COM Ambassador Blog

Hannah: Feeling Homesick? Have No Fear, 7 Tips Are Here!

When I was applying to college, my main goal was to get away. Like Lady Bird, I had a dream of moving to the bustling east coast. The summer before starting at BU, I was antsy every day. I looked around me and thought, “Ugh, Michigan! I can’t wait to leave you!” I felt like I was so ready to be independent and sophisticated, no longer a naïve Midwesterner.

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Once I got to BU, however, I kept thinking about my home and family. Could it be? Was I actually homesick? Was I actually missing the Midwest??? I felt guilty for missing my lame Michigan dirt roads and strip malls when the brilliant Boston was my backyard.

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I hid this gross feeling of homesickness and pretended that I wasn’t feeling nostalgic. I later learned that being homesick is okay. A lot of people feel that way and it’s not immature or embarrassing. Here a few tips to get that icky feeling out of your stomach.

1. Discover Boston!

Homesickness is often brought about by boredom. Write a list of touristy places you want to see in Boston and try your best to go into the city once a week. The more you get to know Boston, the more it will feel like your second home. Check out the Museum of Fine Arts or walk around Harvard Square!

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2. FaceTime That Fam

Call your family once a week. This is a great reminder that although you are far away, you are still connected.

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3. Think About What You Love in Your Home and Find It in Boston

Boston is unbelievably diverse and probably has pretty much anything your home has. I was really missing the small funky shops of Ann Arbor, Michigan and later discovered that shopping in Cambridge had a similar feel. All you gotta do is some exploring.

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4. Stop Counting the Days

Put that calendar away! College is a journey and not a destination. When you stop thinking about how many weeks are left until break, you’ll be more in the moment and less homesick.

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5. Take Care of Yourself

When you are strung out and frazzled, all of your emotions are more intense. Remember to get enough sleep, exercise, eat healthy food and drink water so your physical state doesn’t negatively impact your mental state.

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6. Trust Yourself

You moved away for a reason! Remember why you chose BU and the things in your hometown that you wanted to move away from. Also, keep in mind that the things you miss are probably being exaggerated in your brain.

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7. Keep Company

Whenever you feel that sad feeling, ask someone to lunch! Create your own little BU family. Also, it’s not weird if you ask someone out in a class or in a club that you don’t know that well. People want to make new friends! Don’t worry about it 😉

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8. List it Up!

Make a list of the things and people you miss at home. When you go home for break, try to hit all those things so you don’t miss them as much when you come back.

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Keep in mind that it is natural to miss your home. Whenever you feel sad, try to think of it as feeling thankful. Your home is completely yours; it is part of your personality and upbringing and that’s amazing!

To end this, I’m going to quote an incredible movie, Brooklyn. “Homesickness is like most sicknesses. It will pass.”

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Sydney: The Different Stages of Studying Abroad

Hola from Madrid! I am currently taking classes and interning in the beautiful country of Spain through the Madrid Internship Program. Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity that brings out many different emotions. After also participating in the Dublin Internship Program this past summer, I have observed and experienced the various feelings that come with living overseas. Here are all the relevant stages and emotions during your time abroad:

Nerves

The idea of living in an unfamiliar country that is so far away from friends and family can be pretty nerve-wrecking. These nerves are extremely normal and valid; you are about to embark on a huge adventure and there’s no way you can know what to expect.

Excitement

Along with nerves comes tons of excitement. Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and there are so many things to be excited about: traveling to new places, trying new food, meeting new people, and so much more! Once you arrive to the city, you will be excited to explore and take everything in.

Overwhelmed

After the excitement of the first few weeks settles in as you begin classes and your internship, it is very common to feel overwhelmed. Although it would be great if studying abroad was one big vacation, you are there to study, go to class, and work. General school stress that you feel in Boston will also affect you abroad. Additionally, you may be overwhelmed about being so far from friends and family. However, it is very easy to overcome these feelings by relying on your peers in the program who are experiencing the same emotions, as well as distractions such as constantly traveling and exploring new places.

