COM Ambassador Blog

Anna: A Senior’s Guide to Staying Motivated This Semester

The fall 2020 semester has revolutionized the way universities run and how students learn. I’ve been hearing from a lot of my friends how difficult it is to stay motivated during these times.

Here are some tips from me, a fellow COM senior, on how you can maximize your time and center your priorities for the rest of the school year!

Set a good weekly routine (and try your best to stick to it)

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Whether you use Google Calendar, a notes app, or a physical planner, my tip is always to set a good routine. Every Sunday evening, run through your schedule and make sure you have everything ordered for that week.

Remember not to overbook yourself, and make sure to schedule in time for three meals a day and relaxation time at night! It may help to work through your calendar on a 24-hour time grid, which the ERC has a template for.

Connect with old friends

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Several weeks ago, I texted my friends at my previous university, letting them know how thankful I was that I met them–not only did it make their day, but it also rekindled our relationship!

In times like these, we’re all looking for connections. It’s easy to send a text saying “Hello, I’m thinking of you and hope you are well”–don’t be afraid if you haven’t talked to them in a while! Be happy that you have the chance to make someone’s day!

Have something to look forward to

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The title speaks for itself! The thing you’re looking forward to doesn’t have to be something huge. It can be as small as looking forward to treating yourself to a sweet treat once you finish an assignment or exam at the end of the week. We all look forward to the weekend but adding that dash of excitement gives us something more!

Remember to make the thing you’re looking forward to tangible and something you can see in the near future.

Write in a gratitude journal

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Studies show that those who write in a gratitude journal have lowered stress levels and improved mental health! Every night before going to sleep, I write in my gratitude journal. The prompt is the same–what am I thankful for that day? Who made my life a little better just by the little encounters or conversations? It can be the beautiful weather, the walk you took, or something that made you smile.

Doing this small act has allowed me to get a better night’s sleep and has shifted my perspective from the negatives of what’s happening in the world to a more grateful mindset. Even the worst of days, there’s at least one thing you can be thankful for.

Meditate

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Prior to this semester, I’d never meditated before — but let me tell you, it works! I recommend taking a look at this website and filtering through to see if there’s a meditation that works for you!

A couple of weeks ago, I tried the body scan meditation and I had much more vivid dreams and recollections of them. I felt rejuvenated when I woke up. This meditation took roughly 15 minutes of my time, but some meditations are shorter or longer!

This semester has undoubtedly had its ups and downs, but hopefully these tips help you to stay motivated if you need a boost!

Brady: Remembering COM Grad Travis Roy

Late last week, the Boston University community lost a legend. Travis Roy, a former BU hockey player and College of Communication graduate, died at age 45, almost exactly 25 years after his first and final hockey game as a Terrier.

Roy’s significance at Boston University is not tied to the number of goals he scored as a highly touted talent, or how many championships he won as the Maine kid at his dream school. The fact is he never had the opportunity to score, and he never played in a championship game.

11 seconds into his first shift at BU’s 1995 season opener at Walter Brown Arena, Roy collided with the endboards head-first, instantly becoming paralyzed from the neck down. In a matter of moments, his playing days were done, and the life he knew was over.

That night and for several months after, Roy received major medical treatment, including spending long periods of time on a ventilator, before eventually being transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. There, alongside other recovering quadriplegics, Roy found his new lease on life.

In a 2018 speech to BU Athletics, which is well worth a listen, Roy said that as his recovery progressed, he found satisfaction in the seemingly minor victories. Eating a bagel required the same amount of focus and energy as weightlifting had less than a year prior, but it was an accomplishment nonetheless. This attitude would fuel Roy as he transitioned back into society.

Returning to his freshman dorm, equipped with a motorized chair instead of a hockey bag, Roy resumed his college career. He graduated with a degree in Communications in 2000, joking in the speech that he probably finished his degree faster than some of his teammates did.

Without hockey in his life, Roy was forced down a different path. At a point when he expected to be advancing towards a career in professional hockey, Roy needed a new mission. Now, decades later, many people close to Roy have been quoted saying they believe he was able to do more and make more of an impact outside of hockey than he would have as a player.

