comblog – Page 99 – COM Ambassador Blog

Jason: Docs, Concerts, and Skiing Down Comm Ave

Can you guys believe it’s already almost March? I feel like time is flying!

So I promised I’d tell you all about the project I’m working on. A few weeks ago I began work on a new documentary. Over the next four months I’ll be following Boston University student and musician Peter Hung. Peter is an international student from Taiwan and soon to be BU graduate, who is spending the next four months on his final attempt to land a record deal with his band Surefire before his visa expires 30 days after graduation. This project is extremely exciting because Peter is risking his ability to stay in this country, but also the respect and financial support of his family.

I’ve already filmed a ton of material including Peter’s comeback concert last Saturday. My team and I had a three camera set up: an overhead of the crowd and stage, one on stage toward the crowd, and another at Peter and the band. That was my first multi camera shoot and it went great- and more importantly the footage looks awesome. I’m working on the website and first teaser video now, and let me tell you: this plus my three classes- I’m definitely keeping myself busy.

Bad news is Lady Gaga got hurt and needs surgery so that concert won’t be happening. Good news is Matchbox Twenty is next weekend and I’ll get to go home to Connecticut for the weekend so I’m looking forward to that.

I hope you guys checked out the last COMlife episode! I ski down Commonwealth Avenue so that makes the entire episode worth watching. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWtKXiahWp8

How is your second semester going? For the seniors, I hope the stress of college selection has calmed down a bit. And for the juniors- get ready for some fun times!

As always, let me know if you have any questions about anything!

Kaitlin: Finding Me at BU

When I first came to BU, I wanted to be a broadcast journalist. This dream came from years of being editor of my high school newspaper, and wanting to “spice it up a little” with lights, sounds, and video. I imagined myself studying for hours on end how to be the best. I thought about those really intense classes where the professor tells the students that they have 45 minutes to go outside and write, record, and produce a story that could go on air. I envisioned taking my career to the Air Force and becoming the best damn broadcast journalist they’ve ever seen. I wanted to be there.

Then the worst happened.

I went on air for my first time with BUTV and absolutely hated it. I hated the idea of having to get my hair to look perfect on camera and wearing more make up than I’m comfortable with and making sure the color of my shirt didn’t fade into the green screen. So, I had to figure out what the hell I was going to do.

I didn’t know too much about public relations, but what I did learn from my COM 101 class, I loved. I was particularly drawn to the idea of working in the music/entertainment industry. Who wouldn’t want to follow around their favorite band for the sole purpose of making them look good? After a meeting with my very own COM Ambassador who gave me a little more information on my perspective major-change, I decided to do it.

Over the course of a few hours, I became a PR major.

This was really exciting for me. I joined BU’s awesome section of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and did a really awesome job with it. I learned a ton about what it means to be in the PR field, even before taking any PR-centric classes.

My favorite thing about PR was the social media aspect. By watching intently my junior and senior friends, I started to pick up really quickly how to be an effective presence online. My Twitter bio changed to include my aspiration to be a PR professional, I found myself making tons of connections on LinkedIn, and yes, I even got a Facebook after refusing to do so for a while.

In a way, I became obsessed with it. I found myself celebrating each and every like or new follower I got, to the point that it started taking over. I don’t think this is necessarily a negative thing, maybe because it still kind of does rule my world, but I’ve certainly recognized that over the past few years my online obsession transformed quite a bit.

I noticed this the other day when I went to my Twitter page. I noticed that my bio still included information about me being the Vice President of Public Relations at BUPRSSA, a position I passed down at the end of last year. I started to evaluate why I decided to step down from this position, and from PRSSA in general, and it became glaringly obvious to me.

No longer did I care about retweeting about the latest in mobile technology, or connecting with the top agencies on the web, or writing posts about how to effectively manage your social media profiles. Those things seemed so boring to me, and without really noticing, I started to pay more attention to the things I was really drawn to. Now, if you look at every single page I manage, they include posts on yoga or healthy eating or recovery.

I certainly don’t see this change as one that demonstrates disinterest in PR or ingratitude for the Student Society. In fact, I attribute all of my success online to everything I’ve learned on my PR journey so far. There’s no way I would’ve been known as a “yoga and health guru” or been able to grow my blog following to thousands of people without the things I learned in PRSSA and my classes at BU.