Comfort

After about a month or so of living somewhere, you find comfort in the new city with your new routine and friends. By the time I left Dublin, everything was so familiar and I felt as if the city was my home. After already living in Madrid for two months, I am extremely comfortable with my host family, friends, and the city in general. I am so excited that I still have so much time left!

Bittersweet

As your time studying abroad comes to an end, you experience many mixed emotions. For one, you will be upset that such an amazing experience is almost over. However, you are content with all the time you had getting to know and explore the city. Even though you wish it was longer, you have a bunch of new, extraordinary memories.

Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that teaches you so much about different cultures and ways of life. If you have the time in your schedule and opportunity to do so, go abroad! You will not regret it.

Lilah: The COMedy COMmunity

Over the last week, my improvisational comedy troupe, Liquid Fun, has been touring Chicago’s vast comedy scene. At Boston University, the comedy community welcomed me under its wings during the first few months. Since then, it has been the core of my social and academic experience. It always surprises me how many of us are in the College of Communications. Many of us, like myself, are Film and Television majors. I believe this is because comedy, specifically improv, crosses over with the television degree to a large extent.

In Chicago, we frequently attended shows at Improv Olympic, known around town as iO.

Here, we saw the best of the best in terms of on-your-feet creativity and humor. It was very inspiring to see how successful people got at such a weird art form. I love improv, but it is extremely odd. I would not consider myself a great screenwriter, but improv helps a lot. For me, coming up with a script premise is extremely hard. However, I create about 10 scenes every time I have practice. So, it does push your creative side and forces you to form full story arcs within a short period of time.

Most of the players in these shows were pursuing acting, writing, and other careers related to film. I am thankful for the close relationship between TV, film, and comedy. I feel like, being in the comedy community, I also have a community of people within the TV/Film world that I can depend on in the future, either as friends or colleagues.

I will now gush about improv. Only having done it a year, I can feel that my personality has changed drastically, and for the better. Improv allows you to shed any hesitation you might have, and to go forward no matter what. This is extremely important when it comes to the entertainment business. When you are confronted with a situation that needs to be dealt with, it’s important to be able to stay calm, and to improvise. Because, and this is the truth (maybe not, I’m young, who knows), no one really knows exactly what they’re doing. So, being able to make do with whatever is in front of you is crucial in order to progress.

Aside from the business talk, I really do love improv. It is an amazing “sport”/”art” that is open to anyone who wants to try. In Chicago, there were events every night for the public. I have never laughed so hard, so many days in a row. That is why being in the comedy community is so integral to my life here at BU. I could not imagine not laughing as much as I do. When life is getting kind of rough, say, during finals week, you can depend on practice to lighten your day. No matter what is weighing you down, when you are doing improv, you let it I am utterly thankful for the friends I have made, and I cannot recommend these clubs enough for people coming to BU.

If you are coming to BU, or if you have already been at BU, and you have any inkling to do any sort of comedy, PLEASE DO! It is the best decision I have made here, and it will definitely continue on into my career. You will grow lifelong skills and values, and you will make friends that will challenge your wit and creativity. In COM, you will be surrounded by people who are involved in many of the groups on campus. The two work beautifully hand in hand, and it will serve you well as you progress in this track!

Maddy: 7 Things to Daydream About On Your 8-Hour Bus Journey Back To BU (too niche?)

As Spring Break comes to a close, and the crippling weight of your postponed responsibilities comes crashing down on your shoulders once again, it’s helpful to pinpoint some things to look forward to for the rest of your semester! So close your eyes, take a deep breath, put your sweatshirt on because this bus is colder than a freakin’ Boston winter and your overhead air conditioning is stuck on full blast, put your earbuds in because you bet that baby will be screaming for the entire ride, and imagine these beautiful BU treasures that await you.

