Photo taken by Eliesha Padilla Eliesha Padilla | Guest Writer I became a mom at 18, and now, at 21, I am raising a 2-year-old while continuing my education and trying to build a better future for both of us. One of the hardest parts is feeling pulled between being a good mom and being a good student. Sometimes when I am working on an assignment, my daughter is beside me, asking me to play or wanting my attention. I know she needs me, but I also have schoolwork to finish. In

Nathan Johnson | Editor Hello all, As I soon depart from LCCC and move onto the next stage in my life, I can say with confidence that the paw print was one of the best endeavors I have taken up to this day. Since I first took journalism I have gained such an appreciation for the field, and all the work that goes into making a newspaper worth reading. Becoming an editor for the Paw Print this semester has been an experience that I am learning a lot from, and I know I will be

Image by Pexels from Pixabay Seamus Reed | Writer Sometimes it's alright to not meet expectations put on you. You should never let others' expectations of you steer the direction of your life. Sometimes we lose ourselves trying to please others and feel that by us failing them... we've failed ourselves. As students, we can feel like there is always someone expecting something from us. Parents might have certain plans for our future, teachers might expect certain grades, coach

Shi Weinhold | Writer Hello! My name is Shi Weinhold and I am excited to be one of the editors for the Fall 2026 semester. This is my final semester at LCCC and I will really miss this place! I started my journey here as a transfer student and I have made my way back into the valley and I could not be happier! Writing wasn't always something that came naturally to me. As a high school student, I felt that writing was something that they always pushed for us to do in a specifi

Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay Shi Weinhold | Writer Being a good friend has always been important to me. For me, this meant caring about the people in my life and wanting the best for them. When someone I care about is struggling, my first instinct is to help. But sometimes, caring about the people around me comes with anxiety that I can’t always control. My friends have their own worries and personal issues that I try to help them through. At the same time, when mult

Image by Dorigo from Pixabay Nathan Johnson | Writer A few weeks ago I was promoted to become a server at the restaurant I work at, which has been a goal of mine for months now. But getting this promotion also means more responsibilities, including rolling silverware. The first time fumbling around with the utensils was definitely not effortless, but as soon as you get into a rhythm it is very simple. I find myself in each shift for 20 minutes alone with my thoughts, continu

Members of La Tribu Del Este connect through rhythm, culture, and collaboration during their first rehearsal. Brooklyn Rubero | Writer On Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. the first community Latin band “La Tribu Del Este- Orquestra” otherwise known as “The Tribe of the East” rehearsed at the Active Learning Center in Allentown, PA. Previously a high school Latin Band with different alumni that volunteered, they decided to rebrand themselves and continued their journey as a community Latin b

Members of the LCCC Foundation Board. Sophia Nieto Soto┃Writer Golfers and community supporters will gather on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at The Club at Twin Lakes in Allentown for LCCC’s Foundation’s annual Tony Boyle Memorial Golf Classic. Named in honor of Tony Boyle, a 1970 LCCC alumnus, founder of Boyle Construction, and 20 year Foundation Board member who passed away several years ago, the event honors his dedication to expanding educational access for local students. The

Image by Pexels from Pixabay Alex Rosario | Writer When classes let out for the day at Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC), the parking lots usually empty out in a mass exodus of commuter students racing home. But on Thursday afternoons, a growing number of students head in the opposite direction toward the Auxiliary Gym. This shift in student behavior is the result of LCCC’s transition fully away from varsity athletics to a comprehensive campus recreation model designed t

Students browsing at the Swap Shop Xavier Martinez | Writer On Sept. 10, LCCC’s Career Development Center hosted their inaugural “Swap Shop”, a community driven trading event. The concept and execution is simple. Students traded in an item or two of their choice and then chose three to six items from the variety of things other people brought. Items up for grabs included mugs, used clothing, bags, toys, unused school supplies, books, board games, decorations, puzzles, and