Vanessa L: How to Find Your Passion in COM

I am passionate about COM because I am passionate about my major and career path. I’ve always loved reading and writing, and ever since I could remember and have always wanted to produce news. I was always sure I wanted to study journalism because I have a passion for hard news and spreading awareness of social issues. I want to educate and spread awareness on social issues I care about. I love COM because it contains people who are just as passionate about these issues as I am. COM lets me take advantage of so many different opportunities related to news and production. So many students are actively engaged in this community! It brings out the strongest motivation in me and it is always a pleasure to work with passionate people. 

There are so many organizations to choose from here in COM. Even without prior experience, people are happy to teach you and learn with you! I remember when I didn’t know a thing about camera operation in a news show I was a part of. However, I learned and experienced new things during my time there. Everyone has their firsts, and I think COM is happy to have students experience their firsts. 

For incoming freshmen, I want to say that you don’t have to be intimidated! There will be so many people willing to help you and so many resources. Getting involved in organizations that interest you is key. Find your community and be open minded. Don’t hesitate to reach out to peers, professors, advisors and organization leaders! And don’t limit yourself to your major. Attend career fairs, seek internships, and talk to advisors about potential career paths. It’s okay if you’re unsure; exploring is part of the process.You can explore various subjects in COM. Who knows? You might find a new passion while exploring. You will always have support!

Vanessa L: 4 Tips to Make the Most out of COM

I’m Vanessa Lee, a sophomore in COM Journalism with a minor in Questrom Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Today I’m going to guide you through 4 tips to make the most out of your time at COM. 

Tip #1: Get involved, use your resources!

I think there’s nothing more important than being involved in organizations within the college. There are so many organizations and clubs that you can be involved in within COM. There’s something for everyone, and I’m so grateful that BU COM is so inclusive and welcoming with students who want to try new things within COM. For example, even as a journalism major, I can still be in film organizations — which was what I did last year!

Tip #2: Use your skills both inside and outside of class

This advice is kind of related to the first one. COM is really special because it’s such a creative college. Because it’s so much about creativity, using skills learned from classes and applying them to individual projects is important. For example, for Film & TV majors, you could be working on your own film individually outside of class! This would not only build your portfolio, but it can also help you gain new experiences with the skills learned in your courses. 

Tip #3: Get help from professionals in the industry on career advice and networking

Getting familiar with job and internship opportunities through resources such as COM Career Services can be helpful! It may feel a little early for freshmen and sophomores, but it never hurts to get familiar with opportunities and networking. Firstly, in COM Career Services, I like that I can find a lot of great internship opportunities. I signed up for their emails, so whenever there are great COM job opportunities, I get emails about them! Another website I like is BU Connects. This website is not necessarily a COM service, but it’s for all BU students in general. Through BU connects, you can connect with BU students or alumni who have experience working in the industry you’re interested in. You can send them a chat and network like that! I sent a message to a BU alumni who worked at NBC, which is an organization I’m really interested in. I networked with the alumni and it was such a great opportunity!

Tip #4: Embed COM in your daily routine 

As COM students, being creative in your environment and constantly being aware of changes in the industry is crucial. For me, as a journalism student, reading the news every day and knowing what’s going on in the world is important. Embedding COM into your daily routine can set you up for success and make you more knowledgeable in the area. 

That was it for my COM tips! Thank you for reading:)