In 1998, Roy published a book titled Eleven Seconds, detailing how he was able to cope with his new reality and take on the challenges he faced as a result of his injury. He also became a popular public speaker, addressing countless audiences in sports and beyond. Away from his own story, though, Roy helped improve the stories of others.

The Travis Roy Foundation was established in 1996, turning Roy’s incident into a source of hope and help for people like him. To this day, half of the funds raised go towards supplying spinal cord injury survivors with the technology and equipment they need, and the other half is put towards research. Donations can be made on the foundation’s website.

In his 2018 speech, Roy left open the possibility that if the technological advancements continued, he may be able to stand and perhaps even get on skates again someday. He may not have been able to fulfill that wish during his lifetime, but as many people around him have said since his passing, there is no doubt that he is skating somewhere now, out of his chair and back on the ice.

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Personally, I didn’t know Travis Roy. I walked by him a couple times in the Agganis Arena concourse at BU hockey games, but I never got a chance to talk to him. I really wish I did.

Still, I feel a connection to Travis and his story. Not just because his number hangs on a banner high above the Agganis ice, or because I’m a nerd for Boston University hockey and his incident is such a prevalent event in its history.

Travis is an inspiration to me because, by all accounts, he is the kind of person we should all strive to be.

Travis is the perfect example of making the most of what you are given. No matter the circumstances, even those as tragic as his, a positive attitude and an optimistic outlook can get you through anything. One of my favorite quotes of his is, “opportunity is there if you choose to take it.” Regardless of what’s going wrong, there are ways to make it go right. You just have to find them.

If Travis can do as much as he did with the hand he was dealt, what’s our excuse?

Rest in peace, Travis Roy.

Lindsey: 5 Things to Do on Halloween This Year

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There is no doubt that this year’s Halloween is not going to be what we expected. Especially for the freshmen, your first Halloween at college isn't really looking like how it does in the movies.

But, that’s okay. We just need to get a little creative this year to have a fun Halloween. Here are five ideas for celebrating Halloween during a pandemic:

1) Register for Hasan Saves Halloween (presented by FIWCI & BUSG)

Ok….sublte flex. I work on the FIWCI team, and we created this event to literally save Halloween. So, consider your Halloween plans made. This event is made for BU students (and is only for BU students). Register via Eventbrite today for a night filled with comedy, Halloween movies, and obviously snacks.

2) Have a movie marathon with your roommate(s)

Half the excitement about Halloween time is having a valid excuse to re-watch Hocus Pocus for the sixth time. Grab your roommates, bake something spooky, and have a Halloween movie marathon. Hocus Pocus is great if you’re feeling nostalgic, but if you’re looking for something new, check out Adam Sandler’s new Halloween movie on Netflix called Hubie Halloween.

3) Paint pumpkins

Another fun activity to do with your roommates is to paint pumpkins. It’s less work (and less messy) than carving pumpkins. All you need are some mini pumpkins (Whole Foods or Target sells them) and a painting kit (you can buy one at Target). Pump up one of the Halloween Spotify playlists and you’re good to go.

4) Go for a walk in Beacon Hill

In the fall, Beacon Hill is one of the most beautiful places to stroll. With the leaves changing, the brownstone buildings, and the cute coffee shops, a walk through Beacon Hill the perfect fall activity. If you feel like getting some steps in, it’s a nice walk from BU’s campus (basically you go to Newbury street and through the Boston Public Garden).

5) Decorate masks

Buy some fabric markers and decorate your mask! You can get creative and spooky.

While Halloween is different this year, it will not always be like this in the future. Stay safe, healthy, and follow COVID-19 guidelines this weekend.

Alex: Dos and Don’ts of Studying Abroad in London

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I can’t believe it’s already that time of year again: the leaves are changing, students are bundling up just to go downstairs and pick up their Postmates, and we’re still living through a middle of a global pandemic of apocalyptic proportions. I just love fall, don’t you?

