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Reading is the new yoga

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Covid-19 gave way to new hobbies, such as reading. According to the New Yorker, reading can put people in a pleasure-like state of mind, similar to meditation.

I interviewed 2 current and one previous student from NECC asking how they utilize reading to better help their mental health.

Maddie Reid, a current student at NECC, told me how reading made her feel during the pandemic.

“Reading for me was escapism from what was happening. It allowed me to take a step back from the world and enter a new one where there was no pandemic and it was quite a happy scene”.

Reid then explained to me how reading helped to let her mind settle away from the problems of the world and she noticed herself feeling calm.

The same feeling was felt by former student Karen Smith. As a mother of three, covid took a large mental toll on her.

She picked up reading when her daughter suggested a book for her to read.

After reading that book she told me, “It really changed what I did with my time during covid. Instead of being on my phone unnecessarily for hours at a time I would pick up a book and begin reading. It helped to mentally to take a break from the news and social media”.

The news can be a downer, especially in times of despair like when we were in covid.

Taking a break from that to read can be a great measure to keep your mental health in check.

Ella Lane too told me that the world she entered while reading kept her anxieties about covid and the world away. “Creating that world in your mind from a book was essential for me to keep my anxiety in check and to not work myself up from the media.

Reading protected my mind from the scary thoughts regarding what was going Smith 2 on”.

Books for Ella were an iron curtain between her imagination and the real world.

Books have been known to be a relaxing tool for people, especially during times of covid. It is the small habits and choices, such as picking up a book, that can really help one’s mental health.

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What it means to be an honors student at NECC

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The Honors Program at Northern Essex Community College, run by Professor Ginger Hurajt, is a program put in place for NECC’s brightest and most motivated students.

Graduating with an Honors degree at NECC means you have taken Honors Seminar and completed two other Honors projects in other classes, alongside the high GPA and educational dedication. Students love being a part of this, or want to, and seem to join and enjoy it for a myriad of reasons.

April Richer is a student currently enrolled in Honors Seminar who has returned to her education after 20 years.

For her, her start in the Honors Program was with an email.

“Quite honestly NECC does an amazing job giving all students opportunities to be successful, to have a full and rewarding experience, to support those students who have a diverse amount of need. I experienced so many amazing opportunities in my academics, and I was encouraged by my professors to seize on many opportunities. It may have been the second email from the Honors Program that I looked harder at this (Honors Program) as an option.”

Richer even says how she wished she had taken the class sooner, but is still very grateful for this opportunity.

Another student says that Honors Seminar is the best course she has ever taken. “The reason that this course is the best is because we can choose our own topic, and on top of that we get to do an in depth research project. This keeps the class engaging and always enjoyable, it starts to not even feel like a class.”

She said she was required to do an interdisciplinary topic. She chose to study the ethics behind medical engineering. “It is the job I want in the future (genetic engineering). This class is preparing me for the rest of my life in a way no other class ever could.”

The research she has been doing has not felt like labor. She recommends joining the Honors Program to everyone she meets. It is hard work, but it becomes a lot easier when you are passionate about your topic.

Another student said she is not in the Honors Program, however she is heavily considering joining it. “I plan on applying to a four year college after I get my associates. I want to join the Honors Program to stand out on applications. I also hope to get experience in a class where a harder work ethic is needed to prepare for my future”.

She  wants to study math and biology when she moves on. When asked about what she would do her project on, she said she would likely study the direct connection between the two: how math can be applied to the study of biology. She knows how competitive college admissions are, so anything that can make herself stand out. Not only that, but she also knows that four year college will be very hard for her if she is to study biology and math. This course will help her prepare for that work and know what to expect out of an average class. Given, of course, that Honors Seminar tends to be harder and more work than other NECC classes.

