COM Ambassador Blog

Angeli: Life Lessons from Hell’s Kitchen

Up until recently, Hell’s Kitchen to me had always seemed like a distant, floating pop cultural concept. You know, the kind of thing you’ve seen turned into gifs and referenced on Twitter. You think you know what the general idea is, but you’ve never actually explored it firsthand. If you relate to that at all, I only have one thing to say: what are you doing in your spare time? Thanks to a good, nay great, friend I have been exposed to what is quite frankly reality show gold–as a soon-to-be Viacom employee, I think I know a thing or two about this subject. Now I’m not talking about the kind of trash TV you watch when you feel like not taking life too seriously (though HK can have that cathartic entertainment effect as well.) Gordon Ramsey can actually teach you a thing or two about life itself. Here are some of the tidbits I’ve picked up on so far in my binging:

1) Sometimes people need a little tough love.

I’d say most people know Chef Ramsay for his devilish insults. Yes, he can be harsh. But hey, the man is looking for his restaurant’s next best chef and he knows talent when he sees it! Think of him as that one professor who seems to expect more from you than any other pupil. It’s (hopefully) because she knows your potential and wants you to get there, so you have to keep fighting.

2) Good leaders have to make difficult decisions and own them.

(Spoiler alert) I’ll never forget watching Gordon–can I call you Gordon?–sent someone home who wasn’t in the bottom two. She was definitely a struggling chef but hadn’t been put on the chopping block by her team because she was a good friend. Sounds like having a group project with a close buddy who’s just not holding his/her weight. It’s so hard to do, but you know that confrontation is needed for the betterment of the team.

3) Believe in yourself or nobody will.

I have to hand it to Chef R. I’ve never seen someone say such absurd statements with such self-assurance. He knows who is and what he’s capable of. Some may say he tears people down to lift himself up, but I would say the contrary. Gordon already has all the confidence he needs and is challenging other people to find their own.

…or he just knows the type of persona people enjoy watching and producers are willing to pay for. Either way, confidence!

Not buying what I’m selling? Critically analyze HK for yourself, with all seasons on Hulu.

Anna: A Letter to First-Semester Transfer Me.

As a new student, there are a few things I wish someone had told me before entering BU as a transfer student. This is a letter written to my younger self.

Dear first-semester me,

Welcome to BU and COM! You must be so excited for your new adventure as a terrier and I’m so excited for you to embark on this journey. Before you start, I want to remind you to stay true to yourself and though the journey in college may change and challenge you, remember to stay true to your values! I’m going to preface by saying that the journey of a transfer student is hard, but it is going to be worth it.

It’ll take a while to feel adjusted to the BU life—give yourself time!

Older you went into BU expecting that she’d find her new BFF right away. That’s not the reality. Remember to give yourself space and time to adjust. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! Do one thing that challenges you every day and pushes you outside of your comfort zone. That’s what college is all about!

Don’t be afraid to reach out and make some connections!

A BU professor once told me to think about it like this—in a few years, these people in your class will be your colleagues! Remember that everyone has to eat sometime, so why not reach out and ask them if they’d like to grab a meal? Connections are key. Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors for help either! Also in doing so, remember to be vulnerable because it’ll allow you to get more connected

Be YOU!

I know that sounds cheesy and you’ve probably heard it a lot since entering BU...but the best way to find yourself in a new place is not by changing who you are, it’s by finding the right people who bring out the best in you! You are the best version of yourself. Remember, that joining a club or an organization, or taking a class is not going to change who you are because you are already perfectly you! You are going to find your community here by BEING yourself!

Younger me, take a deep breath! Everything will be okay. The transition to BU as a transfer student can be rough at times and tears are okay! In fact, they’re like battle wounds and stories that you can tell your future friends. When in doubt, take a deep breath. I am so happy that you are here and that you chose to spend the second half of your undergraduate years at BU! Remember to enjoy the moment too because you worked so hard to get here—make the most of it!

From,

Second-semester you

P.S. Everything they say about Boston winter is also true. Invest in a good winter coat!!!!!

Natalie: How to make your dinky dorm feel like home

Whether you like it or not living in a dorm is a part of freshman year, and is not always comfortable to stylish. However, there are simple and effective ways to add life and comfort to the brick box that is a Warren dorm.

Pictures, Please

Sometimes, you will get homesick. A great way to make the transition away from your friends and family easier is to keep their smiling faces in your day to day life by hanging pictures on your bulletin board or wall. Using Target, Walgreens or CVS, pring some of your favorite pictures that remind you of home, and use sticky tack to create a collage on your wall above your bed. Not only is it a great way to remind you of fun memories from home, but it makes your walls much more exciting

Pops of Color

White brick walls aren’t cute. Adding color to your walls will warm the space and add personality to your room, so you don’t feel like you are in a prison. In addition to photos, posters, tapestries, and other wall art do a great job of making your room more dynamic. You can even hang up lights to brighten your room, or get colored lights for some extra excitement.