The Friendliest GSU Employee Ever To Exist

Source: Adrianna Diaz/Daily Free Press Staff

The main thing to look forward to upon your return to BU is a smile and a “how are you, my friend?” from the nicest woman alive, who just happens to work as a cashier at the GSU. You can be sure that she will make a friendly joke about whatever food you’re buying, which you will only catch the tail end of because you were struggling to put your ID back in your pocket, you clumsy fool. Then you will bid her a great day because she truly deserves one and you will have seven years’ good luck.
Pavement Coffee House

Source: The Odyssey

Another thing you’ve surely missed over spring break is Pavement Coffee House, the best study spot known to man. Though you haven’t missed doing homework, you know it’ll be so nice to sip your Cinnamon Fig latte and listen to cool alternative playlists while you slave over your reading assignments.
The College Comedy Scene

Source: ME!

Source: Danya Trommer

BU’s comedy scene is always something to look forward to! Pictured above are two of the funniest people I have ever met: Fellow CA Hannah Schweitzer (COM ‘21), who performs with BU’s premiere improv troupe Liquid Fun; and Danya Trommer (COM ‘21) who kills at Stand-Up Club! In fact, Hannah will be making her Liquid Fun debut in their show on March 16th, and Danya and I are competing in BU’s Funniest, a stand-up comedy competition that will determine which student will open for the famous comedian who comes to perform at BU! So many things to look forward to!
President Brown’s Rolling Briefcase and Whatever Secrets It May Contain

Source: Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Dolla bills? Spare mustaches? An L.L. Bean Pop Up Shop? The possibilities are endless.
Butv10 Servin’ Up Industry-Standard Realness

Source: Cydney Scott

COM is known for providing top-notch resources to its students, including industry standard equipment for students to rent out or use to FILM THEIR OWN TV SHOWS. (I know.) Butv10 is BU’s TV station, and we write and film actual episodes of shows like Bay State, the longest-running college soap opera; Pals & Friends, a sketch comedy show that I write for; and Co-Ed, a mockumentary (comedy) show that I also write for! Hooray!
Squeezing In Time For Einstein’s Bagels Between Classes

Source: Unknown but I got it off of the BU Dining page

No line is more worth the wait than the one for Einstein’s Bagels in the CAS basement, which often extends down the entire hallway. But do you know who’s going to wait as long as it takes for a hot bagel and coffee even if it means being 5 minutes late to class? You are. Why? Because you DESERVE that shmear of honey almond cream cheese on a toasted asiago bagel.
Rhett’s Weary But Smiling Face As He Waddles Through The GSU

Source: Kristyn Ulanday

The fabled terrier Rhett is reclusive, but on occasion a few lucky BU students with a keen eye will be able to spot the creature as he is essentially dragged through the GSU link. He’s so tired but so adorable. Will you be the one to offer a nice warm lap for him to nap on? Maybe. Rumor has it that if you let Rhett nap on your lap he will grant you 3 wishes and 40 convenience points. That’s enough for two whole loads of laundry.

Shaun: Sword making, or, the Importance of a Major/Career-Related Extracurricular

My high school track coach always said that freshmen were like the beginnings of a good sword: useless, worthless hunks of metal. They have no idea what they want to do, he would tell us, much less what they should or should not do. So they try everything; things they’re good at, things they’re definitely bad at, and everything in between. Freshmen are stupid, he said — and that’s what makes them great. They take the biggest risks, and they fail most of the time, and they really consider quitting. But once they find that thing that makes them come back for another day, either because they’re good at it or because they love it or both, it makes all the stupid first-year pragmatism worth it.

