COM Ambassador Blog

Acceptance letters were mailed out last week, and I just wanted to say congratulations to all those future Terriers! You are one step closer to an amazing college experience.

 

For those of you still deciding if BU is the right school for you, here are some elements that helped me choose BU. Hopefully it helps with your decision!

 

1. The city of Boston. So many opportunities, a great city with so much to do and a hub of diverse people I would have never met living anywhere else. With the city being a quick T ride inbound, there’s never a dull moment.

 

2. BU campus is the perfect balance of living in a city and living in a suburb. With East campus being so close to the city, and West campus being in a more residential area, there is a place to call home for everyone. Not to mention the walk between areas of campus is good exercise. But for those who don’t like walking – don’t worry. There is a free BU bus that rides around campus, and the Green Line and multiple city bus routes run through campus.

 

3. It’s so easy to find your niche. Whether you’re an athlete, an artist, an academic or a mixture of all three – it’s easy to find people you connect with. Everyone at BU is friendly and come from a variety of backgrounds. It’s easy to make friends with people from all walks of life and having diverse friend groups is a great perk of going to a university with a widely diverse community.

 

4. BU’s top-notch facilities: From three dining halls, over ten dorm options, a state of the art Fitness and Recreation Center and a massive library, BU’s facilities are impressive to say the least. All of the buildings are in great shape and offer a plethora of resources to all students.

 

5. I fell in love with BU the moment I toured COM. It’s so easy to get involved, everyone was so welcoming and I knew attending COM would push me to be the best possible form of myself. In my first month of college I joined BUTV10, WTBU, and the Daily Free Press. COM is what you make of it, and I highly suggest participating in COM to the fullest.

 

 

I hope you fall in love with BU like I did. I promise it will be the best four years of your life!

With the end of the semester quickly approaching, the onslaught of final exams, papers, and projects can be daunting and overwhelming. Additionally, if you’re involved with any student group, you’ll know that the end of the spring semester is probably the busiest time of the year for groups as well. My friends in acapella groups all have their spring performances, anyone who works with incoming students knows that admitted students are starting to arrive on campus in droves, and even comedy groups have their share of stressful times as their final performances of the semester are starting to occur.

Thus, as a COM student, a typical day for you might be a hurdle. Today, for instance, I started working in the Admissions office at 9:00 AM, then I had a 3-hour lecture, then I will be giving a tour of the COM building for admitted students before meeting with my group for a project due tomorrow (I’ll have to find time to eat somewhere). And this hectic schedule is not a rare one for most COM students.

Thus, it extremely important to remember to practice self-care. That is, in the midst of a crazy month, schedule time to do things you enjoy and take care of your emotional and mental well-being. Self-care can come in a variety of forms, ranging from going on a walk on the Esplanade, to just watching your favorite TV show on Netflix. You can organize a self-care meet-up with a group of friends and go to the movies, you can participate in the Center for Gender, Sexuality, and Activism’s weekly Self-Care Sunday sessions, or just spend time alone.

Regardless of what you decide to do, remember that you do need time for yourself. This is not to say you should procrastinate all of your final assignments, but you shouldn’t spend every moment of every day running around and working either. Listen to your favorite song and dance around in your room, watch that funny video your friend sent you but you never got around to watching, or take a trip to Pavement and get a cup of your favorite coffee. Whatever you decide to do, taking a 20-minute break to take care of yourself can actually help you much more than you’d think!

Wrapping up my fourth semester at BU is a lot to wrap my head around. So, instead of trying to think through that, here's three anecdotes from my two years here that prove why COM was the right choice for me, and why it can be for you too. 

1. September of freshman year: After joining BUTV10, I wanted to get straight to making TV. Armed with borrowed-from-BU-film-equipment, my partner, Louie, who was also freshman, and my first-ever T pass, I headed down to Copley to interview a Twitter-celeb named Tom. Turns out, that Twitter-celeb was the man behind the famous @BostonTweet account, and the event we were interviewing him at also had a guest appearance from Miss USA. Not even a month into my BU career, I went home with a signed Miss USA poster, an on-camera interview with her and @BostonTweet, and a wicked cool story. (By that point I'd picked up some new, hip Bostonian vocab too). Without BUTV10, though, I would've probably just spent the Saturday afternoon in my dorm room. 