Last semester, I had the pleasure of studying abroad in the U.K. It will definitely be one of my most cherished memories of BU, but there are some things I wish I’d known going in that might have changed my experience a bit. Hopefully, I can impart some of this knowledge on you and live vicariously through your perfectly curated Instagram photos.

DON’T: Go in the middle of the biggest worldwide epidemic of the century.

This one’s pretty self explanatory. Even if there’s just an inkling, save yourself the heartache of buying tickets to Romeo and Juliet at the Globe only to go home days before.

DO: Bug your EUSA contact about internship updates.

This one isn't as bad as it sounds. BU outsources the heavy lifting of finding an internship abroad to a company called EUSA. Good news? That means there’s very little work to do on your end to obtain gainful employment. Bad news? They’re dealing with about 30-40 other students at the same time. It’s easy to get lost in an email chain, so don’t be afraid to speak up about a) what type of internship position you want and b) when you can expect to hear back about whether or not you got it. The internship can make or break your abroad experience. Take a lesson from the 5 year olds I babysit: never settle.

DON’T: Talk on the tube.

Yes, I still catch myself calling the MBTA the tube. No, it doesn’t make any sense. If Londoners love one thing, it’s silence. Well, maybe also tea. And beer. And a good English breakfast. But silence is definitely in the top 5. The easiest way to out yourself as a tourist to the locals is through boisterous discussion on the tube. Anything above a whisper is taboo. And if you’re whispering, you better have an absolutely incredible reason, like a fire, or seeing Robert Pattinson. Besides, if you were talking, how could you hear the absolute gems schoolchildren drop on their way home? (“Nah, mans, it ain’t like that. I’m different, mans want bodies, I’m built different.”)

DO: Learn a few basics about tea.

I’m by no means an anglophile, but it’s pretty universally known that the English love tea. I’m not a big drinker myself, but regardless, in an office space, it’s an easy way to make friends and win goodwill. A few important points:

Try different kinds, as your employer will surely have a bevy. Try different teas at different times of day; it might improve your workflow. Show your boss you’re ~adventurous~.
Always offer to put the kettle on. Even if you’ve never done it before, I promise it’s not that hard, and it’s a guarantee to make you an office favorite. Maybe practice at home before your trip if you’re a little nervous.
Bring a pack of biscuits (cookies, for you American heathens) along for sharing. For the cost of a single biscuit, you have just made a lifelong friend. My recommendations are Digestives and Hobnobs.
There are specific preparations for different types of tea based on who’s consuming it. Learn how your office mates like them, and they’ll do the same for you. One I became intimately familiar with is builder’s tea: heat water to a boil, put the teabag in for the minimum amount of time possible, then add milk until the tea becomes cloudy. Never order your tea this way.
DO NOT LET THE TEABAG SIT IN THE CUP FOR AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME.

DO: Call it football.

We all know you mean soccer. Just take one for the team and do it so we don’t get bum rushed by the lads outside the pub, okay?

DON’T: Root for Arsenal.

You know, unless you like heartbreak.

DO: Bring a European passport (if you have one).

Brexit is a reality (and no one seems to like it), but that doesn’t mean you won’t have access to the rest of the EU! I’m fortunate enough to be a dual citizen to Spain, so my Spanish passport has gotten me around some long lines in the airport. Be sure not to burn yourself out travelling too much, though. It’s unlikely that you’ll have weekdays off, so your window of travel is probably Friday evening to Sunday evening. Those are tough trips to make. More than a few consecutively, and your bunk bed might seem a little more inviting than mandatory attendance in statistics.

DON’T: Get a cast if you intend to fly home.

How did I break my wrist, you ask? Oh, you know. Just a nasty petting zoo accident. I know, the NHS just seems so inviting. But as blood vessels swell at higher altitudes, your injury might get stuck in the hard plaster and keep blood from your extremities. A really sticky situation 30 minutes into your 8 hour flight home. Finally,

DO: NOT GO TO LONDON DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I really cannot hammer this one home enough. My time in London was absolutely life changing, but I still can’t shake the feeling that it would have been better somehow if I just, I don’t know...wasn’t there in the middle of the end of the world.