At this point it’s time to start making the sword, and the worthless, first-year piece of metal gets thrown into the fire. Day in and day out the metal is casted and molded, then casted and remolded again, until it’s strong enough to be brought out onto the anvil. Now the metal is hammered out, then it's plunged into ice water, then hammered again, and again, until a sword is finally taking shape. In time the metal is remarkably strong, and it starts to be sharpened. Subtle and precise refinements form the edges that make the sword so effective and powerful. Some four years later, it’s spring of senior year, and what was once a shapeless clump of metal has been forged into a tool of absolute and utter destruction. The process was lengthy, and it was difficult. But it pays off. The result is something unstoppable, something purposeful, and above all, something of which you’re incredibly proud.

Sword-making is a really good metaphor for track and field, but I think it’s a really good metaphor for college, too. Freshman year on campus is the time to embrace the hunk of metal status. It’s the time to try everything, and be bad at things, and be stupid, because that’s the only way to find your thing. For me, that thing was The Daily Free Press; for you, it could be literally anything (we’re at BU, people — don’t tell me you can’t find an extracurricular). And once you have that thing, throw yourself into the fire. If you’re already in the fire, keep throwing yourself in. Hammer yourself into shape. Sharpen your edges with internships and study abroad and classes you love. Four years will go by in a blur. But you’ll come out of this workshop we call Boston University a tool of destruction ready to conquer your field and, if you’re feeling up to it, the entire freaking world.

And please, don’t be afraid of failing. The fire will always be there.

xoxo,

Shaun

Laurel: NYFW Essentials

New York fashion week has come and gone, but its trends will last forever...or at least for the spring season.

Whether you care about staying on top of the trends or not, we are all sucked into the rabbit hole of the aftermath of fashion weeks around the world. You may think you are being original when you buy 90’s wear at the store, but the only reason it is being sold to begin with is because of the influence of these major designers. It’s a never failing and everlasting marketing mastermind that has been constructed and tailored by the fashion industry.

So, since it’s not going anywhere and we are never going to stop buying clothes why not embrace it? Here are the top trends from fashion week and a guide of how to take the runway and make it wearable. We all know, thanks to celebrities like Lady Gaga and Rhianna, sometimes runway outfits can be a little....out there so I've given you some ideas on how to transform them into your wardrobe.

First things first, gone are the times of your jeans being the dreaded and uncomfortable wardrobe essential and welcome to the bold statement pant. Otherwise known as “fancy pants” quite literally, these are anything from jeans to embroidery, fringe, flare or even ruffles. On the runway, you may find sheer or even two different colored legs and if that is a little too far out of your comfort zone, stores like Anthropologie and Madewell have you covered with some spiced up basics.

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Moving on we have a personal favorite of mine...pastels. Who doesn’t love a good color scheme and a color coordinated wardrobe? You may laugh now but when you tailor your wardrobe colors to complement each other your outfit possibilities multiply. On the runway, you may find head to toe one solid and baggy pastel ensemble but stores likeAritzia offer a more refined and sleek look for everyday wear.

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Next up we have bright bold and the way to tell when someone over edited their Instagram picture...saturated! This is a fun twist to include in your spring wardrobe and especially as we start itching toward those summer months and beach vacations. What better way to daydream about a tropical oasis then dressing like you’re already on vacation? If all saturated isn’t your thing try bold tops with a basic pant or vice versa. If bright is your enemy but you want to stay #hip then opt for a colorful statement jewelrypiece instead.

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Finally, one of my personal favorites—fringe! Fringe is the new black if you ask me. Now this one can be done in many ways. Wear it head to toe like the runway models or get a ~fringe-y~ bag or accessories. Either way you’re going to look like the coolest kid on the block!

Fashion Week 4 Earrings

Now, go forth fashionably.

Sophia R: Scores to Survive Studying

Finding somewhere to buckle down during exam season is important, but what do you listen to once you're there? I love film scores for when I need to focus and do some work. Scores are made to be driving, but not distracting, and sound great! Picking out the perfect study soundtrack can be daunting however, and searching the depths of Spotify for that one score that motivates you out of the hundreds of movies out there is an easy route to procrastination. Never fear, CA Sophia is here! I've found some of my favorite scores to keep you motivated no matter what you're doing.