Finally, Nancy Evans, like Richer, got an email saying she was eligible for the Honors Program. After having a tough time in high school, she decided to make her comeback strong. “I emailed Ginger asking what it (the Honors Program)may be like, and she was helpful and reassuring. I decided to give it a go and was happily surprised”.

So far from her experience, the best thing is how small the classes are. It gives a really good personal feel with your professor and peers which helps in a class as intensive as seminar.

“I am glad I received the encouragement despite my past because this is an education experience that I am truly enjoying. I enjoy how individualized and personal the classes have felt. I am also interested to see what other Honors classes are in my future”. Evans’ story is moving, but she is also inspired by all the amazing work her peers are doing alongside her.

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How NECC students deal with stress during midterms

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No matter what major or class students are taking, here at NECC, it’s that time of the semester again where students are prepping and studying for midterms.

While most students would agree that a time like this can be stressful, overbearing, and exhausting, many students have come up with their own unique ways that they de-stress. While there are countless ways to de-stress on campus, like joining a club, getting involved in community events, or attending a student event, there are numerous ways that students take time to de-stress outside of the classroom.

“This past semester I’ve decided to run my own DnD campaign. It’s something that brings me a lot of joy, so to destress I’ll plan and develop the story, make my own characters, and draw up some maps for my game. I’ll also go park my car somewhere in a nice spot and plan for my game there,” says NECC freshman Angelles Amezquita.

Another NECC student, Anytza Delgado, spoke about what she does during her time away from the classroom. “To de-stress from midterms, I set time aside to do activities that don’t require much thinking. For example, painting, taking a dance class, catching up on any tv shows or movies, or spending time with family and friends …  I have found that doing these things allows my mind to take a break, and in turn betters my mental health.”

“When I feel stressed about midterms I like to go for a walk and just take a couple deep breaths to try and calm myself down. I really feel like stepping away from my schoolwork and my devices for awhile really help me to remain calm and remind myself that I’m working towards my goals in life,” says dual-enrollment student Jessalyn Alessandri.

If students need extra help dealing with stress and anxiety not only during midterms week, but at any time during the school year, the NECC website offers multiple ways students may reach out for help. Under the ‘Student Services’ section, students may choose from three different options, whether that be counseling services, academic support services, or career services.

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The common trend that binds us together: Fighting mid-semester burnout

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As another Spring break passes and these fleeting moments of relaxation come to an end, I have found myself overwhelmed with assignments, a part-time job, and the stress of planning the future of my academic career.

In a recent conversation with friends  — all of different educational backgrounds and life goals  — I saw that I was not alone in this. I noticed a shared phenomenon that was unbound by our discrepancies: the feeling of the impending stress that comes with the final two months of the semester.

 From communication majors to biology students, to undecided majors, no one was untouched by this burden.

One of these friends, NECC student Kia Dimakis, shares her experience. “Juggling four courses and my part-time job has been harder to do lately.”

Dimakis, a communications major, has found herself in a position similar to my own. “Even though I fight it every day, I procrastinate my work and fall behind; I feel hopeless at this point in the semester.”

She, like many of us, is someone who takes pride in academic excellence. When we fall behind, it’s hard to motivate ourselves to crawl out of the hole, even though we may have dug it ourselves. This creates a vicious cycle of discouragement and procrastination.

NECC Alum and current UMass Lowell student Ian Miller shares his experience with mid-semester burnout.

“I tried to have fun and rest this Spring break, but all I could think about was everything I had to do once I was back at school,” Miller said.

Miller will receive his bachelor’s degree this upcoming fall and has been juggling the responsibilities of completing this degree while also planning his enrollment into a master’s program.

“It feels like no matter how many days off I have, I can never take a break because there is always something that needs to get done,” he said.

When this conversation with my friends had ended, we were comforted by the idea of not being alone in this feeling; I remind myself that despite any difficult circumstances, I have done the best that I can, and will continue to do so.

Amid the stress, there are moments of clarity when we give ourselves the time to find peace and patience.