Harper: Tips on Registering for LfA Spring Classes

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Signing up for classes can be extremely stressful. Here are some tips to help alleviate some of that stress and also make spring classes easier on you!

1) Meet with your advisor!

Meeting with your advisor is a vital part of registering for classes. They can be really reassuring and share great advice for what classes pair together well for each term. Also checking in with your COM Ambassador or older friends in COM to get advice is helpful too.

2) Know your timezone

If you aren’t studying in an East Coast timezone, do the math as to when your classes will be in your timezone. This is super important for early and late classes.

3) Backups, Backups, Backups!

Don’t just pick one set of classes to walk into registration with. Have a few different sets of classes before registration! This helps make sure that if a class fills up you’ll still be set for registration day.

4) Wake up at least 15-20 minutes before you register

This is important for freshmen and sophomores because some of your classes might get filled up by upperclassmen. This gives you a small gap of time to get your first choice classes organized before your actual timeslot.

5) Find stable wifi

The registration portal might act up during your timeslot because so many people are registering all at once. Having a solid wifi connection helps combat that!

6) After you’ve registered, double-check!

It might sound strange, but make sure you registered for the right classes the first time. Instead of closing the computer with a sigh of relief, double-check the times and classes you registered for are the ones you meant to!

Right now is a really weird time for people in school! Choosing classes that are genuinely interesting to you can help combat the upcoming winter blues and also help stimulate your brain.

Wishing everyone an easy registration!

Carlee: Sitcoms to Add Some Life to Quarantine

If you’ve been like me and many other COM students during quarantine, TV has become a bit of a safe haven. Whether you watch for entertainment, as an escape mechanism, or just to relax at the end of the day, a good TV show can really make all the difference in our stay-at-home lifestyles.

These past few months, I have been watching a lot of sitcoms in particular -- and it truly doesn’t get any better. Sitcoms might just be the best genre on TV. They’re usually only 20-minute episodes, so they aren’t a big commitment, and their humor and fun characters bring laughter and joy to any day.

But what happens when you run out of things to watch? You just finished a show that you loved, and you don’t think any other will be able to replace it in your heart (I may have experienced this when I finished Schitt’s Creek). You scroll through your streaming service’s home page, but nothing seems appealing. You wish someone could just tell you what to watch...

That’s where I come in. Here is a list of some of my favorite sitcoms and more to spice up your streaming watch lists.

Schitt’s Creek

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Where to watch: Netflix

Watch if: you want to actually laugh out loud or you love well-developed, overly-dramatic characters (I might be a bit biased)

Community

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Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu

Watch if: you like meta-humor and a great ensemble cast

New Girl

Where to watch: Netflix

Watch if: you love a quirky female protagonist and/or you’re a romantic

Insecure

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Where to watch: HBO Max

Watch if: you want a comedy that addresses social issues and really appeals to your feelings

Broad City

Where to watch: Hulu

Watch if: you’re a feminist, love comedy, and love NYC (aka Ilana Glazier). I will always recommend Broad City

Pen15

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Where to watch: Hulu

Watch if: you love cringe comedy or a classic middle school throwback

Parks and Rec

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Where to watch: Peacock

Watch if: you haven’t already seen it ten times or you’re in need of a Leslie Knope pep talk

Awkwafina is Nora from Queens

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Where to watch: HBO Max

Watch if: you’re looking for a relatable comedy about young adulthood

Arrested Development

Where to watch: Netflix

Watch if: you’re a fan of handheld camera styles and dry humor

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Sabrina: An Easy Way to Stay Entertained During COVID

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I’m sure I don’t need to remind you all that we’re living in “unprecedented times,” and that as a result, life can get a little bit boring when all you have to entertain yourself is homework and your daily allotted time for staring at that one wall in your room. However, I have a solution for these troubling times: the 100 Movies Bucket List poster.

