Observer Department: Opinion
Start searching for an internship
Internships are a great way to start exploring your career while you’re still in college. You don’t need tons of experience – just your coursework, curiosity, and willingness to learn. Whether you apply online or reach out to a company on your own, internships give you a chance to gain…
Uncertainty remains as Supreme Court rejects appeal on marriage equality
On Monday Nov. 10, 2025, the Supreme court declined a petition brought forward by Kim Davis, a former Kentucky County Clerk who gained national attention after failing to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples. The petition was to revisit the decision made on Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision that…
Raising awareness for those suffering with CRPS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults (50.2 million people) experienced chronic pain in 2019. This means that about 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with chronic pain, according to the CDC. Conditions such as complex regional…
X marks the spot
In response to The Observer’s shout-out in their October 9th issue about older students coming to NECC for educational opportunities, I want to shout back about how great NECC has been for us oldies who have ventured back into classrooms. I began my studies for my Associates in 2021 (which…
Major decisions: Tools to help you explore
Picking your major can feel like a defining moment. It might feel like you’re choosing your whole career with one decision. The truth is, you have options. Your major and career path are not a straight line, it probably looks more like a zig-zagging road, with many unnamed side streets.…
Learning with a disability
There are many types of disabilities that people must cope with. The challenge is how they cope with it in their everyday lives. Having a disability is a work in progress, especially with someone who has a learning disability, and I am one of them. All my life, going through…
Free speech is no longer free
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government. It guarantees Americans can express their ideas, gather with others, and voice concerns to the government without fear of retaliation or punishment from the…
Current state of free speech: Free speech and college campuses across the U.S.
Many are concerned about the current state of free speech in the United States. There have been demands made of private institutions and criticisms of those who are speaking of their own volition. There are even concerns about the freedom of the press being under fire, and the current presidential…
A call to my peer students
For the ones graduating this semester, Congratulations! You made it here with a lot of effort and determination, and probably with extra liters of coffee, and several hours of sleep deprivation. For the first generation students, allow yourself a double pat on your shoulder. You learned how to navigate your…
On the death of Pope Francis
As we mourn the death of Pope Francis, we should remember his address to Congress on September 24, 2015, in which he called to mind four Americans who epitomized “a way of seeing and interpreting reality [enabling us] to draw upon our deepest cultural reserves.” Understandably, the first figure was…
