All posts by Gabriela Hernandez, Correspondent

Uncategorized

Students Share Shopping Secrets

 

Staying up-to-date with fashion can be quite simple. Thanks to today’s technology, at a click of a button you can browse new fashion trends and splurge on the latest designer apparel.

Anabel Lopez, 20, says she’s guilty of splurging on items that she now regrets buying. “When I was a sophomore in high school, I got a new job at a bank and was making a decent amount of money, and every weekend I would just go all out buying unnecessary things. Everything from sneakers to designer bags to a bunch of fancy clothes I don’t even wear,” said Lopez. Lopez admits her shopping tendencies led her to be financially unstable.

“I have definitely learned from my mistakes. Everyone wants to looks good but saving is the smarter thing to do.”

Lopez believes she manages her money a lot better now and has even learned some new tips on saving money.

“So I have this little trick I do when I go out shopping now, I always go to the sale section first, that sounds really cheap, but it keeps me from being tempted from buying things that are way over my budget,” Lopez said.

Michael Garcia, 22, has also struggled with managing his money. “Garcia says he has worked at GameStop since being a freshman in high school and owns hundreds of video games. “My bad shopping habits all come from video games. Just last year alone, I think I’ve spent $1000.00 on video games,” said Garcia.

“Playing video games is something I’m good at and also very knowledgeable about. So it’s very hard for me knowing there’s a new video game coming out and being able to resist from buying it,” said Garcia.
Garcia says that his obsession with buying new video games will not cease, but is much more controlled when it comes to spending his money.

“Unfortunately, I work at GameStop, so there’s a lot of temptation but I try to avoid buying games in store and buy online instead. One of my favorite websites is eStarland.com, they offer great prices and give cash or credit to people with old games or consoles to trade,” Garcia said.

Sabrina Johnson, 20, said she is proud of her spending habits.

“I take pride in the fact that I’m able to afford life, save money and buy myself nice things, but that all comes with knowing how to manage your money properly,” said Johnson. Johnson said she checks her mobile banking account app and budgets herself every week.

“In order to save money, you need to be disciplined, and to be disciplined, you need to set goals. I usually pay my bills and take 30% of my earnings and put it into my savings, then I set up a budget for spending for the entire week and stick with that budget even if I run out,” said Johnson.

Opinion

NECC Students Discuss Wearing Makeup

 

Erica Almonte, 21 majoring in Nursing says she’s always searching up new beauty tips and tricks to make her life a bit easier. “In between my daughter, school and work, it always seems like I never have time to pamper myself. So I’m always looking for little beauty hacks to save me some time and money.”

Almonte says she’s been wearing make-up ever since she was a freshmen in high school.

“I started experimented little by little and started to notice what works for me and what doesn’t. I think it’s important for women to understand that, like not everyone can wear a red lip.”

Almonte says she has learned a lot of great tips from the internet and is always sharing her new tricks with friends. “I learned this one trick that I swear by … Take some Vaseline and glide it across your front teeth, it stops lipstick from transferring!”

Almonte says she has always loved makeup and sees nothing wrong with adding to her natural beauty. “I don’t see the problem with enhancing your natural beauty. I love make-up!”

Michael Santiago, 21 says he enjoys seeing his girlfriend with make-up but dislikes when women use excessive make-up. “I don’t have a problem with girls wearing make-up, but if you come to school looking like you’re about to go to the club… that’s another story.” Santiago says he believes women should feel beautiful with and without make-up. “I think it’s great, when a girl can go out without make-up and still feel like she’s pretty… to me, that’s dope.”

Jennifer Castillo, 24 says make-up isn’t her thing. “I’ve honestly tried to like make-up but I just feel like it looks like I’m trying too hard. I think it has a lot to do with my personality, I’m very laid back.”

Castillo is currently studying business and is afraid her choice of career will eventually change her decision to refrain from wearing make-up. “I read an article online, more than two thirds of employers admitting they would discriminate against women not wearing makeup to work. That’s just crazy to me, but this is the world we’re living in. At the end of the day, I’d rather wear makeup than be jobless.”

Opinion

What is True Beauty?

 

Corina Carmona, 20, who majors in Nursing says true beauty is “a person who is confident and sure of themselves. Someone who knows their value.”

Carmona is a youth mentor at her church and says she often gives self-esteem pep talks to the women at her church.

“So many women deal with this issue. It breaks my heart to see someone who doesn’t see themselves the way God does.” Carmona says she has also dealt with this issue. “One of the exercises I have the women at my church do is to actually have them look in the mirror and tell themselves that they’re beautiful. I know its corny … one of those things you only see in movies, but it works! Words are a powerful tool.” Carmona, sees herself continuing to teach the young women at her church to be confident.

“Accepting yourself the way you are, forget what everybody else thinks. No one is perfect … you may think someone else is beautiful, but I bet you that that person also has insecurities…” says Ashely Rivera, 20 who studies Respiratory. Rivera admits she has also had self-esteem issues at one point of her life, “Every girl goes through it — it’s part of life, you know.” Rivera says she has learned to ignore other people’s negative comments on her appearance.

“People will always have something to say about you, but you gotta keep it moving. I’ve learned to not let people rain on my parade.”

Eddie Hoar, who studies journalism and communication at NECC believes true beauty is far beyond the physical.

“It’s not superficial. It’s about how you carry yourself, how you present yourself to other people.” Hoar believes the media has put too much emphasis on physical appearance. “Outer beauty should matter little or not at all. A lot of that is genetic. Either you’re lucky or you’re not. Inner beauty is always going to be with you, you know. Is Gisele (Bündchen) going to look beautiful forever? No.”