2. April of freshman year: Second semester came crashing to an amazing end by the last week of April, and seeing as Boston is so easy to get to and fun to visit, my grandparents decided to pay me a birthday visit (my birthday's April 29th). Over a surprise dinner at The Top of the Hub, I told them all about the city I'd explored while looking down at it (if you haven't been to the top of the Prudential Center, find a way to get there. The view's incredible). I described studying at the Boston Public Library during snowstorms and wandering around the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum one random Sunday afternoon. Since it's so easy to get anywhere in Boston from BU, I was only one year in and I already felt like Boston was my city.

3. March of sophomore year: I'm home in CT for spring break. I'm exhausted from devoting tons of time to a project that one of my professors had encouraged our class to participate in -a film competition put on by New England Sports Network. I'm in constant communication with my incredibly talented teammates, also sophomores in COM, because any day now we could find out if our short film made the Top 10. The phone rings on Friday morning: we've made it. We're one step closer to the grand prize of $20,000 and a set of really cool bragging rights, and had our professor not told us that this competition existed, we never would have been in this position. Yet again, I owe a cool experience to the COM community, and yet again, I find myself so thankful that I chose BU.

Decision season is upon us, high school seniors. I've been here two years, and have made way more amazing memories than just these three in the past four semesters. They all come back to one decision though; one school. 

Forgive my cheesiness here, but: "This could Be U." 

I am a generally uptight person who likes to have control of my life. Recently I have been a bit trapped by expectations I feel other people put on me. After consulting my therapist (one of my friends) we decided I should make a list of things I want to do in order to break out of my shell. I wrote said list one night while I was struggling to fall asleep.

After a night of comedy shows (Liquid Fun and The Daily Show’s Jessica Williams) I was a bit hyper and eager to explore. My friend Bronsen suggested venturing down town. I assembled a group, who also happen to be my roommates for next year, and we set on our way.

We got outside of Warren Towers and didn’t know where to go: downtown, Cambridge, Coolidge Corner? I chose Cambridge because I hadn’t crossed the river since before I arrived at BU. We walked on a beautiful night through Kenmore square, across the bridge measured in smoots (a unit of measurement conceived by MIT students). We, particularly I, goofed off the whole way and just enjoyed each others’ company. 

We walked through MIT and found a sculpture that made me feel smarter just looking at  it (see picture). After another 20 minutes or so we arrived at Harvard. I remember saying “my IQ went up five points just looking at the brick buildings”. After walking for almost an hour, we decided to find somewhere to sit. There we talked about life, sang songs, and improvised ice skating on a still-melting patch of ice. 

After we Uber’d home to Warren, I sat down at my desk and took out my journal where I had written down my “To-Do List”. I checked off “go on an unplanned adventure”. I really enjoyed not knowing every step of the night and on a whim deciding to go straight or turn left at a light. For someone who has everything from homework assignments to television shows programmed in her calendar, I think I handled not have a plan very well. I embraced it and I have no regrets.

College is a place for self-discovery. Its important to step out of your comfort zone. I am trying to do that, and will continue checking things off my list in search of a better me. Each item represents something I am afraid of. Overcoming those fears will open myself up to new opportunities. “Try a food you’re afraid to eat” may just lead to a new favorite food. Its important to get out there and see the wonderful world around.

After we get back from spring break feeling like we could use another week or two away from exams and homework, it seems like everyone hits a wall with work. I won't lie, I feel myself hitting it now. The sun starts to come out, everyone starts talking about summer plans, and the end of the year is in sight. 

Unfortunately, school is still in full throttle and we've still got to be on the ball with things. Here are a few tips to keeping up the motivation when the urge to slack off hits hard.

1. Try to change up your schedule a little bit. We've been at it since January and sometime things can get old. Maybe sometimes instead of going to FitRec to work out, try running along the river or downtown!

2. Make a kick-ass playlist. Listening to a great playlist always keeps me pumped up on my way to class. Check out some artists you haven't listened to before and get some fresh energy into your life.

3. Get out when you can! It feels like since January, the snow has made it impossible (or at least really annoying) to leave the BU bubble very often. Take this spring to get into Boston once a week and try a new restaurant, coffee shop, or museum.

4. If you're having trouble being motivated in class, try to attend a talk or watch a speech online that will inspire you to do what you love again. Maybe even talk to your professor about the class and see if they have any words of wisdom for you. Sometimes it just takes one person to remind us why we want to be studying what we study!