1.) Thor: Ragnarok:

The score reflects the movie, and with upbeat electric steel-drum vibes, Thor: Ragnarok's score is as much fun as the film itself. This score would be great for when you need a quick energy boost to power through the end of a project.

2.) The Grand Budapest Hotel:

Wes Anderson's scores are as quirky as his movies, and with a mix of yodeling and rhythm the Grand Budapest Hotel is no exception. The score doesn't change much in cadence or volume, so if you thrive in consistency this is a great score for you!

3.) Pacific Rim:

Just as the movie Pacific Rim asks who doesn't love giant robots, the score asks who doesn't love electric guitars? One exciting riff later and you've got the rock-and-roll score to power through any paper.

4.) Whiplash:

Sometimes you just want some jazz. More traditionally musical than the other scores on this list, Whiplash serves up smoother tunes and some bigger band bops to keep you on track.

5.) Speed Racer:

You may remember Speed Racer from its brief partnership with the candy baby bottle pop, but what you should remember is the absolute banger of a score it provides. Big band meets classic rock meets the fast and the furious, Speed Racer will help you close the gap between you and the finish line in no time.

There are tons of other fantastic scores out there, but that's all for me! Good listening folks!

Jon O: Looking to See Movies? I Got You Covered.

I've always considered myself to be a bit of a movie nut, and nothing compares to watching film on the big screen. I frequented my hometown theater back in New Jersey so much that they knew me by name, and as soon as I got to Boston I knew I had to find my spot for the next four years. But what I didn't realize was that there are so many different ways to go see movies in Boston. So if you're like me and are sick and tired of watching movies on your tiny laptop screen, here are some different ways to get out and see films in Boston.

If you enjoy the big multiplexes with huge screens, nice chairs, and tons of food options, then you got some options. AMC Loews Boston Common is the biggest theater in town and is located right in downtown Boston. It pretty much shows every big hit thats in theaters at the time so you can always find something to watch. Its also super easy to get to from campus; you just hop on the green line and get off at the Boylston stop and its right across the street. Regal Cinemas Fenway is very similar to AMC only a little smaller, but its within walking distance from BU's campus so its a great spot to go to as well.

Boston is also full of theaters that show independent, international, classic and films. If you're trying to get away from the big blockbuster flicks, these are the spots for you. Check out the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline if you want to feel like you literally walked into an old black and white film. The theater has been around since 1933 and has been maintained to look exactly like it did when it first opened for business. They are always showing really interesting selections and do a ton of special screenings for classic movies (just this past year I've seen midnight specials of Donnie Darko and The Shining) and host a ton of other unique events. They also have some screening in their main theater on 70mm, which is really cool if your a film geek like I am. If you're feeling like adventuring out of the BU area for a cool showing like this, check out the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, which is a one-screen theater that airs classics and independent movies as well.

If you really don't want to go off-campus to catch a movie (or don't want to pay for one), don't worry, BU can always hook you up. The university occasionally does special screenings for in-theaters movies for free, so make sure you keep a look out for those when they come up. If you're ever free on a Friday night, you can also go down to Cinematheque, which is a series of screenings, meetings and talks with film-makers that is open for all BU students and totally free. Cinematheque happens every week at 640 Commonwealth Ave.

With all the screening going on around the city, you'll never have a night where there isn't something you want to watch in theaters. Happy movie-going!

- Jon

Nick: 10 Things I Wish I Knew as a BU Freshman

I only have a little more than two months left on Comm. Ave. as a student, and as exciting as that may seem, it’s also pretty daunting. No less daunting, though, than first arriving on campus as a freshman. The feelings I’m having now as I look for my first job are the same ones I felt in the fall of 2014 – anxious, scared, uneasy, unsure. But not to worry. If you’re new to BU, I’ve got some tips for you. Below are 10 quick tips I’ve picked up along the way that I think would be useful for any BU freshman, or any BU student for that matter.

