As the academic year reaches its end, college students across campus find themselves grappling with the stress and challenges that come hand in hand with the end of the semester. Balancing academic responsibilities, work commitments, and personal life can be a difficult task. However, amidst the stress, students here at Northern Essex like Maya Rivera, Esnerfree Garcia, and Genaily Sanchez are finding great ways to cope and persevere.

Maya Rivera, a 25-year-old American Sign Language/Deaf Studies major, offers a glimpse into the demanding life of a full-time daycare worker and part-time student. Rivera, who attends in-person classes once a week, highlights the delicate balance she maintains between work and academics. “Working full time at a daycare and attending classes has its challenges,” she says. “Luckily though, my boss works around my schedule. Even so, with work, I don’t have much time to study and get all my other chores and responsibilities done. The end of the semester for me is both extra stressful and relieving because I know it’s almost over and I did my best.”

Esnerfree Garcia, 23-year-old Liberal Arts major, finds solace in a different approach to managing end-of-semester stress. “I cope with the stress of the end of the semester by putting on headphones and listening to music,” Garcia says. “This helps me de-stress and focus on whatever assignment I’m doing or whatever I’m studying.” Many students can relate to the therapeutic power of music, and Garcia’s simple yet effective coping mechanism highlights the diverse ways individuals navigate the pressures of finals season.

Genaily Sanchez, a 22-year-old Psychology major, takes a proactive approach to stress management. Contrary to the stereotype of stress leading to a sedentary lifestyle, Sanchez emphasizes the importance of physical activity during challenging times. “I actually exercise more when I’m stressed. When I exercise, I feel more energized to study and feel more prepared for my final exams. I think I actually do better on them too when I exercise and hydrate beforehand,” she says. Sanchez’s commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle not only contributes to her physical well-being but also positively impacts her academic performance.

As students like Rivera, Garcia, and Sanchez navigate the pressures of the final weeks, their stories serve as a reminder that each individual copes with stress in their own way. The diverse range of strategies, from finding balance in a hectic schedule to immersing oneself in music or prioritizing physical activity, underscores the resilience and creativity of the student community here at NECC. As the end of the semester approaches, these personal anecdotes offer insight into the various paths students take to emerge triumphantly from the challenges of academia.

As another semester comes nearer to its close, it becomes important to re-evaluate the landscape of education.

Learning institutions transformed drastically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing colleges like Northern Essex Community College to reevaluate and adapt the way they educate their students.

One notable change has been the expansion of online courses, providing students of all types with newfound flexibility and highlighting the diverse impact of such implementations in a community college such as NECC.

Catherine Ubiera, a 34-year-old former college graduate and owner of Cimaruta Holistics, has had many struggles with traditional classroom settings, saying “I had debilitating anxiety as a young adult, and I dreaded having to present things in class or discuss topics among classmates. Not because I disliked doing it, but because of the waves of anxiety that would hit me when I tried. Although I no longer struggle with anxiety, I would have liked the chance to have taken online courses in my youth; they would have really helped someone like me.”

Ubiera’s perspective sheds light on the transformative power of online courses for students dealing with anxiety. The virtual setting provides a supportive environment, allowing individuals to engage with course materials at their own pace and in a more comfortable space, fostering a positive learning experience where they can excel.

In addition, the inclusion of lively and interactive discussion boards saves the ever-important interpersonal communication that is usually only present in the traditional classroom setting.

However, not everyone requires the benefits of an online education. Nurilys Cintron, a 24-year-old NECC graduate and former Journalism and Communications major, attested to the value of the in-person classroom experience, saying “I’m not a shy person and I loved going to classes in person. I mean, I get why some people might prefer online courses, but I don’t regret the friends I made and being able to meet the awesome teachers who pushed me to try my best.”

Cintron’s testimony emphasizes the irreplaceable aspects of in-person interactions, such as building face-to-face connections with peers and receiving personalized guidance from instructors.

It underscores the importance of a balanced approach to education that caters to diverse preferences and needs present in any student body. In essence, the expansion of online courses at Northern Essex Community College has become a pivotal tool for catering to the diverse needs of its student body.

It serves as a lifeline for individuals like Ubiera, offering a solution to the challenges posed by issues such as anxiety. Simultaneously, the retention of the option of traditional in-person classroom setting post Covid-19 complements the preferences of students like Cintron who thrive in settings brimming with interpersonal communication. Such balance enriches the experience, choices, and diversity of a community college like NECC, expanding the choices an individual student has on how he or she wishes to pursue their education.