Dimakis reminds her fellow peers, “just focus on your goals; you’ll get there, even if you fall behind every once in a while.”

So, while we may all differ in circumstances and the severity of them, I urge you to remember the resources that are available to us. Not only are there academic coaches and counselors who will aid in your academic struggles or in constructing a schedule that works around your lifestyle, but we have each other to fall back on when we need help; all we have to do is reach out.

Resources:

https://www.necc.mass.edu/succeed/student-support-services/counseling-services/

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Student Government election met with lackluster particpation

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Northern Essex’s Student Government Elections came to a close on March 3, with just 44 NECC student votes counted. The special election filled five positions on the board; however, two positions remain vacant.

 “In the past, I remember seeing low voting numbers, but it was always at least 100 votes. Some students voted more than once, and some students who are not enrolled tried to vote, but 44 is the final count after taking those votes that don’t count out,” said Stephanie Haskell, SGA adviser and election organizer.

 Voter turnout is a drastic shift from previous years. For example, in 2020, all candidates needed at least 50 student nominators just to appear on the ballot. However, the board has some theories as to why these numbers were so low.

 “The voting period was shorter than we usually have, and the voting numbers showed that […] This was the first time using Microsoft Forms instead of Google forms since we now have this available through our college account. We wonder if some students didn’t vote because they had to verify their account,” said Haskell.

 Despite the low turnout, SGA election results have been shared via social media and NECC’s weekly email updates. The winners included President Franziska Hoene, Programing Chair of Lawrence Ozgur Sutlu, Programing Chair of Haverhill Sarah Pachano, Marketing Chair Toni Pavao and Secretary MacKenzie Lio-MacDougall.

 “When I found out that I won the election, I was in shock, and then I became super excited. I am glad that I won because of all the work I get to do for SGA,” said new SGA President Franziska Hoene. 

 Hoene’s new position as president has left her former position as vice president of the Haverhill campus vacant. This is the second currently vacant position alongside treasurer, which had no runners this past election.

 “Currently, the main things I am working on is the Golden Lamp Award and the NECC wifi problem,” said Hoene.

 This past election also welcomed three new members onto the SGA board, including Programming Chair of Lawrence Ozgur Sutlu, Programing Chair of Haverhill Sarah Pachano, and Secretary MacKenzie Lio-MacDougall.

 “Franziska has been a great president already, and Stephanie Haskell is an amazing adviser […] I wanted to contribute and participate in the school, and I know my strengths, and I thought I could be more of service in the programming chair or marketing,” said new Programming Chair Haverhill Sarah Pachano.

 Students interested in becoming a member can find information via SGA’s blackboard page under student life on www.necc.mass.edu. Additional election news will be available through NECC’s weekly email updates and @neccsga and @neccstudentlife.

 

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How students’ lives have changed without masks

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On Wednesday, March 9 the presidents of Massachusetts’ fifteen community colleges released a statement announcing that the college campuses would transition to mask optional environments.  NECC announced that as of March 21 its campuses would be mask optional.

After almost two years of wearing masks, this transition was a big change for many students.

After about two weeks without masks, students are sharing how this adjustment has impacted their lives.

One of these students is Maddie Marshall, a dual enrollment student at Northern Essex Community College (NECC).

Marshall stated, “It is a relief after two years of COVID to get back to some form of normalcy. I feel like I am able to interact with people better and it is nice to get to see people smile.”

Gianna McKeown, a dual enrollment student at NECC, agreed with the importance of seeing others’ smiles.

She added, “The lifting of the mask mandate allows for non-verbal communication that has been lacking throughout the pandemic.”

There are many positives that come with the lifting of the mask mandate, however, the shift from masks to no masks was rapid.

Quick transitions can always be challenging and can be anxiety-inducing for some students.

Avery Hochheiser, a dual enrollment student at NECC, initially chose to keep wearing her mask when the mandate was lifted.

