Category: Mia C.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, Boston’s Chinatown comes alive with the spirit of celebration, offering an array of cultural experiences and festivities to welcome the Year of the Dragon in 2024. The Dragon is one of the most powerful animals in the Chinese Zodiac, it’s known for its strength, ambition, charisma, and intelligence. Here’s how you can immerse yourself in the rich traditions and joyous celebrations of the Lunar New Year in the heart of Boston.

1. Watch the Parade: Kick off the festivities by participating in the annual Lunar New Year Parade, featuring dazzling dragon and lion dances, traditional music, and costumes. The parade winds its way through the streets of Chinatown, creating an amazing atmosphere, and is incredibly fun to watch.

2. Indulge in Authentic Cuisine: Treat your taste buds to a culinary adventure in Chinatown’s renowned restaurants and eateries. Enjoy everything from dim sum to Peking duck. Don’t forget to try festive delicacies like dumplings and longevity noodles, believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.

3. Experience Cultural Exhibits: Immerse yourself in Chinese culture and heritage by visiting local museums and cultural centers that are hosting special exhibitions and events for Chinese New Year like the MFA. Explore interactive displays, learn about ancient customs and traditions, and gain insight into the significance of symbolic rituals like the dragon dance and fireworks.

4. Participate in Festive Activities: Engage in various festive activities organized throughout Chinatown, including lantern-making workshops, calligraphy demonstrations, and traditional games.

With its vibrant festivities, delectable cuisine, and rich cultural heritage, celebrating Chinese New Year in Boston offers an unforgettable experience for all!

In the Fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to partake in PRoBono, a hack-a-thon style communication charity event hosted by Boston University’s PRLab, a student-staffed public relations agency. Students volunteer to stay overnight at the College of Communication to work on creating, developing, and designing deliverables for non-profit organizations. The annual event was held on November 4, 2022 from 6pm-10am and featured five different Boston local charities. 

Students are assigned to teams of approximately eleven students and then given a client to work with. The groups are also overseen by two to three students, from PRLab and the PRoBono leadership team, who serve as account executives. My team was given the Dress For Success Boston Nonprofit as a client. Dress for Success is a worldwide organization whose purpose is to help give women the tools they need to become financially independent and break the cycle of poverty. They primarily provide professional attire and interview preparation to those in need. 

At the beginning of the night after the opening ceremony, we were able to meet with our client to discuss what they were looking to get out of this experience. Dress for Success wanted to primarily focus on their social media strategy and media relations coverage to increase their nonprofit awareness to reach women who may need their services. The client was also interested in developing a newsletter for their investors in order to thank and maintain a positive relationship with their donors. Each organization and PRoBono experience is unique depending on your client and their needs. The other non-profit organizations featured at the event were Boston Cares, Food for Free Boston, Minds Matter Boston, and the Science Club for Girls.

While we worked, the 16-hour day was packed to the brim with guest speakers, prizes, and activities at every hour to keep us alert and awake. The event also provided participants with plenty of delicious food such as banh mi sandwiches, pizza, and ice cream for dinner and then catering Canes fries and chicken tenders as a midnight snack.

In between the events at the start of every hour, our team was further divided into subcommittees to work on the different deliverables we were going to present to the client. Then the next morning at 8:00 AM we met with “coaches” or working professionals in the communications industry who gave us constructive feedback on our presentations before we presented to the client at 9:00 AM.

Overall, PRoBono was an incredibly rewarding but exhausting experience. Seeing the reaction of our outwardly grateful and appreciative reaction of our client during the presentation made the entire experience worthwhile. Knowing in such a short amount of time that my team truly helped make a difference in this organization that does so much for others, is what PRoBono truly is about. I am incredibly thankful for my PRoBono experience and I cannot wait to do it again in the fall.

One of the most daunting tasks for incoming college freshmen every year happens before classes even start. Packing your entire life to move to a new environment is challenging, especially when it comes to your closet. With limited closet space, every item should be purposeful and functional. As a college sophomore that has mastered the ability to pack light, I have compiled
my top five often forgotten but helpful items that are essential to any college closet.

1. A zip up jacket
Regardless of where you go to college, a zip up jacket that you can throw over anything is a must. For class, it is always best to dress in layers because while it may be hot outside, most buildings are often freezing cold inside. A zip up allows you to be prepared and dress for both climates.

2. A baseball cap.
One of the best perks about being in college is that you can finally wear a hat in class! This is a lifesaver in your eight am lecture or if you need to hide your dirty, unwashed hair. It can also serve as an accessory to your outfit or just something to shield your face from the sun.

3. A pair of professional pants.
Something that people do not think about when packing clothes for college is professional events. Paired with a sweater, you can wear these pants to a networking event, presentation or a job interview. The possibilities are endless. This will also save you time and money compared to the scramble of buying these last minute.

4. A raincoat
A shocking fact that I learned is that not everyone thinks to bring a raincoat to college. When needed, a raincoat is incredibly useful to not only keep yourself dry but to also protect your laptop and books while walking around campus. It can also double as a thin jacket for layering
when needed.

5. A dress or some formal clothes
Many Greek life organizations, professional clubs, and student groups may host a formal during the semester. A formal is a party hosted and thrown by the group where attendees typically wear a dress similar to a homecoming dress or suit. Packing clothes you know you are comfortable and confident in will make your life easier down the road.

Mia C: A Guide to BU Dining

Yes, the dining halls at college are as mundane as the myths say but there are ways to make it more bearable. 

At Boston University, if a student lives in a dormitory residence they are required to be on a meal plan. There are five meal plans ranging from the 14-Plus, Unlimited, Kosher, 330, to 250 Plans.

Each dining plan contains a combination of meal swipes and dining points. Meal swipes are used to get into five dining halls located around campus. Each time you leave a dining hall, you will need to use another swipe to get back in. Dining points can be used at on-campus restaurants, cafes, or campus convenience stores and include Starbucks, Panda Express, and Raising Canes. 

The BU website explains each meal plan in-depth. Now, I am going to delve more deeply into how you can make the most out of your meal plan. 

As a freshman, I am currently on the 250 meal plan. On this meal plan, I eat at the dining hall once per day and I get more dining points than any other meal plan. Typically, I eat breakfast in my dorm, lunch at the on-campus restaurants, and dinner with my friends in the dining hall. 

A tip I learned from personal experience is to begin the first semester with the 330 meal plan. Then at the beginning of the second semester, you change to the 250 meal plan. I did this myself at the beginning of my second semester and received a much greater amount of dining points than I would have if I started the year on the 250 meal plan. 

Another function of Boston University dining that gets underutilized is the ordering ahead system. At BU, most restaurants and cafes that take dining points are on the Grubhub app. The Grubhub app has grouped restaurants based on location and allows you to order online using dining points. 

This is my personal favorite feature of the BU dining system. It is a lifesaver to order coffee ahead of time so I can pick it up when I am running between classes. Each restaurant also displays wait times and in-person line wait times. Also as a BU student, you get a free Grubhub+ membership giving you access to unlimited free delivery for off-campus restaurants and other member perks.

Overall, dining at Boston University is fairly convenient and customizable to fit your needs, you just need to know where to look!