their first album of new music since 2011, “The Bitter Truth”, in March of 2021, so it was only natural for a tour to follow in order to promote the album. Releasing a new album and touring during a pandemic were naturally challenges for the band, but Lee and her band made it work and were given the go ahead to tour, live, to promote “The Bitter Truth” during fall 2021. Aside from the five rescheduled shows, the band started the tour in Nov. 2021 with no problems. Evanescence resumed the tour to make up the five rescheduled shows in Cincinnati on the Jan, 14th , stopping in Worcester on the 20th, and ending in Newark on the 21st.

Evanescence, who exploded onto the rock music scene with their 2003 surprise hit album “Fallen”, have since followed that release with multiple number one albums (their sophomore album “The Open Door” and their third self-titled release “Evanescence” both debuted on the Billboard charts at no. 1), and a dedicated tour regiment over the years that has cemented their legacy as one of rock music finest contributors over the years. This legacy was apparent as the DCU Center slowly filled with masses of

Sitting among the crowd as the 7,000 seat stadium slowly filled up, the palpable energy one is used to experiencing before a concert was seemingly absent. However full the arena seemed to be, something just felt different. Perhaps the masses of people, although finally given their chance to experience the joys of live music again mid-pandemic, were still slightly weary and listless from the roller coaster ride that has been COVID-19.

Opening the show was female fronted Lilith Czar. The audience came out of their stupor for the relatively unknown band’s short but commendable set. The music was a mix of rock and pop, with songs about on-the-road cliches of loneliness and debauchary that so many rock acts with undeveloped points of view or any real life experience tend to contrive into what they think is moving and inspired music. The four piece band could play their instruments well and sounded tight and cohesive; it just wasn’t memorable.

After a brief intermission, the lights went down once more to welcome co-headliners Halestorm. The crowd’s went wild as Lzzy Hale, the band’s lead singer and guitarist, took the stage with her three other bandmates. Playing a decent sized set list, Halestorm started their show on fire and ended it in the same vein. Hale, with her aggressively dynamic vocals and  technically impressive guitar playing, brought the crowd through the band’s catelogue, which lends itself to the energetic bar rock that has given the bands mainstream success with their singles “I Am The Fire” and “I Miss The Misery”.

The moments of rock where softened by Hales moments at the piano, allowing the band to play to their respective fans through a diverse set list that showcased their techncal chops as well as Hale’s ability to strip it all down at the piano. Vocally, whether she is screaming and playing the guitar or singing from her diaphram at the piano, Hale can definitely sing and proved that live on stage.

 After another brief intermission, as the stage was rearranged and prepared for headliners Evanescence, the lights went down and the crowd erupted in a collective roar. The massive floor to ceiling triangular projection screen, center stage, flashed with images, as lead singer Lee began to sing the ethereal “Artifact / The Turn”. Offstage, Lee’s powerhouse, angelic vocals built up over the mounting electronic synthesizers before the amplifiers hanging from the arena’s ceiling exploded with the sound of crushing, grinding distorted guitars as “Broken Pieces Shine”, a new song from “The Bitter Truth”, ensued. Lee walked out on stage and didn’t stop for the next hour and a half.

The band, while focusing on mostly new songs, made sure to satisfy fans with a well rounded set list. Lee made sure to include gems from their sophomore album that never got a ton of live play, such as “Lose Control”. Epic songs like “The Change” from their third album were performed to an impeccable degree. Of course, the band made sure to include all of their hits, playing “Going Under” four songs in, “Lithium” half way through the set, “Call Me When You’re Sober” two thirds of the way through, and the massive hit “Bring Me to Life” at the very end of their seventeen song set. The love, energy, and appreciation from the crowd shook the arena the moment this song began, and it was with 100% conviction that one could say the seemingly zombie like, COVID scarred crowed had truly been brought to life, by the shared love for the music that was evidently very important to all who were there.

Evanescence cleared the stage to catch their breath, letting the crowd revel in the glory of what they had just experienced, before returning to the stage to perform two more songs for their encore. Lee took time to address the stadium of fans, thanking them for their solidarity over the years. It was after she finished speaking that Lee looked away from the crowd, down to the piano, ready to start playing, when you could see a flash of true sadness and gratitude take over her face – her appreciation and love for the fans was genuine and palpable, and it was refreshing to see a true expression of love from an artist to her fans that wasn’t contrived, but rather truly heartfelt.

“My Immortal” which is the band’s second biggest hit, closed the show, and was played to more cheers and cries of love to Lee. The piano came up from the floor, where it was set center stage, and Lee took to the keys for her solo performance of this well known song. It was a moment of nostalgia, as this song has come to represent the enormity of impact Evanescence’s music has had on people.

All in all, Evanescence put on one of the strongest shows New England has seen from them in recent years. Lee delivered her new material from “The Bitter Truth” with excellent execution. It was the diverse set list that Lee performed that satisfied die-hard fans, checking all the boxes by playing hits and the more unexpected songs from the bands catalog. Lee, vocally, was nearly flawless. The older Evanescence songs that she has been singing live for almost twenty years seem so effortless to her – she has found out how to sing them live and has them down pat.

 The arena was full of her angelic voice, which can be soft and heavenly when it needs to be and then charged with an innate power that allows her to project to the heavens. Her piano playing, which took place either at a keyboard or at the pop-up piano, was impressive and beautiful to see live, as she displayed her classically trained abilities that are so prominent in the music of Evanescence.

 The arena of the DCU Center was the sight of a true privilege of live music the night pf Jan. 20, as it was blasted full of the ethereal, powerful, mysterious, haunting, and beautiful music that is and can only be Evanescence. Live music still can be transformative, and Lee and her band proved that with this wonderful concert that allowed all of its attendees to forget about the state of the world for a few hours and to get lost in the gift that is music.