Observer Department: Features
NECC Profile: Kimberley Lyng
With the end of the Spring semester drawing closer, Professor Kimberley Lyng naturally has a lot on her plate like many of her fellow faculty members, especially with acting as adviser for this year's Speechapalooza. At the same time however, she finds the busy schedule energizing as she enjoys seeing…
Celebrating Earth Day
With Earth Day here on April 22, many people celebrating. Personally, I think that every day should be celebrated like Earth Day, because it’s not like the Earth only comes around once a year! However, let’s look at some ways that NECC students can celebrate this year in person, and…
A healthy lifestyle can affect mental health
Mental health connects to physical health. The connection between mental and physical health is fundamental, linked to each other. Your mental health and physical health must remain stable. Northern Essex Community College students recently expressed their opinion on the topic. Jocelyn Avila-Frias said “Yes, I decided to start my fitness…
Students reflect on the influence of advertising in the entertainment industry
Advertising is a billion-dollar industry marketed globally to millions and is often the reason why people want the newest, trendiest, or most expensive luxuries and experiences in life. Popular products extending from fashion and technology, to food and culture, are displayed everywhere throughout television and social media for the sole…
You are you, not your diagnosis
Joseph, Joey, Stewart, 17, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 11, after having his first seizure on Mother’s Day, 2012. Now, he is about to start college a year early to pursue his dream of becoming a history teacher. He overcame many obstacles throughout his high school career…
Profile: Jillian Knox of Northern Essex Community College
Helping others has always been a cause that Northern Essex Community College Disability Services Specialist, Jillian Knox, has deeply valued from a young age, as well as throughout her career working with special needs students in various situations and settings to help them achieve their goals and overcome obstacles. Knox,…
UMass Lowell students share tips on managing stress from online classes
As we mark the one year anniversary of the lock down, and the switch from in-person attendance to online, college students are getting used to the process of everyday self management of an (overly) full online work load. Some students I've talked to feel that, after a full year of…
A NECC graduate 16 years later
It's that time of the year, mid semester, so some NECC students are looking at four-year colleges, meanwhile other NECC students are getting ready to graduate and moving on to work. Stacy Romasco, 38, of Salem, N.H., a Respiratory Therapist and a Northern Essex alumnus, recently shared some of her…
Negative body image leads to low self esteem
Self-esteem has a big impact on your mental health. Body image can also affect your mental health. Body image is how you think and feel about your body. Having a negative body image can cause low self-esteem which can harm your mental health. Society wants everybody in the world to…
A year in a pandemic: How it has affected those with chronic illness.
It has been year since the World Health Organization declared SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19/The Coronavirus, a global pandemic. Since then, more than 118 million people have been infected worldwide, and 2.7 million have died. One of the groups of people that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, whether because of a COVID-19…