As much as we're all looking forward to summer, try to make the most out of these last few weeks!

One valuable lesson I've recently learned is in order to keep up and have success in my school work I must keep busy.

In high school I was always very busy. I would have ballet classes or rehearsals and musical rehearsals that occupied much of my time. When I wasn't training or rehearsing I was usually eating or sleeping. Somewhere between the school day and after school activities I would have to find time to do my homework, and I always did.

Some people crack under the pressure of having a packed schedule, but being busy allowed me to thrive. I believe I would not have succeed in my academic career without time consuming extra circular activities. Being busy forced me to make and schedule time for my homework because I knew it was important and had to be done.

This “keep busy to keep up” mindset has followed me to college. First semester I wasn't very involved due to a personal illness. This took a great toll on me for about 2 months, half of the first semester. Not only was I fatigued often, but I also had no activities so I had too much free time. I will admit though, I couldn't have participated in extra circular activities because I was too sick to manage it. Whenever I did not have class, I would be sleeping. A combination of illness and having too much free time unfortunately took a toll on my academics and I did not perform to my usual standards.

Now during second semester I have gotten very involved. I joined a new show on BUTV10 and I am a news writer for The Daily Free Press on top of two on campus jobs. Because of my busy weeks, I always have my work done in advance because I know I will not have time if I procrastinate. The presence of procrastination in my life would be a death wish.

Of course, being involved in campus activities is also a great way to meet new people and participate in activities that interest you while having fun. However, activities also keep you on track with your social and academic life, making you see your true priories and living every wonderful day at BU to the fullest.

Frank Sinatra once said, “Life always calls for a good playlist.” Okay...he didn’t say that, but it’s true! Recently, many artists have been releasing new music for the spring. Which means there is new music to add to your playlists! Making playlists is fun but stressful. With thousands of songs on Spotify and iTunes, new and old, it’s kind of difficult to find the right song to make the right playlist. Lucky for you, I have a few suggestions to make your playlists perfect!

Workout:

Just the sound of that word makes many people cringe and then go back to their bag of Doritos. Having great music to put on your workout playlist can make any trip to the gym feel like an intense scene from Rocky. Before working out, fill your playlist with songs that make you want to get up and move! Great workout music can pump you up and motivate you to get “swole”.

I recommend: Floorfiller by A*Teens, Jesus Walks by Kanye West, Bo$$ by Fifth Harmony, Lose Control by Missy Elliot, Close Your Eyes by Run The Jewels, Break The Ice by Britney Spears

Relaxing:

There are times (all of the time) when everyone just wants to chill in their bed and relax. A playlist that is relaxing and mellow will help you quickly chill out, even on your most stressful days. So make yourself a cup of hot tea, put on your favorite pair of pajamas, grab a few pillows and mellow out!

I recommend: Sorrow by The National, Hold Back The River by James Bay, Someone New by Hozier, 10,000 Weight in Gold by The Head and The Heart, Apart From Me by The Avett Brothers, Home by Now by Bombay Bicycle Club

Dance Party!:

Let’s be honest, we all have had impromptu dance parties in our dorms at some point during our college lives. Whether it’s because you’re excited about something that happened during your day or if its because it’s two in the morning and you are starting to go crazy, dance parties are always fun! With the right music, a three minute song can feel like an hour long workout because you’re dancing so hard. Dance parties are guaranteed to improve any day or night.

I recommend: Love Shack by the B-52s, King by Years and Years, Steal My Girl (88 Ninety’s ‘Raiders of the Lost Art’ Remix) by One Direction, Tightrope by Janelle Monae, Skip To The Good Bit by Rizzle Kicks, Norgaard by The Vaccines

Walking on Comm Ave:

By just listening to the right music, you can make your walks to class on Comm Ave exciting. Why walk to class listening to some random song, when you can listen to a song that makes you feel like you’re on a runway at fashion week? Though it won’t make the class you’re walking to fun, listening to a song that makes you feel like you’re in an action movie will at least make the trip feel exciting.

I recommend: Left Hand Free by Alt-J, Knee Socks by Arctic Monkeys, My Song 5 (Remix) by Haim, Lampshades on Fire by Modest Mouse, Trying to Be Cool by Phoenix, Best Friend by Foster the People

As everyone who’s anyone already knows, admissions decisions for Boston University’s class of 2019 were released this weekend. Woo, new Terriers! In light of the big decision thousands of high school students will have to make over the next couple of weeks, I’ve decided to compile a list that should help all of us approach some major quandaries about summer that are either overwhelming our minds now, or will inevitably do so by the end of spring.

