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Posts tagged as “students at home”

Food for Thought

By editorialteam on November 19, 2023

Investigating Food Insecurity at MWCC

By Desiree Leader | Observer Contributor

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, 1 out of 7 people in Massachusetts receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps. Food insecurity is a global issue, and it is no different at the Mount.

With a recent reduction in additional supplemental benefits, the local demand on food pantries is at an all-time high. According to Pam Guild, President of the Board of Directors at the Wachusett Food Pantry in Sterling, there has been a major uptick in recipients during and since the COVID-19 pandemic because “prices are going up all over for basics.” read more

Overcoming Adversity

By editorialteam on May 18, 2023

Observer’s Incoming Editor-in-Chief Shares Journey of
Self-Discovery and Creativity

By Isabelle Mascary | Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Elysian Alder

Elysian Alder is twenty-six years old and began their journey at the Mount in the fall of 2022. She’s currently a professional writing major and the upcoming editor-in-chief. Her pronouns are: they/them, she/her or anything used with respect.

After a year of soul-searching, extensive research, and surrounding herself with more LGBTQIA+ people, Alder began her transition on July 16th, 2021. “It began with me exploring my non-binary identity, and then, while researching for a transgender character I was writing – and still am writing – it all clicked for me,” she explained. During the process, and after feeling uncomfortable with her given name, she chose her own name: Elysian. Derived from a concept in Greek mythology, the name means “a place or state of ideal happiness.” read more

Government Deceit, or Willful Ignorance?

By editorialteam on April 6, 2022

Parents That Received 2021 Child Tax Credit Surprised at Affects on Tax Returns

By Bushrah Namirimu | Observer Contributor

Social media has been awash with complaints and frustration from many parents who are quite displeased after filing their 2021 tax returns. This is due to the discovery that they’ll be receiving smaller refunds than what they had anticipated, following the advance child tax credit which hit their bank accounts between July and December 2021.

Millions of families across the country received monthly checks from the federal government as a part of the American Rescue Plan. Krista Russell, a student at MWCC, is one of those parents who benefited from last year’s ARP package. read more

Students at Home: William Coleman

By editorialteam on May 14, 2020

By Claire Higginson
Observer Contributor 

William Coleman is in his second semester of classes. He’s a dual major in Film and Allied Health. He’s taking four classes this semester: Government, Film Studies, Self-Promotion, and HCOP. He doesn’t have a good environment at home so it’s not ideal for him to be there all the time, so he’s staying at his friend’s house in order to get the work done. He said that his homework hasn’t been hard, and the online format is easy to understand. He misses going to school though to see his other friends and attend his classes.  read more

Students at Home: Vera Terrance

By editorialteam on May 11, 2020

“[I’m] taking 4 classes this semester. Online classes are so boring; I really miss the 1-on-1 interactions with teachers and students. I don’t think I have any worries regarding my grades; my teachers are doing a fine job shifting everything online.”

Vera Terrance, Environmental Studies Major

Students at Home: George Brown

By editorialteam on May 9, 2020

By Claire Higginson
Observer Contributor 

George Brown is in his last semester and is part of the graduating class of 2020. He is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies and is taking four classes: Guitar, Computer Information Systems, Social and Political Philosophy, and Pre-Calculus. 

He said that working from home is fine, as most of his work was already submitting online assignments. However, he is very disappointed in the cancellation of the graduation ceremony. He believes that the ceremony did not have to be cancelled but rather postponed because it means a lot to students and families.  He also said he misses getting lunch on campus the most.  read more

Students at Home: Juan Pedraza

By editorialteam on May 7, 2020

By Claire Higginson
Observer Contributor 

Juan Pedraza is finishing his first year of college. He’s in his second semester as a Biology major and he is taking three classes: Biology II, Chemistry II, and aHealth Career Opportunity Program  (HCOP) seminar. He’s having to take the lab portions of these classes online as well, which proves to be difficult as he enjoys the hands-on learning aspect of labs. Instead, his teachers give him question to answer as a lab report to take the place of the required in-person lab. Pedraza has never done online classes before, so initially the change was weird for him. However, he said he has gotten accustomed to the format and is still doing very well in his classes and at home. read more

Students at Home: Magdalen Bresee

By editorialteam on April 24, 2020

By Abbi Rameau
Observer Contributor 

Magdalen Bresee is a Legal Studies major in her fourth and final semester at the Mount. She is taking 3 classes this semester, and has set up her workspace on her bed at home. Bresee says that she is currently struggling with the transition from in person lectures to online instruction, particularly in her math classes. She said that she generally needs thorough visual walkthroughs to succeed in math.

On the other hand, Bresee enjoys the freedom to do work early in the morning and have the rest of the day to herself, rather than waiting until midday for class time. She feels that she is much more productive when she is able to pace herself. Additionally, most of her classes for her major are only offered online, so she is already used to the online format for her legal studies courses. read more

Students at Home: Corbin Grubb

By editorialteam on April 23, 2020

By Abbi Rameau
Observer Contributor

Corbin Grubb is an Engineering and Physics major in his fourth and final semester at the Mount. This semester he is taking four classes, and is doing his work from his desk at home. Overall, Grubb says he hasn’t struggled too much so far and thinks that he will be okay with the online format and will be able to teach himself from the textbook.

However, he misses his friends and the chalkboard from the Honors Program center where he previously did all of his homework. Grubb is also worried that he may not be able to stay focused as much as before while he works from home. Like other students, Grubb is also disappointed about graduation being virtual, but he understands that it is necessary with the current situation. read more

Work From Home: Anna Allen

By editorialteam on April 21, 2020

Anna Allen, full-time student and Mount Observer web editor, works from her home office. Usually her cats aren’t allowed in the office, but Callie is polite and quiet while Anna is working!