It took a little while to really find my place, but I’m certain that I have. I’ve found deep passion in the things I’ve learned here in Boston, which I can bet is a serious goal for each and every one of the professors we cross paths with. There’s going to be humps in the road, plenty of them in fact, but don’t look at them as mountains you won’t be able to climb. Instead, try to see them as speed bumps, there for control and safety in getting you where you really need to go.

Kate: How to Keep Warm and Stay Fashionable

I will admit, impracticality is my specialty when it comes to dressing for the weather, especially when it comes to shoes. Who says you can’t wear loafers sans socks when it’s 10 degrees out (see this Instagram)? But, I must admit that there are some essentials that I refuse to leave the house without between October and March, and I encourage you to put a little time into finding the perfect combination for yourself.

First, you need the biggest, badest winter coat you’ve ever seen. And it should have a hood (a fur hood for you ladies). And it should go down to at least your knees. You think I’m over exaggerating? A story: Where I am from (Missouri), summer temps peak around 100 degrees and my mother was getting so anxious about sending me to the far away land of college that she decided we were going to go out and buy me a winter coat in August. As you can imagine, my selection was quite limited and I ended up with a basic Michelin man North Face puffer. I should also note that it barely covered my top half and had no hood. Fast forward to the first snow of the year in Boston and I run outside only to find the wind blowing up my back and the snow flying straight into my eyes. Needless to say, I know now have a lovely fur lined hooded long down coat that even features a cute little waist tie (because it still needs to be fashionable, duh). Right now I’m liking these:

Second, invest in a cozy and warm scarf. I am a scarf wearer through and through. Silk scarves, knitted scarves, pashminas, circle scarves, you name it, I’ll wear it. My go-to in the winter is a huge, black knitted circle scarf I bought at Gap my freshman year. It is one of those that comes up over your face a little and is so snuggly (I know you know what I mean). And to the embarrassment of my friends, I have even put it up over my head to shield my ears from the wind a few times. Whether you’re wearing it for the fashion or just to keep warm, a good scarf will be the difference between staying warm and turning into an icicle. This one from Nordstrom looks like a great option.

Finally, find yourself a great pair of gloves. The wind in this city is killer and even with your Starbucks latte in hand, bouts of frost bite have been known to occur. I just got this great cashmere, monogrammed pair for Christmas and I never take them off. Even better is they have the little smart-touch tips so I can text and tweet away at any time. Insider tip: keep them in your coat pockets so you never find yourself without them.

P.S. Now I just gave you a reason to shop. You can thank me later.

Tom: Traveling All Around Europe for Dummies

Hello all! And “Cheers” from across the Atlantic, where I am studying abroad at BU’s London Internship Program. I arrived in London a little under two months ago and have been having the time of my life: from taking in all the culture and theater London has to offer, along with getting to travel around Europe on the weekends!

Now the thought of traveling around Europe and studying abroad can seem daunting but with a few tips, you can make travelling around Europe easy and seamless (and most importantly… cheap). This is precisely why I have titled this short guide: Travelling Around Europe for Dummies.

Plan, Plan, PLAN.

When choosing to go to a specific city, make sure you know what you want to do and how long you want to stay there. As a travel tip, get together with your travel companions the day before to plot out what you want to do and how you are going to navigate the city (walking, metro, bus, etc.). Also make sure your hostel (the cheapest and best way to book places to stay) is near all the major sights.

Pick your travel buddies carefully

When you are choosing to book a trip with a group of friends, make sure everyone is on the same page with what you want to do. I was lucky enough to have great companions for all the trips I’ve been on so far – but some other friends were not as lucky on other trips.

Make a Checklist… But be flexible

The greatest suggestion I have for travelling is to make a checklist for everything you want to do. For example, when I went to Paris, some of the things on my checklist were “See the Eiffel Tower, Visit the Louvre, Eat a Crepe, and buy a Baguette.” Make sure you allot enough time to do everything, but also be flexible.Some of the greatest things you’ll do abroad will happen spontaneously (such as when I found the beach in Barcelona or stumbled onto a parade in Paris).

