Students choose Northern Essex Community College for a variety of reasons. We recently chatted with Liberal Arts and Humanities graduate Emma Ruggiero of Chelmsford on why she chose NECC, what her experience was like, and what advice she has for students just starting out.

Emma Ruggiero ’24

Why did you choose NECC?
After I graduated high school, I experienced personal growth, achievements, and immense support from teachers who saw potential in me to become successful in life and explained that “I could do anything I put my mind to.” As a result, I instilled a hunger inside me to unlock more of my personality, dreams, and desires. This new development of a passion for discovering more about myself and the world around me influenced me to explore colleges that would fulfill these needs. I considered four-year institutions, but I found them daunting with their large campuses, demandingness towards students picking a major of study, and the overwhelming cost of tuition and fees. I researched alternatives to further my education, and that is when I uncovered a land of opportunity: Northern Essex Community College.

Once I discovered NECC, it became my dream school due to all the benefits and opportunities of growth it offered me. It provided me with student success services to help guide and motivate me through classes; financial support that made tuition affordable and less stressful; and an array of clubs, organizations, and campus events that made me feel welcome and at home. I found this to be a new chapter in my life.

How did you decide on your major? 
For as long as I can remember, many of my school peers, neighborhood friends, and siblings had an idea of what career path they wanted to pursue. I, however, had no clue what I wanted to do with the rest of my life because I found it daunting to make that decision at a young age. I also felt pressure from others to make this decision, which made me feel in a rush to grow up. As I got older and was reading the end of my high school career, I brainstormed possible career ideas I could see myself pursuing, but I never took it seriously. When my college career began, I enrolled as Undecided but soon discovered the wonderful opportunities a Liberal Arts and Humanities major has to offer. I found pleasure in learning about a variety of subjects, such as American literature, psychology, environmental issues, photography, and communication courses. Being a Liberal Arts and Humanities major at NECC made me a better student because I was able to strengthen skills I already obtain and learn new ones!

Describe a time you felt your best as a student.
During my time at NECC, there were multiple occasions where I felt my best as a student. But I felt my best as a student the most when I spent time with my previous Academic Coach Amy Joyall. Amy and I met right before the start of the 2022 Fall semester and ever since then she has always been my number one supporter, even after I graduated from NECC. As a student, what I looked forward to the most every week was going to my academic coaching meeting because I got to sit down and engage in a conversation with Amy. We discussed topics that were academic-related, such as studying strategies, different ways to prioritize and schedule when to complete school assignments, and how to address professors when I needed help inside the classroom. We often went on walks around the Haverhill campus to discuss non-academic topics, too, such as personal growth and achievements, updates on each other’s families, and the many hobbies we participate in off campus. Amy made me feel welcomed, at home, respected, and recognized during my time at NECC and I am forever extremely grateful to have her in my life!

What was your favorite class and why? 
One course that made an imprint on me the most was my Introduction to Journalism class taught by Professor Mary Jo Shafer. In this course, I learned about the fundamentals of news gathering, the structure and writing of journalistic stories, and the importance of detailing every piece of information in an article. As a requirement of the course, students had to write articles related to NECC that followed the rules of journalism. I wrote and interviewed students and faculty about their opinions on emotional-support animals and how it would benefit them on campus. I got an opportunity to travel and see the total solar eclipse that took place in 2024 and cover the science and experience behind it. Another article I wrote discussed food resources on campus and the significance of them and the dominant role they play in students’ lives. As a result of my timely and informative stories, my journalism professor took the liberty in publishing a few of them in the campus newspaper, The Observer. At the end of the semester, I was given a Citation for Excellence for Journalism. In the field of journalism, there is a duty that journalists must fulfill, and that is the role of public service. Public service journalism “is the independent, ethical, and accurate reporting of issues of common concern to the public” (“What Is Public Service Journalism?”). Being able to fulfill the role of public service by using my creativity and writing skills to inform society about the rapidly changing world around them made me enjoy the field of journalism and the contribution it makes to society, along with how it fuels my interest in writing.

Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? And if so, which ones and why was that important to you?
One club that is near and dear to my heart is the Best Buddies club. My participation in this club began when I was a freshman in high school. When I learned NECC had the same club, I was eager to join! This is a global nonprofit organization that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In addition, this organization “creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support.” When I first joined the club, I was appointed Vice President, and then a few semesters later I became the President. I took on duties such as collaborating with the club advisors on what events we wanted to host, I created fliers to promote my peers to participate in the club, and I met wonderful, cheerful, warmhearted people who I will remember forever. In addition, I received a Certificate of Honor for Best Buddies for my contribution to the club.