Hochhesier said, “At first I was a little nervous to take off my mask after it was a part of my life for so long. It gave me a sense of comfort when everything was so uncertain.”

After a few days, Hochheiser decided to take off her mask.

After taking off her mask Hochheiser said, “I felt nervous but excited to get into a new routine.”

Whether wearing a mask or not, the students all expressed that everyone had been supportive of the decision they had made.

When Avery decided to continue wearing her mask,  she stated, “The students around me respected that it was my personal choice and everyone continued to treat me with kindness.”

McKeown added that masks haven’t gone away completely and it is nice to still have them there when cold season comes around.

She said “One of the few downsides to taking off masks is a lot of people are starting to get colds again. However, the school going mask optional has allowed me to not wear one when I’m comfortable and wear one when I am sick to keep others healthy.”

All in all it is a personal decision whether or not students and teachers decide to wear a mask.

Many students have expressed that the school environment has been a supportive environment and it was comforting for many to get back to some form of normalcy. In the statement from the Massachusetts Community College Presidents they said that they would continue to “closely monitor conditions” and reserve the right to change the mask-optional status if necessary, however they are optimistic that they will not have to.

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Last call: Parnassus submissions due Monday, March 21

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The submissions deadline for NECC’s Literary Magazine is Monday, March 21 – so if you needed a sign to jump on the train at the very last second, here it is.

 

The only criteria are to be a member of NECC, whether student or staff, and to share something you’ve created. Whether that creation is a painting, a photograph, a poem, a short story, or anything in-between.

 

The worst that happens is that your work is not selected for the magazine – so there’s literally nothing to lose. You can even submit up to 10 pieces total to increase your chances.

 

To submit, use the link here:

http://www.parnassuslitmag.com/contactinfo.html

 

So, give your art a shot! Because… why not?

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Locals reflect on how pandemic has changed our lives

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COVID is a virus that has been affecting the whole world but when discussing with locals living in Massachusetts Jelisa Lopez, Sylvia Lopez and Angelica Ruiz, they share how COVID has affected them in ways outside of it being a virus.
Life before COVID feels nothing short of a dream or a distant memory, the way of life is different than it was now.

Jelisa Lopez who was in the 8th grade during the time of COVID starting describes her life before. “I often reminisce about my life before COVID but to be honest it was great like I was out every weekend with friends, I saw my family a lot and I could be around literally anyone without having to worry about a mask or like if they were sick. To sum it all up it was really nice and I was so careless and happy. I was practically never at my house.”

Sylvia Lopez who was working for a different company during the time of COVID describes her life. “Honestly it was stressful. I was in a job that I hated and really didn’t know that there was another way out. Even though I hated the job, it afforded me a
comfortable life. Though it was really demanding, it caused me a lot of stress.”

Angelica Ruiz who was working at a pharmacy during the time of COVID explains how her life was. “Before COVID I would say it wasn’t as uncertain, I had more freedom to do as I wanted but COVID also gave me a ton of opportunities and played a big role in my getting into the college of my dreams. So mixed feelings about that one.”

Whether or not life was good before the pandemic, soon things came crashing down when a lockdown had been announced.

Many took the news poorly while others accepted the fate of what was happening. Lopez  was one who at first took the news poorly, “I literally thought it was so dumb because I had no eduction on how bad COVID had spread. My school originally was gonna close only for like a few days or so. And I remember being so mad because I didn’t wanna go back to school. But as the lockdown went on I was so lonely and didn’t see anyone at all like it was just my mom, my brother and I. To sum that all up I was annoyed and I hated it but it also gave me time with my family and to figure myself out.”

On the other hand Lopez felt differently, “My first reaction to lock down was well concerned. Being an immunocompromised person it made the thought of leaving home scary. On the other hand COVID did provide an opportunity. I was able to find a job I liked. Was I unemployed for three months, yes, but unemployment helped cover the gap until I was able to start my new job. So I was able to do something I enjoyed instead but things were a bit unstable until the growing pains of the new job ended.”