No matter what happens… Stay Positive

No matter what may happen, always stay positive and remember you are having a once-in-a-lifetime chance to travel. Many people don’t get the opportunity to gallivant around Europe like BU Study Abroad students, so take in everything that the cities have to offer and don’t get worried if you don’t do “everything”.

Those are my top tips for travelling which have been helpful in my weekend trips to Paris, Barcelona, and Cardiff. I’m looking forward to the rest of the semester travelling to Rome, Venice, Dublin, Prague, and more! (and of course, getting to find all the hidden gems of London).

Thinking about going abroad? Shoot me an email (tschrank@bu.edu) and I’ll offer you plenty of tips and advice.

Cheers,

Tom

Lauren: Why Every College Student Should Have a Pinterest Page

Pinterest has been taking the world by storm, becoming one of the fastest-growing social media sites. Users can create visual boards and upload their own images or “re-pin,” pictures from other users. I’ve found so much inspiration while browsing through Pinterest and have collected so many great tips and suggestions! Every college student should take time to find their own inspiration from Pinterest. Look for:

1. Dorm room design ideas

Give your dorm room a makeover with ideas from Pinterest! They have tons of organizational tips and great DIY crafts that you can complete on a budget. How perfect for college students! Take a look at this board from USA Today for inspiration!

http://pinterest.com/usatodaycollege/creative-dorm-rooms/

2. Food recipes

With so many drool-worthy pictures of food on Pinterest, you’ll stomach will be growling before you know it! Pinterest contains lots of delicious, super easy recipes. They even have quick snacks that you can make without using an oven or stove! Give your taste buds a kick and try something new from this board!

http://pinterest.com/heathermcd/food/

3. Fitness tips

Lace up those sneakers and let Pinterest get you into shape. They have everything from treadmill workouts to cardio tips, weight-lifting exercises and even work-outs you can complete while watching T.V. You’ll find tons of great resources for healthy eating too! Take a look at this board for some motivation!

http://pinterest.com/tiffallison/fitness/

4. Inspirational Quotes

If you’re ever having a rough day, Pinterest is here to cheer you up! They have hundreds of quotes that can lift your spirits and help you get through your day. Here’s a collection of some of my personal favorites!

http://pinterest.com/laurhaslett/quotes/

5. Careers advice

Nervous about an upcoming interview? No clue what to wear to the first day of your internship? Fear not! Pinterest has all the answers, with great tips on networking, the job hunt, and everything relating to careers! Take a look at this board for more tips.

http://pinterest.com/kristenjacoway/career-tips/

So, what are you waiting for? Give Pinterest a try to today and find your own inspiration!

Tiffany: Producing Elements XIII–A Hip Hop Dance Competition

On Saturday, February 16^th, a year’s worth of hard work and planning will come to fruition as my dance team, Fusion, hosts the largest hip hop dance competition on the east coast for the 4^th year in a row. For an entire year now, my fellow teammates and I have been working out logistics with our show that include, but are not limited to, carefully selecting teams to compete for the $1000 cash prize, recruiting exhibition teams including crews who have been on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, coordinating with lighting and sound production, promoting the show, and so much more.

I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to head such a large production within the confines of my own school that supports its student organizations with a plethora of resources for success. The planning process has taught me a lot about teamwork and has allowed me to implement many of the skills that I learn in the classroom such as design for promotional material, branding, and budgeting. It is opportunities on campus like these that I believe have refined my skillset and given me a unique experience to put on my resume.

My dance team has not only given me the outlet to dance and introduced me to a group of amazing friends who share my common interest, but has also has also given me real world event planning experience that will be invaluable as I enter into the work force in a few short months. It has been a crazy roller coaster ride of a year planning this show but I am nothing but excited to see it all come to life. Wish me luck!

Hannah: New Semester, New Experiences

Hey Everyone! I’m Hannah, one of the new CAs, and being new basically sums up the past month for me. As you all have probably heard, the first semester of college can be a bit overwhelming for freshman including myself. After spending those first couple months hibernating with my studies, I am finally ready to branch out. As you will quickly learn, I basically want to do everything. Here are a few of the new extracurricular activities I have picked up in the New Year.

