All posts by Rachel Anderson, Correspondent

Students share lessons from past year

With everything that’s been going on in the world I feel like most of us can agree that we have to do better at being compassionate to one another and to do better at making the world a better plac. For this last story I want to say congratulations graduates! Go out and make the best of life, chase your dreams and make the world a better place.

This week I talked to a few students on what they learned this past year, what they could teach others and how they are going to make the world a better place.

Brandon Amello, personal trainer states “I believe being kind and accepting of everyone is something seriously lacking in today’s society. Being  accepting of everyone’s differences can definitely help make the world a better place – I think the fear of being  yourself or different is something that shouldn’t be an issue anymore.”

Erika Hathaway criminal justice major states “what I have learned in the last year is that life is a great gift.Time is precious.I am very lucky that I was able to finish and make it through a full year of college with zoom courses being a whole new thing.”

Reese Leblanc states “to make the world a better place i think that people should think of others as much as they think of themselves, although you may be vaccinated not everyone is right now. We should still wear masks to stop the spread of covid! I think that everyone should just be more kind.

Sabrina Spero Nursing major states “ something that I’ve learned and started to do was be more grateful for things so every morning I write down a few things I’m grateful for and that’s something I think everyone should do so  that way they start off the day remembering what they have and appreciate that”

Colleen Jameson Business major, something I learned more about is shadow work. Basically this means working on yourself and focusing on your wellbeing. I think that everyone should learn more about how to work on themselves because it makes for a better world filled with love. I apply it daily life in the form of meditation, journaling, etc, I think it would be great to introduce others to this.”

Tips to start a fitness journey

We are only a few weeks into this New Year, and if your New Years’ resolution to eat better, work out, and better your mental health is at a halt especially if you aren’t seeing results right away.

I have the tips and tricks for you to be successful. I got to sit down with Personal Trainer Brandon Amello and Jared Shepard from Cedardale Health and Fitness to get all the answers.

For someone who wants to start living a healthy lifestyle, Brandon Amello said “Baby steps! Developing a healthier lifestyle does not happen overnight. Personally, I recommend starting with making minor changes to your diet, such as eating less processed foods, adding lean healthy proteins, carbs and easing your way into exercise a few days per week over time it will become much easier.”

If you’re just starting out on your fitness journey and not seeing your results right away, Jared Shepard said “If you’re not seeing results right away don’t be concerned. The last person to see your results is you. What matters is consistency. There’s no magic way to get in shape fast, consistency and long-term dedication will get you where you want to be. Stick with it, stay positive and you’re guaranteed to see results over time.”

Amello said “ If you’re just starting out, practice patience. Developing a healthy active life takes time and is different for everyone. Enjoy the process, Benefits will come the more consistent you are. Find what works for you to improve upon it as you see fit.”

 

 

 

 

 

Covid’s impacts on our lifestyles continue

Lifestyle in 2020 took an unexpected turn. When covid hit, it shook up our everyday lives.

The life that we once knew was gone, workplaces, schools, etc, had been shut down. As humans, connecting to one another and being social is a part of our being.

For some, Quarantine took a toll on mental and physical health while others used this time to better mental and physical health.

That being said there was no right or wrong way to quarantine this was such a hard time to get through and I’m glad you are all safe. I got to sit down with these students to see how they spent their quarantine, how their lifestyle changed and how their mental health was affected?

Sophomore Sabrina Spero a Nursing student here at Necc said that “my lifestyle changed because I woke up every morning about a month into quarantine and did at least an hour of youtube workout videos and it made my day start off great.”

Senior Colleen Jameson said “I think excerise plays a crucial role in your mental health, I think that its important that everyone takes control of themselves and take that time to recalibrate. I can truly attest to the fact that my mental health is better than before the pandemic because I implemented exercise into my routine.”

Everyone’s mental and physical health is different so what works for some won’t work for all.

Selfcare is not about the destination it’s all about the journey you go through to learn and grow into who you are and who you want to become. If your looking for a place to start your selfcare journey NECC offers counseling and You can make an appointment by e-mailing counseling@necc.mass.edu or calling 978-556-3730.

 

 

Tips on coping with the anxiety and stress of these times

With the coronavirus putting us into another month of quarantine It can be really hard on everyone mentally and physically. It’s really hard to be stuck inside all day, every day but the sooner everyone does their part and stays inside the faster life will be back to normal. 

Here are some tips to help you focus on all the good there is to come. First It’s okay to feel sad or angry about being under quarantine. It’s a hard time. A lot of people lost loved ones. Birthdays, Weddings, etc. couldn’t be celebrated. Start writing a journal about what’s happening in the world. It’ll be crazy to find it ten years later and remember all that went on. It’ll also remind you to stay grateful for all the little things you were able to do before this happened.  Create a routine for yourself,

this will help you after quarantine is over and help you get back to normal.

 If you’re having a hard time with depression, anxiety, etc. Try to mind your thoughts, reach out to someone you trust,  find something you love to do, start journaling your feelings, take notice of what or who hurts you, start meditating, find something you’re grateful for. Notice how you talk about yourself, start limiting your time on social media, check-in with yourself how do you feel about what’s going on?

Something that can also help is how much rest you get, go for a walk/run outside, create a new playlist, find a new hobby or activity, drink more water, admire yourself.

With all the negative that’s going on it’s so easy to get sucked in and dwell on that but hopefully it’s almost over. Use the rest of quarantine to discover who you are, find new talents, Heal.

Don’t let your mind and body take hits from a negative world, take a step back and try to remember all the fun and good that’s to come.

Speechapalooza goes online

Speechapaloozaa is ON-line. Due to all this craziness this year students will be hosting this event
online April 29-May 1. The event is being run by David Rattigan’s public relations class and will
be held on the popular social media platforms Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.

While the event is taking place the students will also be taking donations for NECC’s COVID-19
emergency fund.

“We all decided together as a class, that creating a whole new platform for the event to be on could be a challenge, but we’ve all worked so diligently to  pull it off. It’s just over a week away, I’m extremely excited for the first-ever online speechapalooza.”

“I’m relatively excited about finally executing plans that have been crystallizing for a long time. Because my four fellow co-chairs and I have been able to  meet consistently and because of the cooperation, input, and competence of our whole class, we were actually able to quickly devise a standardized, centralized plan in a chaotic, confusing situation. I’m incredibly proud of our class and feel fortunate to take up my role,” said Jonas Ruzek of Amesbury.

Tune into Speechapaloozaa and support your fellow classmates on Wednesday, April 29-May
1.