Let’s start things off easy:

Should I go to BU?

Stop it. I literally can’t even with you right now. Feigning disinterest in the greatest university in the world will not increase your scholarship or financial aid (as far as I know). Just click that “I accept my admission into Boston University and choose to enroll” box and come have the greatest, most productive four years of your life.

Now for the current students:

Should I take that unpaid internship for the summer?

Definitely use discretion with this one. Consider the cost of living you’ll have to take up, how beneficial the position will be toward reaching your professional goals, and how appealing the work actually is to you. One common option is to manage time so that you can intern part-time and work part-time. Doing this while living at home is probably the most cost-efficient option, but depending on your personal financial situation, a full-time, unpaid spot far away form home could be the most productive option.

Or:

Should I take that paid internship?

More likely than the unpaid one, yes, of course. However, this decision should naturally be approached with the same discretion described above. In a lot of cases, I’ve seen people take paid internships over unpaid ones, despite the fact that they’re actually putting themselves in what they consider a less appealing position or environment. However, if a position is paid, it’s highly likely that you’ll be doing work of import, or that you can incorporate into some sort of portfolio. Therefore, this sort of position might have a greater chance of landing you an even greater internship or job in the field that interests most, just by the level of work you’ve proven you can do.

Should I return home for the summer?

I highly recommend spending at least one summer among your college years at home. I did so after my freshman year (the best summer to do so, in my opinion), and I don’t regret any moment of it. Think about your relationship with your family and your financial situation. The best way to guarantee yourself a profit at the end of a summer is to live for free and work. Ideally, your parents will let you spend a few more months at home, and it’s never too hard to pick up that old high school job, or to find a new one where you can work extra hours here and there. And if you’re graduating, I personally believe there’s nothing wrong with reconnecting with the fam one last time, collecting your mind and resources, and taking the time to carefully sort through all potential futures — even if this takes a season or two.

So, speaking of us spring seniors:

Should I take that job that has nothing to do with the field I’ve spent four years studying and dedicating my life to?

Yes, Tyler, God … I mean, yes, you probably should. If anything will undoubtedly make the next period of time easier for just about anyone, it’s an income. I hate to be that guy who resigns to the power of money over other principles, but listen: The best time to look for a job is when you have a job. I’ve heard this from a number of people who seemed to know a thing or two about being adults. Because they were. But as long as you can support yourself to some extent, you can comfortably search for other opportunities with the knowledge that you’re at least good enough for something. And once you’ve inserted yourself into a professional setting, networking is always beneficial. You never know, you might even love that job.

And finally:

Should I finish that Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio in my freezer?

Yes. You do you.

I wish someone told me this three years ago when I started BU. That’s not to say I didn’t take risks – I traveled across the country to LA and interned in a city where I didn’t know a soul. The next summer I took an internship I knew I wouldn’t be in love with because I thought it would be a good life experience. And you should do this too. Push your boundaries because you’ll never know how much you love something, or maybe don’t love something at all, if you don’t try.

However, what no one told me is this – don’t be afraid to do something just because you want to do it….not because it’ll look good on your resume or  because you’re trying to keep up with all the COM kids (yes, that unspoken pressure). If you want to take the summer off, work a mindless job and take the time to figure out if PR/Advertising/Film/Journalism is really what you love, then do it. Work on your own creative projects. Research the things you love outside of your chosen field. If you can’t take one more day of excel spreadsheets and fact checking, then give yourself a break. Don’t let the pressures of college and racking up internships stop you. Or maybe you do find an internship that sounds really cool, but it’s not like anything you’ve done before and you don’t know if you’re qualified. Well, this is your sign – DO IT!

In seven very short weeks I’ll be graduating college, and to be honest, I’ve never been on the PR agency boat that a lot of other students seem to be on. I want to do something completely different with my degree and I’ve finally come to peace with doing what I really want, instead of just taking that agency job I know I could get. Sure it’s scary, but haven’t the most successful people taken risks? After all, we’re young and have been given the privilege that maybe our parents and certainly our grandparents didn’t have to embark on a journey where we find out what makes us tick. It sounds cheesy, but you know it’s true.

My only hope is that you remember that its ok to do something different. Follow your heart. Take risks.