Little Library

I have loved reading since I was little, and find it is a great way to relax and escape the stress of school. With a couple of bookends, you can keep some of your favorite books from home on your shelves for easy access. I only keep three or four in my room at a time, since dorms can get cramped, and change them out when I go home for breaks.

Stash Some Snacks

The dining hall get boring, and Uber Eats is expensive, so it is important to have some go-to snacks in your room. Personally, I am always in the mood for Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Strawberry popsicles, so I always have a box (or four) of each in my room. Don’t want to share with your roommate? Get a basket that fits on your selves to hide you treats, and keep things organized.

Flora & Fauna

To break up the dry white and beige color scheme in your dorm, add small plants to your window sill or desk. Grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s often sell small potted flowers or succulents that are cheap and easy to maintain. Can’t keep real plants alive? No cause to fret, craft stores sell fake plants that come in a variety of colors, and won’t die on you.

Malaika: Riddle Me This

Be honest, how many times have you been stuck in a car playing the alphabet game with your family or friends?

Sure, it’s fun the first few rounds, but once you pass “m,” the game becomes a vicious race to the finish line. Who saw what word first? Who’s going to call out the cheater? What do you do when everyone gets pouty over losing?

See, the alphabet game was my favorite as a kid. Long car rides became a vocabulary “I spy” competition (my apologies to those who left their glasses back at home), but over time the game started to lose its appeal. That’s when my mom decided to bring out her riddle book:

Grandma likes cookies, but she doesn’t like milk. She likes puppies, but she doesn’t like dogs. She likes kittens, but she doesn’t like cats. What does Grandma like?

Riddles stump us. They challenge us. They make us giddy when we finally figure out the answer. I thought I would leave my riddles behind when I left for college, but the truth is riddles have been my best ice-breaker since arriving at Boston University. Whenever I’m sitting in a group of strangers or waiting with my friends, I bust out a riddle.

Jack and Judy were lying on the floor dead. There was a puddle of water and broken glass on the floor. How did they die?

This year, my New Year’s resolution is to challenge myself intellectually; I want to sharpen my brain in a new and exciting way. As you can probably guess, I do so by figuring out the answer to a riddle everyday. Do I always guess correctly? No, but I have a ton of fun trying.

I wanted to share this because riddles are often overlooked. Don’t underestimate the power of a good brain-teaser. It’s the crowd pleaser that keeps on giving. Here’s a little riddle relevant to BU. See if you can figure it out; the answers to all three are below. No peeking!

BToEsRtRoInE!R

Happy riddling,

CA Malaika

(from top to bottom) Grandma likes things with double letters, Jack and Judy were goldfish; they dies because their bowl broke, Terrier in Boston!

MK: The Wonders of LinkedIn: The Hunt for an Internship

In high school I had a teacher who always told students, “It’s not the grades you make, it’s the hands you shake.” When it comes to the internship hunt, I’d have to say they’re right. For me though, it’s been the LinkedIn connections I make. In a meeting with a COM Career Advisor this fall, I was encouraged to reach out to alumni who work in the field I’m interested in.

At first, I thought this may seem odd or too forward, but I thought about how I would personally feel if I were an alumni and a student seeking career advice reached out. Even now, when high schoolers ask to talk to me about my experience in college I love speaking with them and giving any tips I can.

With this, I took to the streets of the most productive social media site and did some searching. In my searches, I found people with mutual connections and alumni that had my dream job. I reached out, to a few people and made the most helpful connections. I can’t overstate how much I appreciate the advice they gave and how much I think they have guided me in the right direction during the internship application process.

LinkedIn’s an easy and accessible resource that has given me the opportunity to connect with people who gave me invaluable advice. You can’t expect a response from everyone, and you can’t expect a job offer -- nor should you ask for one. If someone is willing to share their experience and guidance with you, it could help you more than you know -- plus, down the road you’ll always have that relationship if you put yourself out there.

Jamey: 4 BU London Pro-Tips from a Self-Proclaimed Expert

1. Pret A Manger is the new Starbucks.

Anyone who resides on Commonwealth Avenue knows how much Starbucks we Terriers like to go through. This summer, I had Cold Foam Cascara Cold Brew coursing through my veins in place of blood. However, Starbucks are few and far between in London! While there is a Starbucks on Gloucester Road (right by Courtfield Gardens), the prices in pounds end up converting to about 1.5x the cost of American Starbucks! So we, the BU Londoners, learned quickly that Pret A Manger is far superior to Starbucks. While the coffee isn’t incredible, they have wonderful teas and lattes. The main highlight of Pret A Manger is the ￡3 sandwich section with some really incredible food for very reasonable prices

2. 43 Harrington Gardens (The Academic Building) is your friend!