1. Get a semester T Pass

You may think, “Oh, Comm. Ave. is walkable, I’ll never need to take the T.” Wrong. As unreliable as the MBTA is, it’s indispensable for any BU student. Especially now that I live in West campus, taking the T to COM on a time crunch is the way to go. It’s cheaper than buying a pass every month, and if you plan on doing a lot of traveling around the city, it pays for itself quickly. Be on the lookout early, though. I’ve missed the deadline a few times because it’s just before the semester starts.

2. The “freshman dorms” are your friends

I was unsure about Warren Towers and West campus when I first arrived at BU, but I shouldn’t have been. I spent my first year in a brownstone on Bay State Road, and while I loved that space for its peace and quiet during study time, I made my best friends at Warren and spent a great chunk of my free time there. Being on a floor with so many of your classmates is super valuable – make the most of it. Keep your door open and don’t be afraid to make new friends.

3. Join BU On Broadway

One of my only regrets about my college career is that I didn’t join BU On Broadway sooner. It’s an amazing group with amazing people, and the perfect outlet for any theater geek to continue their high school passion in college. Semesters only get busier when you become an upperclassman, so make the most of your free time as a freshman and get onstage.

I joined BU On Broadway sophomore year, but would do anything for more time performing in Tsai.

COM swipe access is a major key
Though COM students now have access to the entire Adobe Suite, if you’re like me, you prefer to do your editing in COM. I bet you’re thinking, “But I thought COM closes at nine, Nick…” And while that’s technically true, with swipe access you’ll be able to get into COM later and finish any work. Just get a professor’s sign-off and go see the tech-guru himself, Brad Fernandes in room 102. You’ll thank me later.
Don’t be afraid to take classes in other colleges
With the BU Hub on its way, taking classes across colleges at BU has never been more attractive for COM students. I only took the necessary classes outside of COM to fulfill my major and minor, but I know there are a few classes in CFA I would have loved to explore. Don’t make the same mistake. And thanks to BU’s pass/fail policy, you really have no excuse not to take that music theory course you’ve been eyeing.

6. 26th floor of Stuvi2 & 6th floor of Mugar are ideal study spots

This one took me awhile to perfect, and while I’m ashamed to admit it, I hadn’t studied in Stuvi2 until junior year. The views of the Charles River and downtown Boston from the 26th floor are truly the best in the entire city. And the sixth floor of Mugar is one of the only places in the library that isn’t constantly packed. I don’t mind the view from up there, either. Hey, it beats studying in your dorm.

The views atop Stuvi2 are stunning, and the location also makes for an ideal study spot.

Take advantage of all the great events BU has to offer
In just the past month, I’ve seen Obama’s White House photographer and took part in a discussion about media in the age of Trump featuring the executive producer of POLITICO podcasts. This is just a sampling of some of the events going on around campus that interest me, and things are happening every day. During my freshman year I generally kept my head down and studied, and while there’s a time for that, be careful not to miss some of the extraordinary opportunities here through COM, the Howard Thurman Center and BU at large.

8. Don’t miss the Power of Narrative Conference

Journalism majors and anyone who loves a good story – this is a must. Every march BU hosts this unique conference featuring some of the finest narrative journalists in the world. It’s an opportunity to meet industry leaders and strengthen your storytelling skills. This year’s guests include ESPN’s Don Van Natta (BU alum), Emily Steel of the New York Times and longtime NYT feature writer Sonny Kleinfield.

9. U-Grill is a Hidden Gem

Though it’s only about a three-minute walk from COM, it took me until sophomore year to discover University Grill & Pizza. It’s one of the best places on campus for a quick bite. The chicken parm is my go-to, but their menu is full of cheap and tasty opstions. The service is fast, the food is always hot and the folks working there are super friendly – always willing to talk some Boston sports. (Sadly, no convenience points accepted.)