It may sound cheesy, but trust me, my roommates and I are proof that this poster works. Every night we gather around the TV and ask Siri to pick two numbers between 1 and 10, then we find the movie she has selected and we watch it. It’s become a ritual, and it absolutely keeps us on our toes.

As a film and television major, I’ve found that in a lot of my classes (especially production ones), professors are always referencing famous movies that I’ve never seen. I always add these to a list in my brain so that I might later genuinely understand what they’re talking about.

After a while, though, that list in my brain gets fuzzy and I can’t remember which iconic movies I’m “supposed to watch” in order to fully grasp my film and television education. Then came this poster, and suddenly every movie that has been referenced in my classes is sitting on a poster, ready for me to watch.

You’re probably wondering, is it just a poster with movie titles? And the answer is no, it’s so much more. Every movie has a gray box underneath, and after you watch the movie you grab a coin and you scratch away at the gray to reveal an image that represents the movie. My roommates and I play a game where before we scratch, we try to predict what the image will be. We’re almost always wrong, but it’s fun regardless.

If you’re bored in quarantine, or simply want to elevate your film knowledge, I highly recommend this poster. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Republic-GR630004-Bucket-Poster/dp/B075SDQ2K8/ref=asc_df_B075SDQ2K8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241885544103&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11096703014978157165&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061331&hvtargid=pla-384448912262&psc=1

Have fun watching!

Avery: Practicing Self-Care Virtually

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Whether you’re at home, back at school, or taking time off this semester, one thing remains the same for everyone: the “new normal” has been a tough adjustment. In times like these, it’s normal for everybody to have a lot on their minds. Therefore, practicing self-care is essential no matter where you are.

Since everything has shifted online, I want to suggest some virtual ways to keep up with your mental health. Staying in all day can take a toll, but there are some awesome resources out there to help relieve cabin fever. I’ve rounded up my top four apps for meditation, self-care, and mental health.

Headspace

Headspace is an awesome meditation app that can serve as a relaxing escape from your daily routine. It has countless meditations that are just a few minutes long, which is perfect for anyone who might feel too busy to make time for meditating.

The app also has group meditations and exercise-focused meditations that will get you moving in a mindful way. The best part? BU students get a Headspace membership for free with their Kerberos login.

Breathe

Breathe is a personal favorite of mine. This meditation app is super personalized, greeting you with a check-in page upon opening the app. It asks how you’re feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally, and then recommends it meditations for you.

Most of the meditations are under ten minutes, so they’re easy to squeeze into your day. They have meditations that range from a full-body check-in to a guide for getting a good night’s sleep, so you’re sure to find something that interests you.

Happify

I love Happify because it’s not only engaging, but also fun to use! The app provides activities and games that are scientifically proven to reframe negative thoughts, reduce stress, and relieve anxiety. The app is customized, asking about your intentions in order to provide you with the best activities for your mental state.

Yoga & Meditation by Glo

Many people love to do yoga as a mindful activity because it allows you to stay active both physically and mentally, and because it is easily doable from home. This app is great because it personalizes your yoga experience based on what you would like to focus your practice on (strength, balance, core, etc). There are tons of different classes in both yoga and pilates. This one does have a membership fee of $18 a month, but the first 15 days are free!

I hope you found these four apps helpful for practicing self-care virtually. In these uncertain times, remember to make time for your mental health. The most important thing right now is keeping yourself happy and healthy!

Evan: Spooky Season, Quarantine Edition!

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‘Tis the season!

Halloween is definitely a favorite amongst most college students, but as this spooky season is quickly approaching, we need to start thinking about how we can celebrate in a more COVID-friendly way! Here are just a few of my favorite festive ideas:

Go to the movies with friends (virtually)

Grab some popcorn and get on Netflix, since there’s no better way to get in the Halloween spirit than to watch some spooky movies! Netflix Party and Disney Plus GroupWatch Parties are two awesome – and COVID-friendly – ways to watch movies from home. Bonus points for creative snacks, like Star Market’s Hocus Pocus-themed cookie dough, and for extra creative picks, like Disney’s Coco on Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead on November 1st).