I totally get it. You’re in London! You don’t want to spend all of your time in the academic building. You’d rather go out and see the London Eye, take a walk through the Tate Modern, or see a show on the West End. But for those days when you’re tired or need to catch up on schoolwork, you should take advantage of the academic building! The staff of the BU London program are so friendly, and they really want to get to know you. (Shoutout to my two best friends in the student accounting office on the fifth floor!) The BU Academic building has a wonderful common room complete with a tea station. Additionally, the library basement is so cute and quiet. While it’s small in size, it’s aesthetic could beat Mugar any day!

3. Don’t expect to get off the plane and experience immediate Harry Potter magic.

My first day in London was full of jet lag, homesickness, and anxiety. I was hoping to get off that plane and jump right into my European adventure, but I realized quickly that that would not be possible. Listen to your body and listen to your mind! You will have so many days to go out on adventures and explore. I am so proud of myself for using self-care to get through my first day at BU London. If it’s not the best 24 hours of your life, that means you’re experiencing something completely normal! And if you continue to struggle, BU London has a certified counselor on staff who can meet with you to help you make your abroad experience more easy and enjoyable!

4. Reserve your BU London Social Catalogue programs early.

The BU London Program runs all sorts of cool expeditions and events to get you acquainted with London, the UK, and Europe as a whole! A couple of weeks before your departure, they will send you a catalogue with all of these events. Once you get the catalogue, you should reserve your spots IMMEDIATELY! There are limited spaces, and every single one of the events I went on was worthwhile. Attached is a picture from the BU London trip to the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness!

Sophia: 3 Easy breakfast recipes for college students on-the-go

Breakfast is, like, really important.

You already know this. I know that you already know this. You've been told this every year from kindergarten to 12th grade. So tell me, besides your latest Saturday brunch at Union Cafe, what has your most recent, ACTUAL breakfast meal been? A protein bar? Cereal? Scrambled eggs?

Let me tell you something: you deserve better than that. Your body and mind deserve better than that. As college students, we neglect proper, nutritious breakfasts every day in favor of 20 more minutes of sleep or a longer shower. But you shouldn't have to choose! There is an overwhelming amount of scientific research that proves eating breakfast in the morning improves your cognitive functions, supports a healthy metabolism, increases your daily energy levels and improves your overall mood. So if time is a factor in your decision to deprive your body of its most important daily meal, fear not! Here are some of my favorite, wonderfully easy breakfast recipes that are healthy, delicious, and super quick.

Protein Oats (with coffee!)

Time: 3 minutes (plus overnight soaking)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of oats
1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (feel free to add more or less depending on how wet you like your oats)
1/4 cup coffee
1/2 cup protein powder (again, I opt for vanilla, but peanut butter, chocolate and banana are also great options)
1 tablespoon of chia seeds

Directions: combine all the ingredients in a mason jar or container. Shake well and refrigerate overnight. Pro tip: if you're a caffeine addict like me, don't be afraid to add more coffee into this. More coffee is never a bad choice.

Banana Oat muffins

image (1)

Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

1 banana, mushed
1 egg
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 cup of greek yogurt
1 1/2 cups of oats
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 pinch of salt
Toppings of choice (I usually alternate every time I make these with semi-sweet dark chocolate chips, blueberries, walnuts and strawberries)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin ban with non-stick spray. Combine all ingredients. Bake for 30 minutes or until sides are golden. Enjoy or refrigerate for healthy breakfast muffins! I also sometimes eat these for dessert when I'm having a sweet craving at night. Yum!

Veggie Egg Cups

image (2)

Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

4-5 eggs
Salt and pepper
Veggies of choice! Think: spinach, mushroom, tomato, cheese, onion, etc.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray. Fill with ingredients of choice. Whisk 4-5 eggs with salt and pepper. Pour whisked eggs into each muffin mold with until full and the majority of the veggies are covered. Cook for 30 minutes. Enjoy hot or refrigerate for breakfast on-the-go!

Grace: Simple Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Climate change is the single largest threat to our nation. Global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions is impacting our public health, economy, and national security. Studies show that the incidence of extreme weather events, which inflict a huge loss of life and property damage, will only increase due to climate change. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution is estimated to cause 29% of lung cancer deaths globally.

However, there is hope: the Yale program on climate communication released a report in December showing that 72% of Americans view climate change as something important to them. Better yet, taking action on climate will improve other issues in America, such as malnutrition and obesity. According to the Lancet Medical Journal, transitioning to a plant-based diet will help both solve food insecurity, reduce obesity, and fight climate change. I believe in American entrepreneurship and resiliency, and I want to work to push climate change solutions to the forefront of policy making.