Ruiz felt similar to Lopez. “My reaction to the lockdown was fear and anxiety. I was in disbelief and I wasn’t even sure if
everyone I loved would get out of it alive.”

While the rise of COVID resulted in a lockdown, many were forced into a new way of life, a way of life they were not used to. COVID had affected millions in terms of sickness but also changing who they once were before the pandemic started.A lot look back on how covid affected them, often describing loneliness, depression, sadness.

Jelisa Lopez describes her mental health taking a huge toll, “My mental health was literal crap like I was so sad because
I went from being with my friends all the time to being stuck in my house all day. I also was sad because I wanted to go to school so badly which is so surprising because I really didn’t care for school at all but I loved my teachers so I was sad I couldn’t see them. COVID affected my appearance, thankfully in a good way. I was able to play around with makeup more and I
got better thankfully”

Sylvia Lopez describes similar feelings, “COVID affected me more mentally than anything. It caused me to be fearful and depressed for a while because everything seemed so bleak. At the same time though it afforded me opportunities to try new things so I had more time to focus on myself. I know it’s contradictory, but it felt like for every good there were 10 bad things.”

Ruiz who also describes similar feelings also brings up masks, “It stressed me out and has made me more depressed, aware of my mortality, I’ve been sicker as of late, wearing masks has affected breathing and I think made me more vulnerable to allergies. I know they’re meant to keep us safe but breathing in the fibers isn’t always good.”

For the locals living in Massachusetts, COVID felt like a never ending nightmare, the way COVID had affected them has had longing affects, some feel as though they were changed as a person.

Jelisa Lopez was one of many who felt she changed due to the pandemic and lockdown. “It’s changed sooo much. Especially back in 2020 with quarantine like my mental health was literally (crap) and I was so lonely. Now everywhere I go it’s such a habit to grab my mask and hand sanitizer and make sure that if I even dare to hangout with a friend I have to make sure they haven’t been around people or maybe even have them take a COVID test. Like I don’t even have people over because I’d rather not have my family exposed to COVID.”

Sylvia Lopez and Ruiz who are romantic partners feel the same way. “Since covid I’m much more cautious about my health
and the health of my partner,” said Ruiz and Sylvia Lopez agreed.

While everything felt dark and bleak, could life go back to normal?

They say there’s always a rainbow at the end of rain but can this still hold true in terms of the pandemic, can life pick up in the way it once was?

Jelisa Lopez felt like things couldn’t go back to normal, “honestly no to be honest because like now we’re all like so scared because I didn’t even think COVID would last this long let alone even make it to the U.S.”

Sylvia Lopez (30) had some difficulty deciding between things being able to go back to normal and things not going back to normal.

“Hmm that is a difficult question to answer. But if I have to choose I would say no it can’t. The reason I say it can’t is because COVID helped highlight some ugly truths about our society. Since we can’t all get on the same page on how the disease should be handled we will be feeling the effects of COVID for years to come. Even when we do finally decide to handle this as a whole it will be too late. By that time the divide will be even larger so if another pandemic hits we will have the same issues.”

Ruiz also felt as though there is no going back to normal, “I don’t think we’ll ever be the same, I’ll be happy to take off the mask one day but I think we’ve been changed forever and people will be more cautious and distant.”

The locals living in Massachusetts have a difficult time navigating through the pandemic and the effects covid has left behind for them to deal with. While COVID is a virus and has spread to nearly every corner of the world, it has also left emotional damage and changed lives for those living in Massachusetts.

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Oh, what to do with time? Pandemic inspires new hobbies

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When the world shut down in March of 2020, people were left with endless time on their hands. But what were people to do with all that time?

Two current and one former NECC students tell me the intriguing new hobbies the Covid quarantine gave them.

Karen Smith explains to me her most recent and now most favorite hobby she acquired, running.

