Category: Steven

When you picture a COM student, many staple items probably come to mind: a jean jacket, a Fjallraven backpack, or even a pair of Doc Martens. COM students have a specific style, and often, COM students eventually adopt this style as their own whether they realize it or not. For this post, I wanted to explore COM fashion and the items you’ll need to fully embrace your inner COM kid.

1) Jean Jacket

Jean Jackets — they’re a COM must-have. Perfect for the Boston cold, jean jackets are great to layer with. A T-shirt, jean jacket, and coat will leave you well equipped for any temperature situation, whether you’re in an uncomfortably warm lecture hall or shivering on the esplanade (bonus points if you have an unnecessary number of patches and pins).

2) Fjallraven backpack

I’ve personally never owned a Fjallraven backpack, but more likely than not you can spot an army of them when walking through the halls of COM. These little backpacks are portable and are the perfect size to carry all the things a COM student needs: an external hard drive, a DSLR camera, and maybe a notebook for class.

3) Doc Martens

Doctor Marten would be proud of the cultural influence he’s had on COM. These shoes are durable, grungy, and show everyone you’re not the typical student —you’re a COM student.

4) Turtleneck with band/film t-shirt

Never underestimate the power of layering. This combo lets you rock your favorite T-shirt while still being dressed for the elements. Use this look to showcase your favorite band or movie and prepare for an onslaught of compliments about your great taste.

5) Dyed Hair/Piercings

When I came to COM, I had no interest in dyed hair or piercings. In fact, my Mom had asked when I was younger if I wanted to pierce my ears or have my hair dyed and I declined. Now, just one and a half years into college, I have an ear piercing and pink (yes, pink) hair. 

While all of these items help, the most important part of dressing like a COM student is finding your style and owning it. Growing up I was never the most confident kid, and the majority of my clothes were what my Mom picked out for me at Target or Kohls. Once I came to COM, I was able to express myself in my own way and discover my style for the first time. As a result, I’ve grown substantially more confident and have found that fashion can be a great creative outlet to express yourself. COM is the most accepting community I’ve ever been a part of, and everyone welcomes you regardless of what you’re wearing.

So, take risks. Rock those 80s windbreakers and chunky Filas. Find your brand and become it. Use your time in COM to discover your style, because there’s nothing cooler than being uniquely you.

When you’re in COM, your class schedule may not look packed, but I can assure you, between clubs, jobs, and the daily hustle of college, your schedule fills up quickly. Sometimes managing all these plans can be difficult, and slip ups will happen; sometimes you’ll forget to grab that lunch you had planned with a friend, and sometimes you’ll forget to write your blog post for COM Ambassadors (oops). Either way, you’re going to have to find a way to manage it all. Every person I know at BU has their own system of organization that works for them, so in my blog post today I’d like to share some useful tips and tricks to stay organized that I’ve learned so far during my time here at BU.

Get a calendar

If you get anything out of this blog post, let it be a calendar. Calendars are a way of living, and the only way I function. Everyone has their own preferences, whether it be a traditional print calendar or an online calendar like those offered by Apple and Google. Every class, club, work shift, and haircut of mine gets input into my Google Calendar. Without it, I would be an unorganized mess. Find what works for you, and commit to it!

Plan ahead

Give your calendar a good overview at the beginning of each week and at the end of each day. It helps you keep track of everything you are doing and what you will need for tomorrow. There’s no worse feeling than showing up to a photo shoot and forgetting an SD card! Looking over your calendar the night before can help prevent these mishaps and ensure you’re ready for every day!

Set reminders for small tasks

Need to get laundry in forty minutes? Have an assignment due at midnight that you need to start by 9 p.m.? Set yourself small reminders for short term tasks that might require a little nudge to do. Why remember to grab your laundry if Siri can do that for you? 

Don’t overbook yourself, and schedule “me” time

You think you can do it all. You can’t. While coordinating a day full of activities from 9am to 11pm may seem like a good use of your time, you will burn yourself out—quickly. I have been there, and every COM student I know has been there. Only do what you can, and try to schedule time for yourself; listen to music, watch Netflix, or do whatever relaxes you. This time will help you collect your thoughts, and will do much more good than that extra shot of  espresso you’re banking on to get through the day.

And there you have it! Stay organized, find what works for you, and remember that no matter what life throws at you, you can do it!

There’s rarely a quiet moment in Warren Towers 11C, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

A hidden gem in BU are its specialty community residence floors. When I applied for housing in the summer before Freshman year, I checked off a box that I’d be interested in specialty housing for the College of Communications. I didn’t realize it then, but that decision has had a HUGE impact on my time at BU so far.

Through the COM floor I’ve discovered so many opportunities, made lifelong friends, and had countless unforgettable experiences. So when you’re trying to decide where to live during your first year on campus, I’d highly recommend you check off that box. Here’s why.

1. Your neighbors become your best friends.

The COM floor gives you the unique opportunity to become best friends with the people you live with. Before coming to BU, I was worried that the other students on my floor would never be more than strangers. But I’m happy to say that my neighbors are some of my closest friends!

2. There aren’t just COM kids!

Surprisingly, the COM floor does not only have COM students. There are premed students, political science majors, and even a few who are undecided. Because of this, there is always a diverse range of perspectives and ideas!

3. Movie nights are a common occurrence.

Living with Film & Television students has its perks. Movie nights happen almost every weekend, and there are always in depth conversations about shot composition, lighting, and sound. Last weekend we watched Call me by Your Name (we cried).

4. There are always new opportunities to get involved.

The residents of 11C are always moving and staying active all around BU. Friends on my floor are involved in COM driven clubs like BUTV10, WTBU, and The Daily Free Press, as well as Stage Troupe and BU On Broadway, two theater organizations on campus.

This semester, I even started a radio show on WTBU with friends from my floor. It’s called sadboi hours, and we play music that gets us in our feels. (Check us out on WTBU on Sundays from 12-2AM!)

5. There’s always someone available to help on a project.

Whenever I have trouble on a project, I can look across the hallway and find someone ready and willing to help out. Production assistants are never far away!

There you have it! Living on the COM floor has been a great experience so far and I’d highly recommend it. So take a chance and check that box!