Decorate pumpkins with your household

Who doesn’t love some fun Halloween decor? Pumpkins are the perfect choice for fall, and you can buy a wide variety of real, plastic, or fabric ones from Target or your favorite grocery store. If you’re not in the mood for pulling out the insides of a real pumpkin, Target has some great DIY kits like this unicorn or spider. Just make sure that, wherever you are, you and your small household are wearing masks and staying 6 feet (or 2 meters) apart!

Get creative with your costumes

Dressing up to stay in is the new trick-or-treating. Who says you can’t dress up in a Cookie Monster onesie and eat cookies at home, or go as a chef and make a five course gourmet meal? Or, you and your friends can get creative with other costumes and makeup and have a virtual costume contest!

Shop the sales online

Arguably, one of the best parts of Halloween is all of the sales that happen on November 1st. Whether you’re eyeing some fun decorations or giant bags of candy, the easiest (and safest) way to shop the sales is online! You know you’ve been wanting that life-size, light up, tap-dancing skeleton 😉

And lastly…

Call voters from home

Whether you’re in or out of costume, a great way to celebrate the season is by texting or calling voters from your dorm, apartment, or home. It’s super easy and a great way to meet other fun people who are phone banking – all while knowing that you’re making a difference for issues you’re passionate about!

Make sure to treat yourself with a Reese’s pumpkin afterwards – you’ve got to take advantage of the best Halloween candy ever while it’s around for such a short time!

That’s all from me! But just because you’ve gotten to the end of this post doesn’t mean that these are the only ways to celebrate spooky season. Whatever you do, though, make sure it’s smart, safe, and socially distant 🙂

Shaun: Why What We’re Doing is Worth It

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We’ve been doing this thing for a month.

That fact struck me today when I was sitting in a park in Brookline, reading a depressing story in last week’s New Yorker, watching a group of dog owners do their best to stay 6 feet apart from one another, thinking about how nice it was just to sit in the sun because I know it’s going to get too cold to do that in just a few week’s time.

We’ve been doing this face covering, nose swabbing, class streaming, mobile ordering, symptom surveying thing for longer than a lot people thought we could — longer, certainly, than a lot of people thought we should. And it’s going OK. Less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students and employees on campus have tested positive for the virus, the data shows, and lab results are now consistently coming back in less than a day.

So many parts of campus life that felt normal earlier this year — packing so tightly into the BU Shuttle you could barely breathe, waiting in a half-hour line for a bagel at Einstein’s, screaming the words to “Mr. Brightside” in a basement you barely remember — are uncomfortable and distressing to think about now. This pandemic, more than probably anything else in our 18 to 22-year lifetimes so far, has fundamentally changed the way we interact with the world.

Will life at BU ever go back to the way it was? For me, as a senior, it almost certainly will not. The university has already delayed the start of classes next semester and canceled spring break. When I have my graduation ceremony (if I may be so bold as to assume I will graduate) it will be together with the Class of 2020, who got perhaps the worst end of a very ugly stick.

And it would be naive, I think, to assume any aspect of the world around us will ever return to the way it was pre-pandemic. History has never taken place in a vacuum, and our country’s gross inequities around access to healthcare and financial security — which are splintered along racial and socioeconomic lines — will undoubtedly impact future policymaking for years to come.

Even at BU, in our huge but tiny bubble, I’m sure all the infrastructure that was put in place for remote learning and student health services will continue to be used. There’s just no way the university would have taken on the gargantuan cost of bringing back thousands of students, from all over the world, without considering how it can benefit them in the long-run.

But when we look back at this time five, 10, 15 years from now (even at the daily reminders to fill out a survey we’ve already completed), I’m confident we’ll be happy we took the safety measures we did. Following the rules was, we will realize, 100 percent worth it.

Because I’ll say it again: things are going OK right now. And they can continue going OK, too. Whether or not they go OK is up to us. But we’ve been doing it all for a month, which is long enough that to abandon it now would be nothing short of a waste.