One of the best ways that we, as individuals, can take climate action is by reducing our personal carbon footprints. Here are some useful ideas for how to get started:

Eat a plant-based diet. The meat industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, so try cutting out meat at least once a week. #MeatlessMonday
Walk to class. BU’s campus is walkable, so save your wallet and our planet by skipping the Uber.
Wash your laundry with cold water. Save energy and prevent the possibility of color leaching by opting for a cold rinse.
Buy second-hand clothing. The fashion industry is one of the most energy-inefficient industries. Consider hosting a clothing swap with your friends or selling your clothing to consignment shops.
Vote for elected politicians. Stay on top of the news and vote for the elected official whose policies you believe in.

Every person matters in the fight against climate change, so you can make a real difference in the sustainability of our world.

Hali: What It’s Like to Work in an Exceptionally Trendy Office

As I may not have mentioned since my first ever contribution to this blog, I am a public relations student. While studying PR, I’ve found myself in internships related to media relations, PR, and marketing. While I’ve had amazing experiences in each of these (extremely similar, closely related, basically the same) fields, I am currently experiencing my trendiest™ internship to date.

If you have the COM ambassadors on Snapchat (add us @comsnaps if you don’t!) you may have recently seen that this semester, I’m interning at an integrated advertising agency in the Downtown Crossing area of Boston. I was abroad last semester and interviewed for my position via Skype, so I knew I was in for a surprise on my first day. While marketing agencies have a reputation for attracting ~cool~ employees, I was overwhelmed by the level of coolness in this particular office. I’ve decided to make a list of the best things about my office’s trendy vibes:

There is… KOMBUCHA ON TAP???

First of all, this is the most important item on the list. You can stop reading now! There’s just no need to continue! Yes, it’s true. There is a constant supply of kombucha in the office kitchen. My gut health is… sublime.

There is… A DOG???

Yes, you read that correctly. There is a stunning, gorgeous, adorable shih-poo who keeps us company and motivates us to work our hardest each day. I’m not sure if this counts as trendy, but it’s absolutely a perk.

Everyone…. is so stylish???

At night, I lay in bed tossing and turning, contemplating what to wear to my internship the next day. I swear, working in a trendy marketing agency can feel like you’re attending #NYFW all day, everyday. And thank goodness for my hip Warby Parker glasses. I’m not certain I would’ve been hired without them.

While this roundup is short, the complete list of things that are cool about my office spans multiple pages. As I apply to jobs (yikes, second semester senior alert) I can only pray that my search leads me to an office half as trendy as the one I’m currently at.

Geneve: Do It For the ‘Gram

Whether you like it or not, Instagram has climbed its way to the top in terms of social media site rankings. From mouthwatering foodie accounts to fashion bloggers with perfect outfits, don't think that you have to have a ton of followers or an endless amount of money to curate your feed into something that reflects the life you love! Here are five easy ways to spice up your Instagram game! And hey, maybe you're not that into Instagram--nothing wrong with that! Just pick one, mess around, and see how you like it!

1. Get a Lightroom Mobile preset!

I first heard about people buying presets from bloggers. Those can range from $30-$70 for a pack-- ridiculous! I resorted to searching the internet and found that you can buy a TON of different presets on Etsy for way cheaper! You can buy packs for around $10 or a single preset for $5. To choose a preset, I recommend going with colors that you like, or ones that create a visual you love. For example, mine is warm toned because I like sunshine and summer, which is kind of what all my pictures look like. I also really like it when I look tan and my hair looks blonder, all of which my preset helps accentuate!

2. Add highlights!

There are endless ways you can choose to categorize your highlights. Personally, I like to do them by location, but a lot of people will choose topics. I also like to choose a cover for the highlight that matches my feed, so overall there is a cohesive aesthetic.

3. Post what you want!

Sometimes, we take so many pictures to get "the perfect shot". In choosing which one to post, I always go with the one that I feel the best about! It's okay to ask your friends for advice sometimes, but make sure to choose something that really portrays who you are and let your personality shine through!

4. Create interactive stories!

Instagram stories are a great way to show followers a more "real" version of you! You can post polls, show your bites, and snippets of moments of your life worth sharing. I learned how to add fun embellishments and text effects by following and watching bloggers' Instagram accounts. Adding color behind words, alternating fonts, and using the pen are all tools that can help you!

5. Make your caption short, sweet, and 100% you!

The last part, and usually the longest part of crafting the perfect Instagram post: the caption! You don't want it to be too long, you want it to catch people's attention, and you want it to relate to the photo. I usually like to include something that happened that day, or share a moment that I was making a fool of myself. Don't be afraid to be silly! People love laughing a little while scrolling through.

With that, go on out there! Make your account 110% you! And let's connect- @genevelau .