Observer Department: Opinion
Don’t get scammed in your job search
Searching for a job is stressful enough, but today there’s an added challenge: identifying real opportunities from convincing scams. On sites like Indeed, fake postings can blend in with legitimate ones, making it hard to know who’s actually hiring. Before you hit “apply,” take a moment and verify it’s real.…
There’s a buzz in the air
Springtime is here. It’s time to open the windows, let in the fresh air, and hear those sounds of spring: chirping birds, chittering squirrels...and buzzing leaf blowers?!? While March goes out like a lamb, landscapers are roaring up their equipment, blasting our neighborhoods with the unbearable whining of 90 mile-per-hour…
The dangers of cancel culture
MomTok and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul is once again at the center of controversy, this time following the resurfacing of a video allegedly sent out by her ex, Dakota Mortensen. In the clip, Taylor appears to be physically lashing out — throwing metal barstools…
Get experience without experience
Summer’s coming up fast, and suddenly everyone’s talking about internships, part time jobs, and “getting experience.” You’re ready to apply — but then you hit a roadblock: every job wants experience you don’t have yet. That’s literally why you’re applying. Here’s the good news: you can build experience before you…
The old-fashioned way
At what point does something become considered “the old-fashioned way?” “The old-fashioned way” for many of us is a time before Covid, before 9/11, before the age of cellphones or even the Internet. This can look different depending on who you ask. I recently asked my nine-year old son to…
A poem: The Haverhill Commons
The Haverhill Commons is in, in fact, not a commonplace at all, But a very rare spot indeed; For there are no pretty artifacts, unless made of cardboard and paper, No diamonds or ore, No rare metals that make it a mine, But, yes, it is a rarety of character,…
Why you need an elevator pitch (or two…)
Hi! I’m Katie, and I’m the Coordinator for Career Services at NECC. I spend most of my days helping students explore career paths, navigate career changes, and build the career skills they need to succeed after graduation. One tool I’ve seen make a surprising difference is an elevator pitch. Whether…
The president of the United States believes people with learning disabilities should not be president
The President of the United States believes people with learning disabilities should not be president. “Honestly, I am all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don’t think a president should have a learning disability.” said Donald Trump in a recent comment made to reporters. This…
A whirlwind of unwanted life changes
The 2026 Spring Commencement will mark 10 years since I graduated from NECC and stood upon the stage to present the 2016 Student Senate Gift to the school as the Student Senate President. Ten years is a long time, and a lot can happen in a person’s life. My life…
ICE operations raise questions
Innocent American citizens are being taken away detained, and in some cases killed during ICE operations. These incidences have shaken communities and raised questions about accountability, use of force and civil rights in the United States. One of the most disturbing stories was the detainment of Liam Ramos who was…
