Observer Department: Features

American Dream Profile Series: Xiqiang Hong

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Xiqiang Hong lived through the Chinese Cultural Revolution in 1966 and eventually immigrated to the United States. I was given the privilege to talk to him about his thoughts on the American Dream and how his life experiences shaped his perception. When I spoke with him, he was very friendly,…

Single parenting in modern America

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According to the U.S Census, single parent families make up around 32% of the 11 million families that have children under the age of 18, with single mothers being the primary parent in 8.5 million of these families. With this significant number we thought it would be interesting to talk…

Three generations of Northern Essex Students share their experience at the community college    

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How has the experience of Northern Essex Community College changed over the years? Three generations of NECC students reflect on their time at the school and offer alumni tips on how to get the most out of your years in college. As all students have been made aware of, the…

Students share how pandemic has affected mental health

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According to a Nov. 11 Boston Globe article, since the pandemic young adults have been experiencing higher rates of depression and other mental health concerns as the COVID-19 pandemic rages forward in the U.S. Some Northern Essex Community College students say they have experienced issues with their mental health as…

Social media leads to an acceptance dilemma

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Social media has become an enormously powerful tool that society has used for many different purposes. From Facebook to Instagram to many others we now have more ways to connect with people and to share information than ever before. However, with great technological advances there comes a problem that needs…

Social media in the time of COVID-19: How the pandmic has changed the way we use social media in 2020

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    Social media has been part of our daily lives since the early 2000s. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many of us use it.   Gyani Pradhan Wong Ah Sui, 18, of West Newbury, is in the NECC Exploratory program. He uses Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp.   Prior to the current pandemic he used social…

Pandemic impacting mental and physical health

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It is no surprise that many people find the COVID-19 pandemic stressful both physically and mentally. The actions that we take to protect ourselves and others from the COVID virus, such as social distancing and stay-at-home orders can make you feel isolated, anxious, and scared. Ian Shea, a student at…

Social-distancing and lockdown affecting students’ sleep habits

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Online students get more screen time and have a more flexible schedule, but this may be affecting the sleeping habits of students. An Italian study published May 15 in the  Journal of Sleep Research found that,  "...during home confinement, sleep timing markedly changed, with people going to bed and waking…

A Halloween like no other

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Now ten months in, it is no secret that the year 2020 has been anything but traditional for the entire country in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With Massachusetts deemed an initial hotspot for the virus, towns within the state have come well acquainted with the prohibition of large…

How students plan to spend Halloween during COVID-19

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As Halloween begins this upcoming holiday season, many celebratory plans have been negatively affected (or even canceled) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dressing-up in costumes for communal “Trick-or-Treating” and attending chilling “Haunted Houses” are only a couple among the countless cancelled festivities of this beloved Holiday, causing a sense of…