Greek Life- It’s official, a very German girl can be Greek! Coming from a big family (3 sisters, a brother, and 2 very rowdy dogs) I need to have people around. At first I was hesitant and a bit intimidated by the formal recruitment process. In reality, it has been one of the best decisions I have made. No matter the sorority, I feel so welcomed by all the girls. Even in my first weeks, I already feel right at home.

Boston Cares- Boston University has a wealth of opportunities on campus, but the city of Boston also has some pretty amazing extracurricular activities for students to get involved in. Thanks to my writing professor, I found Boston Cares, a volunteer network that sets up a calendar of events that you can sign up for based on your own personal schedule. It’s super convenient and an amazing way to get out into the city. My favorite event thus far has been volunteering at JVS where I help prepare refugees for job interviews and entering the American work force. I highly recommend looking into the organization.

Finally, I’m new to the COM Ambassador community, and I couldn’t be happier! I love meeting prospective students and who doesn’t love showing off how awesome COM is? With all these new opportunities as well as a few great classes (even if one is at 8am) I feel like this year is off to a great start! So there you have it, being the new kid on the block isn’t so bad after all. Hope everyone is off to a great new year and embracing all of the amazing new opportunities this time can offer!

Sara: The Amazing Race-Internship Edition

The arrival of February brings about a vitally important time in the school year. That’s right, it’s summer internship hunting time. For me, it’s a time to bundle up indoors and daydream about warmer days-- and hopefully interning in California. It’s time to get your game face on and the blizzard this past weekend presented the perfect opportunity to get myself organized and begin what I like to think of as my own personal version of the amazing race.

Having been a transfer student, I feel a bit behind when it comes to seeking out internships. However, the best thing I have found to do in such circumstances (if you’re like me and have never had an internship) is to research, research, research.

BU and COM both provide numerous services and workshops to help you with resumes, cover letters, and your overall search. Every week the Center of Career Development, located in 100 BSR, sends out an e-mail about their different career building workshops, so be sure to look out for those! Last week I attended one of their resume workshops and they were really helpful. COM career services also offers resume and cover letter reviews daily- check out the @comugrad twitter handle for more information or visit the career services website. You can also view samples of resumes and cover letters.

To find internships online that are available through COM, check out The Career Insider. This database is a gold mine. You will have to create an account through the website but after that you will have full access to everything it has to offer. I personally used it as a basis for my internship search, typing “publicity internship” for the keyword and an LA zipcode, which brought me to a list of numerous summer opportunities at companies such as The Walt Disney Studios and NBCUniversal.

Because of my highly organized, type A personality, I also chose to make a list of all the internships I want to apply for along with individual requirements, descriptions, documents to submit, and addresses with contact information. This helps me when it comes time to personalize cover letters and figure out whom I need to send references or transcripts too. Also make sure you research the different companies you’re applying for! This is extremely important when it comes to writing a cover letter or an essay so that you can really mold the descriptions of your experiences and accomplishments around exactly what their company stands for and what they are looking for in their next intern.

Of course you can always look outside of BU for summer internships as well, using the ever-so-glorious Google or other resources you can find. One website I have heard a lot of positive feedback about is Intern Sushi which I’m just starting to explore. Another website is Intern Queen powered by Lauren Berger who completed 15 internships during her college years. She regularly tweets about different internship opportunities as well @InternQueen, and has published a book entitled “All work, No Pay” which gives her perspective on how to build your resume, make connections and gain job experience.

I guess overall my point is just to explore your options! There are a lot of resources out there to aid you in the overwhelming process that is your first internship hunt, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as competing on The Amazing Race. You’re putting yourself in the best position possible by doing your research and getting organized.

Good luck everyone! And maybe the odds be ever in your favor 🙂

Will: Embrace Your Place

As I sit at my desk, looking out at the glorious combination of snow, wind, and more snow, I feel thankful. I’m so fortunate to live in a city that keeps everything interesting. Boston must know that it’s filled with hundreds of thousands of college students, all of them yearning for adventure, because it never disappoints.