When I first began my college journey at NECC in 2022, the school did not have a women’s basketball team, and they hadn’t had one since 2010. Disappointed, I refused to let that stop me from fulfilling my dreams of playing college basketball. I contacted the athletic director and expressed my interest and worked closely with the department to recruit enough women for a team. As a team, we encountered bumps in the road; inconsistency with participating in practices and games; hardships with team and coaching dynamics; and academic challenges that impacted our team off the basketball court. But we were a team and faced the challenges together.

The Women’s Basketball team completed the 2023 – 2024 season with a record of twelve wins and nine losses. We made it to the playoffs! But regardless of the wins, the losses, the ups and downs, the NECC Women’s Basketball team made history by being the first women’s team the school had had in fourteen years. We achieved goals that no one ever thought we would have. As a team, we blocked out negative opinions, knocked down expectations, and overcame obstacles. As a result of my participation in basketball on and off the court, I received the Women’s Basketball Academic Coaching Recognition Award, the Knights Award, and a Student Athlete Award. I was proud to be a part of the women’s team as a player and honored to be one of the team’s captains,  participating in the sport I love. My favorite part of the whole season was just getting women’s basketball back on campus and seeing my family, friends, and college faculty fill the stands in support of the history my teammates, coaches, and I created!

How did your experience at NECC shape your plans for the future?
As a result of my enthusiasm for journalism, I decided I wanted to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the field, but I had to finish community college first. When course registration began for my last semester at NECC in the fall of 2024, I asked my academic advisor if any other journalism courses were offered. We found out that Journalism 102 was only offered in the spring semester. I became disappointed knowing I wouldn’t be able to invest myself and participate in a subject I loved so much. Luckily, however, my Journalism 101 professor suggested doing a directed study with her. My academic advisor and I discovered that taking Journalism 102 as an independent study would fulfill one of my free electives. With that great news, I enrolled in the course and worked closely with the professor.

As part of the course, students are encouraged to assist in the production of The Observer, and I could not have been more excited to be on staff as the Northern Essex Community College Campus Life Editor. The course material and the new position taught me advanced reporting and writing techniques, including feature and editorial writing. With the new skills I obtained throughout the semester, I created a brand-new article segment in the campus newspaper: Deep Dive into the Classroom. This topic explores different courses that were offered at NECC, and its purpose was to examine the course content, materials, and class discussions that take place between students and professors. This segment allows the audience an opportunity to become knowledgeable not only about the variety of courses provided at NECC but also gives the reader a glimpse into the classroom without actually having to be there. Some of the classes I covered were Philosophy of Happiness, Environmental Issues, and Public Speaking. For my last article of the semester, I wrote a featured story about a student whose brother was diagnosed with tapeworm and whose experience was featured in Boston Globe Magazine. I interviewed the student and published information about the family’s experience encountering and overcoming the brother’s diagnosis, and the significance of spreading awareness about tapeworm. It is my favorite article I have ever written, as well as the article I’m most proud of.

In December of 2024, I graduated from Northern Essex Community College with my Associate degree in Liberal Arts. In addition, I completed my journey at NECC with a 3.84 GPA, Dean’s List for five semesters in a row (2022-2024), and a handful of awards that plaster the walls of my bedroom, along with my framed degree. But I am determined to continue chasing my dreams and achieve my bachelor’s degree. I have been accepted to several four-year colleges, including the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, where I plan to transfer in Fall 2025. My major will be English with a concentration in Journalism and Professional Writing. I am excited for this next chapter because it is an opportunity for me to grow and blossom and unlock more of my personality, dreams, and desires.

What advice do you have for students just starting at NECC?
The advice I have for new students at NECC is to be patient. Be patient with the process and the steps you will take to complete your degree. Also, be patient with yourself. Whether you are a first-time college student or you have a few years of college experience under your belt, it can take a bit of time to get acclimated to a new school and environment. Another piece of advice for students just starting at NECC is to make the most of your experience. Something I did before I began my journey at NECC was I sat myself down and thought about what I wanted to accomplish and experience in college. I completed the goals that I sought out to do and achieved goals that I never thought were possible. As a result, it made my experience at NECC more enjoyable and memorable. The last and most important piece of advice I can give to a new student is to never be afraid to ask for help, whether you need help with a situation on campus or off campus.

Are you a current student or recent alumni who would like to share about your experience at NECC? Email Director of Public Relations Melissa Bouse.