Observer Department: Features

Public speaking in a pandemic

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We are taught from a young age that public speaking would be an important aspect of not only our educational lives, but future careers. It is daunting for several people, and the idea of talking in front of more than five individuals can cause physical pain. At Northern EssexCommunity College,…

From graduate to essential worker: Respiratory therapist profile 

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Northern Essex Community College alumna Meghan Finn, 32, is now a respiratory therapist at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem, N.H. Finn graduated from Timberlane High School in 2006 and set her sights on becoming a cosmetologist. “I graduated from Timberlane High School, class of 2006, and moved on to a cosmetology school," she said. She attended Continental Academie of Hair Design in Hudson, N.H. in the…

Students use social media to speak up, stay informed

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In the wake of the George Floyd protests and the unrest that occurred as a result, social media became an increasingly valuable resource and played a vital role when it came to organizing and coordinating protests. Though social media being used as a tool for political activism is nothing new…

News daze: The impact of local news on individuals 

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In a time where the country is being plagued by crucial problems – from the ongoing fight for racial equality to the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic – many people are staying glued to their television screens in anticipation for what is going to happen next. Many students…

Students share lessons from past year

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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!…

Students reflect on end of semester

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As the semester comes to a close and many students are preparing for their final exams or projects, many are feeling overwhelmed with everything they are having to manage, but at the same time, students are also feeling excited because a break is in their near future. NECC student, Isa…

Your mental health can impact your loved ones

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Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It's important to measure how common mental illness is we can understand its physical and social impact. Individuals who are suffering from mental illness can find that their condition can hurt their relationships with those close to…

Photo Essay: Before I’m gone

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Carmen “Tita” Almonte   “I always served other people. Running around, always doing things for other people. There isn’t anybody out there that has any negative feelings towards me, thank Jehovah. The best thing in life is when people get along. When people get along, we live well. We live…

Inspiration vs imitation: Learning when to detach oneself: Why taking a step back is just as crucial as moving forward.

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Inspiration is key. It’s something that I need around me constantly, and it’s what drives me to create.  But I have to know when to detach. Not that long ago I wrote a piece about what some local artists are doing to find inspiration during these trying times, as it…

Pandemic pregnancy: The pressures of parenthood

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Because there is still so much that we do not know about COVID-19, we are unsure of some of the effects that it can have on a developing child. What we do know is that COVID-19 is uncommon in newborns born to mothers who had tested positive for COVID-19 during…