She tells me, “Well, when Covid first started, I found myself being totally unproductive, lounging around all day and really finding no purpose to do much because of the dreary time.”
That all changed, though, when she purchased the Peloton Treadmill. Smith tells me that this fancy electronic treadmill with on-demand classes at her disposal changed her life.

“As soon as it was set up, I immediately took a class and felt the instant gratification and motivation to move my body, giving purpose to being stuck at home. I also loved it because it helped to make myself happier, it was like checking off a box on a to-do list, and I love that feeling.”

Smith’s COVID blues were cured by running; however, student Olivia Hansen found an affinity for crocheting to help pass the time.

As an avid Tiktok watcher, her inspiration hit when she saw a video of a girl crocheting a shirt.

“When I saw that, I was like, well I can do that!” and so she went to the store and picked up the materials she needed. She explained to me that crocheting was an expressive outlet that allowed her creativity to shine with what she chose to make. She fell in love with crocheting, from shorts to shirts and even dresses.

Fellow classmate Avery Hochheiser found herself diving nose deep into literature to keep her head above Covid’s water. With her former English teacher dad as her inspiration and guide, she began reading.

“I realized that reading was a form of escapism, and during COVID, I was desperately needing to escape the reality of the
current world situation.”

With that, she told me she finished approximately ten books each month and found herself feeling less dull and gloomy being stuck in the house. The endless time given to us by Covid allowed people to look inwards and find out what they enjoy doing with their time, thus the flourishing of hobbies such as running, crocheting, and reading.

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A new era in the movie industry

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There was a time where Arnold Schwarzenegger was the biggest action movie star in Hollywood. Star Wars was the hottest movie franchise around and watching movies in the theater made your experience unimaginable.

Nowadays, we are still getting Star Wars movies over 30 years later, movie stars have come and gone, and there is no longer a need to go to the theater. The Movie and TV show industry has drastically changed over the years.

One way they’ve been different is their constant need to remake every movie and TV show out there.

Whether they create a spin-off of the original idea, repurpose it into an animated or live action movie or series, or just flat out remake the movie with a different cast. Hollywood will stop at nothing to keep a franchise alive for all generations.

Part of the reason for this is because the audience plays a major role in the direction of movies. The franchises that were created and loved have an already existing fan base, where as completely new movies have no audience.

According to a study by Stephen Follows back in 2015, the budget for a film based on an existing premise is $70.8 million, while a brand new film is $46.4 million.

In fact, according to the same study by Stephen Follows, sequels and prequels now make up nearly a third of all top-grossing films. However, is that necessarily a bad thing?

I interviewed NECC student Andrew Venditti, a fan of film who had very interesting opinions on the matter.

When asked if he felt that Hollywood is lacking in creativity, Venditti said “I think Hollywood could use some more unique stories. I like superhero movies as much as the next guy, but they get a little stale in my opinion.”

I also asked him if there would need to be a limit on remakes when it comes to certain franchises or any movie in general, He responded by saying “I think some remakes are really good. On the other hand, if remakes and stretching out movie franchises sell really well, there might be less profit incentive to make new material.”

So while there are certainly good and bad remakes, where you watch them is an entirely new thing.

Instead of buying a ticket at your local movie theater, people now would much prefer watching the movie at home.

While the pandemic has not helped with ticket sales, theaters have been in decline for a long time now. According to Paul Hardart, director of the Entertainment, Media and Technology Program at New York University’s Stern School of Business, movie theater attendance was plateauing even before COVID 19.

However, ticket prices have nearly doubled, going from $5.39 in 2000 to $9.16 in 2020. Now, there are all kinds of streaming services like Netflix, Paramount + and others that make watching movies more convenient in the comforts of home.

Movies and TV shows have been more or less the same, but watching them has evolved over the years. While we’re not sure what franchise they will duplicate next, we hope that it will be just as good as the original.