Last night, I made the long trek through more than a couple of inches of snow from one side of campus to the other. I saw only a handful of people at a time when Comm Ave is usually bustling with students on their way to hang out with friends, cars filled with business people on their way home from work, and the T, the 57 bus, and the BU shuttle going every which way. I thought how unfortunate it was that so many people weren’t experiencing what I was experiencing! Granted, I am from Wisconsin (I deal with winter’s fury a little better than the next guy). In the moments that I stood still, knee deep in icy powder, glancing around at the serenity around me, I realized how lucky everybody here really is (and not only because Friday classes were cancelled).

People found great, productive ways to spend their snowy Friday. Snowmen were popping up everywhere over campus, probably the products of Floridians and Californians who didn’t experience the building of snowmen in their youth. Marsh Plaza was home to an entire army of Snowmen and Snowladies. It broke my heart to see a few of them tumble over with the blustery winds – may they rest in peace. A few students (and by a few I mean a couple hundred) – conquered the Esplanade in what was named Snowbrawl 2013. Boston PD didn’t have quite as much fun, but it isn’t a real snowball fight until the police show up, am I right?

I found that a blizzard is a great way to catch up on things you usual don’t have time to do, like sleeping and homework! Just kidding, it’s actually a great opportunity to put on some long underwear, make some hot cocoa with that Kuerig machine (that doesn’t really exist because everybody knows those aren’t allowed in dorm rooms, silly!), grab all the blankets, and read a book, write a poem, watch a movie, or anything else that suits you. The only thing that could’ve made it better was a fireplace. If only I lived in StuVi2 where every room has a fireplace, a butler, and king size beds. I’m kidding they don’t actually have fireplaces.

You can make Boston as great as you want. You can look outside and see inconvenience and frigid temperatures or you can look out and see opportunities for new experiences. As always, make sure to help others have as great a day as you are having. If you see an ambulance with its tires spinning, go out there and give it a budge. If you see somebody get hit in the face with a snowball, help them seek revenge. And if you see a snowplow coming, just get out of the way!

Happy sledding,

Will Dowsett

Morgan: How to Have It All-A Lesson in Time Management

So you’ve got 18 credits, a part-time internship, multiple extra curricular activities, oh and you want to have a life. As COM students who are constantly trying to get a leg-up in the industry, it can seem like you’re expected to truly “have it all”. So what’s the trick to balancing all of these necessary steps on the road to COM success? A little bit of time management can go a long way.

First off – take those time to between classes and savor them. Don’t head back to your dorm/apt only to get distracted by Netflix, your comfy bed, or Temple Run 2 (seriously through – how great the new one?!). Find a spot on campus and hit the books. Try to accomplish a few tasks on that growing to-do list and you’ll feel significantly better about your day.

Take advantage of transportation as well. As Abby mentioned in her latest blog post, reading on the T on your way downtown to that internship can be a great way to get ahead. For exam preparation, take advantage of technology and get yourself the Study Blue app. It allows you to make mobile flashcards that sync to all your devices (iPhone, iPad, laptop) so that you can study anywhere you go.

When the weekend comes – evaluate how much work you need to do before you make any plans, then plan accordingly. You certainly don’t want to be going out three nights in a row when you have an exam on Monday.

Now the dreaded tip of the day… actually pay attention in class. I know, wild idea, but hear me out. I used to be the type that sat in the middle of the lecture hall with my laptop out, and hardly hearing a word the professor said (I mean the slides are online, who needs to listen?). I would send emails, check the social scene, and even fill out applications or edit articles for one of my extra-curriculars. But this semester, I decided that I’m going to see what paying attention actually does, and let me tell you, I’m amazed. I find myself already knowing more of the material in my Abnormal Psych class just by listening. Now I’ve started to challenge myself to come up with the answer in my head before the professor says it – just to see how much I know. This will certainly make me better prepared for the upcoming exam, and its also kinda therapeutic. Not being able to communicate with the outside world for a whole 80 minutes is pretty nice.

Finally, just relax. You’re going to get overwhelmed and stressed at times, but just remember that you will get through it and be better off because of it. Lean on your friends and classmates for support and don’t try to take on more than you can handle. Also, try to get some sleep. It does wonders.