All posts by Linda Goss, Correspondent

Home Page News Bytes, News

Students share Thanksgiving traditions

 

  As Thanksgiving approached, many students at NECC were eagerly making plans for their Thanksgiving break. 

Some were looking forward to spending quality time with family and friends, enjoying traditional meals, and participating in holiday festivities. 

Others planned their time to catch up on schoolwork or relax and recharge before the end of the semester.  

A woman sits in a chair in a classroom and smiles at the camera.
Gwenyth Zuercher Photo by Linda Goss

Gwenyth Zuercher had planned  for her Thanksgiving to include “The Turkey Trot” in Newburyport, Massachusetts, for the running club. She has been involved in this event traditionally every year with her family, and she has been doing this since she was 12 years old. 

“Run with my friends and family and even help run a hot chocolate stand for the Red Cross Club NHS,” she said. 

She is also a math tutor at NECC, and she is majoring in bio-medical engineering.

A male student sits at a desk and looks at camera
Oscar Garcia Photo by Linda Goss

Oscar Garcia had planned his Thanksgiving this year with his whole family at the Smoke Shop Barbecue Restaurant in Methuen, Massachusetts, by the Ranger Plaza. Each year, his family does something different for Thanksgiving, like one year Garcia and his family would go to their aunt’s house, or his mother would have Thanksgiving in their home. Garcia has been at NECC for one year, and he is majoring in Environmental Science and concentration in meteorology.

“Every cloud carries a lesson. Every sunrise is a promise.”

A woman sits in a chair in a classroom and looks at the camera.
Serena Rechdan Photo by Linda Goss

Serena Rechdan planned her Thanksgiving with her brother, Toufic, with their cousin in Salem, New Hampshire. Sereena is a math tutor at NECC and is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. She has been at NECC since the Spring of 2024 and will be graduating in the Spring of 2026.

Each student I had the privilege of interviewing had their own traditions of carrying with their own family. 

In addition, several students are choosing to give back to their communities during the holiday. Volunteering at local food banks and shelters has become a meaningful tradition for some, allowing them to share the spirit of Thanksgiving with others in need. These acts of service highlight the diverse ways NECC students celebrate the season, whether through cherished family customs or thoughtful community involvement.

My Thanksgiving tradition is spending it with my family and helping by donating to food banks from my church.

“Helping others in need from the heart, but someday you will never know when your heart will be in need.”

 

News, Slider

Honoring veterans at NECC

 
Four men, including two in military uniforms, stand in front of flags in the Tech Center building.
Attendees at the special event to honor veterans at NECC on Nov. 6. Photo by Linda Goss

On Nov. 6, a special event took place on the Haverhill campus at NECC to honor those who have served in themilitary ahead of Veterans Day.

Commencement started at eight-thirty with Dean of Students Jason Arey, who made a speech about our soldiers and veterans who are active and non-active in the military. 

A U.S. flag and the POW/MIA flag fly at half staff.
A U.S. flag and the POW/MIA flag fly at half staff. Photo by Linda Goss

There was a very special moment of silence after Arey made his speech. Taps was played as the American flag and the

P.O.W. flag waved half-mast on the flagpole. 

Master Sgt. Alfred Denesowicz was the M.C. who led the formal event. 

Denesowicz joined the military in 1996 and served until 2022. He was a member of the Army Reserve Careers Group in Fort Devens in Massachusetts. He stated, “I am proud to stand with our veterans and military students and to ensure they have the resources and support”.

This reporter, Sgt. Linda Taylor-Goss also attended the event and is a student at NECC. She is also a veteran and was a proud member of the Army National Guard. She served from 1980 to 2006. She is currently retired and is attending NECC as well. She stated, “If I were young, I would do it all over again.”

Private First Class Hailey Denesowicz has been in the military for a year, and she is also a student at NECC in an EMT program. She stated, “I recommend anyone to join the military.”

A man in a police uniform with a golden lab dog.
NECC police Lt. Keith Walker and Winnie. Photo by Linda Goss

In addition, NECC police Lt. Keith Walker and Winnie were present for the special event.

Campus Life, Slider

Pumpkin Palooza

 
A woman standing in front of a table with pumpkins on it.
Assistant Coordinator of Student Life Brianna Sorensen. Photo by Linda Goss

One of my favorite seasons is autumn. Autumn brings out the radiant colors of the foliage and the pumpkins. On Oct. 23, in the Spurk Building on the Haverhill Campus, for the first time, Brianna Soresen of Student Life put together a Pumpkin Palooza! It was her idea to give students a break from their studies. She wanted students to interact with each other outside of the classroom.

The morale of the students was extremely high. There were pumpkins galore, along with donuts, hot cider, and mini cupcakes. In addition, there were stations for students to use their creativity, for carving and decorating pumpkins. The lobby of the Spurk Building that filled with festive music and gave the students enthusiasm with a spiritual feeling of autumn. 

Orange and white pumpkins on a table in the Spurk lobby.
Photo by Linda Goss

“Giving students permission to take a break and look up. Creating a sense of community so students can talk to one another in a non-academic space.”

I had the privilege of sitting next to Max Lockard, who has been a student since 2022, and he is majoring in music. Max was one of the students who participated in this pumpkin event. Lockard carved his favorite character from the Battlestar Galactica 1987 series, Cyclon.

“Don’t let your memes be your dreams.”

He did an incredible job with his creativity on his pumpkin, and the enthusiasm that he displayed was impressive.

Another student who participated in the pumpkin event was Liranni German. German, who is also the Campus Life editor of the Observer, has been at NECC since 2023, and she is majoring in business. 

“I love it, it’s a good idea to relax after a long day of studying,” she said. 

Although Germanchose not to carve her pumpkin, she chose to paint her artificial pumpkin green. The experience of interviewing these three individuals overwhelmed me with joy.

Opinion

Learning with a disability

 

There are many types of disabilities that people must cope with. The challenge is how they cope with it in their everyday lives.

 Having a disability is a work in progress, especially with someone who has a learning disability, and I am one of them. All my life, going through elementary to high school, I struggled with my academics. 

Disabilities can affect individuals in a variety of ways, and each person’s experience is unique. This is especially true for individuals with learning disabilities, as they may face distinct challenges and require continuous adaptation. 

I am one of those individuals living with a learning disability, and I understand firsthand that managing it is a journey that involves patience and persistence. 

While attending Junior High School, I yearned to fit in with the other students. I wanted so badly to be part of their world, but despite the obstacles of struggling with my disability, it was still exceedingly difficult for me.

Even though I attended small special education classes, I received no academic assistance there. I was isolated and felt like the other students did not understand me. It took me much longer to complete assignments. I also tried my best to stay positive and to keep pushing forward knowing that determination was the key to overcoming my barriers.

I had the opportunity to interview Reilly White, who works at the NECC café part-time. 

Reilly has a learning disability, but her learning disability began when she attended junior high through high school. 

 Reilly is regularly performing her duties at the café, where she reliably collaborates with her colleagues. 

Opportunity Works are the benefits of employing these wonderful young adults, and the chance to have the experience to empower their ability to work. 

When I attended NECC in 2020, I did not have the knowledge I have now, but because of the support, I feel confident in myself. 

“Never give up what you are struggling with but always stay with the problem.As a student at NECC, the experience has overwhelmed me with so much support from my peers, my professors, writing tutors, math tutors, and my academic coach, Denise Trinidad. 

Resonating with Reilly’s learning disability and others, and myself, it is frustrating to accomplish what you need to accomplish.