10. Apply to be a COM ambassador

The COM ambassador program has been one of my best experiences at BU. It has introduced me to so many incredible people, and I’ve even mentored some incoming freshmen through the program that have become great friends. Being involved with open houses, giving tours to prospective families and writing these blogs has given me a whole new appreciation for my school. APPLY APPLY APPLY! You’ll be glad you did.

The senior COM ambassadors - smiling because in this picture we still had a year left in COM.

Malaika: Advice from My Mentor

At sixteen, I, like most people my age, had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. For a long time I believed I was destined to be a constitutional lawyer. Heck, I even had a concrete plan: read, study, get a history degree, go to law school, then finally make a difference. Yet no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, I couldn’t imagine a future with my nose buried in volumes of case books and legal dictionaries. Nope, not me (a girl who can barely finish a Netflix series).

In all honestly, I only wanted to be a lawyer because Drop Dead Diva made it look cool (yup, that’s right, I chose my career based on a Lifetime Network television show. YIKES!). After some much needed soul searching, I decided I would never pursue a job I didn’t feel passionate about. As it turns out, the thing I was most passionate about was television shows themselves, not just the lawyer characters within them. I love TV. I love consuming it. I LOVE talking about it.

To get a feel for the entertainment industry, I flew out to New York to participate in a film, journalism, and digital media program. Although I was nervous to travel across the country for this, it ended up being one of the best and most life-changing experiences. Why? Because I met Mariana, a BU COM alumni.

Mariana is not your run-of-the-mill person. She’s all encompassing with a magnet personality. Anyone who speaks to her for even one second would walk away with a giant smile on her face. She convinced me that life is best lived when you can say you have no regrets. At a time when I needed guidance, she was there to support me in every way possible. After leaving New York, her and I kept in touch. When my college application process began, I reached out to her for advice. Her response to me is ultimately what solidified my decision to apply and enroll at BU. She convinced me to come to this great school and pursue a degree in Film and Television instead of History.

Now, with one semester in my pocket, I couldn’t be more grateful for her influence. It’s crazy how a few nuggets of wisdom from a mentor can alter your goals. For anyone reading this in need of some sound advice, here are some thoughts from Mariana on her experience at COM:

College is over before you know it. Your grades will (likely) not matter. Your work ethic is what lasts. How you do one thing is how you do everything. You need to work hard to make things happen. If you're proactive, you'll be fine. If you're not, you better start. That was such a big thing everyone at COM said, if you want something, you're going to need to work for it and achieve it, handouts are slim and the industry is tough. Best believe I was the first one grabbing those c-stands and kino flos. I also thought that because I didn't "know" anyone in film or because my parents weren't in "the biz," I'd have a disadvantage. But the best connections are those around you, your classmates. I am still helping out BU peers and friends on sets and projects, have gotten job interviews because of them, and know I can turn to them for any advice.

I meet BU alum EVERYWHERE. You're coming up together, you're going to be each other's' best support system and encyclopedia. Concerning internships, I got my first two internships by compiling a list of production companies in my area (NYC at the time) and emailing them all asking if they needed an intern for the summer. This may not seem feasible to all depending on your financial situation or your proximity to a city, but I negotiated a travel stipend, worked the rest of my days, and gained invaluable experience from doing so.

My cinematography professor left me with this parting advice before I went off to Los Angeles: "Tenacity Trumps Talent." Stick it out because odds are, you'll make it longer and further than those that had more talent than you but got unmotivated or defeated. A tried and true way to life as well: "FAKE IT 'TIL YOU MAKE IT." Most first jobs and internships will be more impressed by a hard worker with an eagerness to learn than someone who has all the "right" credentials. Do you have a vague idea of how to do a job? Then go for it! If you can make an employer feel confident in your abilities when they give you a task, they will be more likely to give you interesting work. As long as you put in the time and keep on learning, one day you'll know enough to teach others!

I hope her advice will appeal to you, as much as it does to me.

Best,

CA Malaika