COM Ambassador Blog

Laura: An opportunity you may be missing

You know those emails you get at least three times a week about a new event to go to or a speaker that is coming? You might just mark them as read or send them to trash, but I promise you should actually read them.

I attended the BU Career Fair this past month, and believe me I had my hesitations. Though, I am extremely happy that I decided to attend. I printed out copies of my resume, obsessed over what I should wear, put on a lot of deodorant (hey, I am a nervous sweater!) and practiced what would come out of my mouth when I shook the recruiters’ hands.

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From the looks of it, the career fair can be very intimidating. This semester it took place in the Metcalf ballroom on the 2nd floor of the GSU and there was a sea of eager students. When you walk in, team members from the CCD will hand you a sheet with all of the companies at the fair. I marked off the five companies I aimed to meet with, went in with a smile, and reminded myself to breathe. As you can tell, I understand that these types of fairs can be intimidating and you can feel lost at them. I also know that it can be difficult to gage the value of attending a career fair as an underclassmen, but it is never too early to go to an event you receive an email about. Whether it is a networking event, career fair or internship information session because it is always great to practice- so by the time you graduate maybe you will not need to re-apply your deodorant as many times!

I could have never expected how well the career fair went. I ended up making strong connections with agencies in Boston and scheduled interviews for spring internship opportunities. I find that all of the resources available to us including COM Career Services, the COM writing center, Undergrad Affairs and Handshake are incredible. Though, nothing beats the opportunity of getting to present yourself in front of future employers and show what you know.

These are my tips to help encourage you to take advantage of all the events and information sessions that BU and COM specifically have to offer:

Always research the company/ internship program prior to meeting with the recruiters so you can ask specific questions and show your smarts

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Print out copies of your resume and maybe buy a nice portfolio to hold them in- I got mine at staples for $15, but it looks just as fancy

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Write yourself a little note to stay calm

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Try to find some common ground to make a memorable connection (I knew we learned this at orientation for a reason)

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Remember: these companies are attending career fairs and giving presentations at information sessions because they genuinely want college students to come and intern and give insight!

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Never be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and use the resources that are available to you. The opportunities are waiting for you so go out and get them!

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Frank: Midterms

Tired, sleep depraved, but victorious. I’ve done this before, and I did it again. I gazed into the abyss and won the staring contest. I am done with my midterms.

Wow, it feels so weird putting it in text. “Done with my midterms.” But am I really? I mean, yeah, I’m not taking another test anytime soon, but does that mean I’m completely done with them? I wonder what my grades will be. I studied my butt off; I hope I get good grades. Oh, now I’m anxious. I’m gonna be thinking about my grades all week. Oh gosh, now I know for sure: I am not done with my midterms.

I should really find something to take my mind off them. Oh, I know! Music always puts me in a nice, relaxing mood. Let me hop on YouTube real quick... Hmm, what’s this? “Relaxing Pokémon Music Compilation?” Just what I needed! Wow, this music really brings me back… I remember playing these games all the time when I was a kid. Little ol’ Frank capturing monsters and trading them with his friends. Nothing could keep me away from that Gameboy; I just had to become the Pokémon Champion! Haha, I kinda miss those times! I remember having to hand over my Gameboy to my mom when an exam was coming up so I could study without distractions. Oh no, there I go again thinking about exams. I am so not done with my midterms.

Maybe I’m just too tired. This music has really put me in a sleeping mood. Some shut-eye will definitely calm my anxiety. Ahh, this bed sure is comfy. Time to count some sheep and go to the land of make believe. 1, 2, 3, 4, was question 5 true or false? I’m pretty sure it was false. Did I answer false? I’m pretty sure I did not. Maybe it’s actually true? Let me double-check in my notes real quick… Yep, definitely true. Wait, did I really answer false? I think I actually answered true on that one. Yeah, the one before it was the false one. Or maybe I’m just misremembering… Agh, I am 100% not done with my midterms.

Wait, what am I doing? I already took the midterms. I already handed them in. There’s nothing I can do about them now. You know, I gave it my all studying these past few days. I did my very best in those midterms. There’s no use worrying on what might be. Gosh, I’m losing my mind over an uncertainty. Heh, I wonder what little Frank would think of me if he saw me now? Life was so carefree back then, now all I seem to do is worry. It doesn’t have to be that way. I could afford some relaxation time. Some time for myself, some time for fun. I hear there’s a new Pokémon game coming out real soon. I wonder how the new Pokémon look. Maybe I could hit up some of my friends back home, maybe get the game together and trade Pokémon like old times… Yeah, just like old times… You know, I guess I am done with my midterms.

“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.”

-Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

P.S:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BKfhq_TtcE

Samantha: Little known but super fun places to take visiting friends and family

When family and friends come to visit, it’s easy to do some of the same, class “Boston” things over and over again. As a senior, my friends and family are pretty sick of the usual North End dinner, stroll through the Common and Newbury Street shopping spree. After four years of the same things, I’d be tired too!

Now that I’m a “seasoned” Boston resident (or so I like to think), I’ve compiled a list of four new go-tos for when I have loved ones in town. (That aren’t walking on the esplanade!)

Harbor views from the backside of the Institute of Contemporary Art

For a beautiful view of the harbor, head to the ICA in the Seaport district! I like to grab coffee or snacks from the nearby Sorelle bakery and sit on the big, wooden steps that slope down from the back of the museum. Not only is it a pretty view, but the museum’s architecture makes for a great place to relax and catch up.

Walk from BU to Central Square and back

The quickest way to Cambridge (aside from driving) is actually walking across the BU Bridge and into Central Square! Not only is the destination a great place to explore (and eat Toscanini’s ice cream), but the walk showcases some of Cambridge’s gorgeous, older homes and even some really interesting street art.

Night out in the South End

Make a reservation at one of the South End’s chic dinner spots for a nice, slow meal (I recommend Myers + Chang) and end the night with live jazz at the Beehive. It’s a “speakeasy” style bar and restaurant that features live music every single night!

Small theater movie night

There’s something about a smaller, old-fashioned movie theater that can turn a rainy day into a fun one. Try snagging tickets at the Brattle Theater or Coolidge Corner Theatre, both of which show new movies, throwback films and limited release flicks.

Laurel: Food For Thought: Getting Deep in those Philosophy requirements

I sat in the COM advising office, talking to my advisor about the various general requirements I had yet to complete. As he went through the last few that I needed to finish, it never dawned on me that one of those random courses would alter my perspective on life.

This isn’t one of those moments where my life was forever changed and a whole new world opened up. Rather, it was a moment that I had realized what I have been doing wrong since I started as a freshman here at Boston University.

Philosophy 110, Great Philosophers as it’s called on the registration form. I thought it would be easy—I was wrong. I thought it would have no benefit to me—I was wrong. I thought that it would be the least of my worries that semester and that I could fly by focusing more of my energy in my communication classes, where my passion really was—as the theme continues, I was wrong.

When someone asked me how my classes were I described myself as being captivated by philosophy. I never realized that argument was such an articulate and intricate part of philosophical framework. Top it off with most of the philosophers we studied being dead, it left us as a class full of students searching to make sense of the arguments, getting stuck in the loopholes, and trying to put ourselves in the shoes of Descartes to figure out what he really meant by, “I think, therefore I am.”

But, as I said. This isn’t going to be about me preaching how important it is to get to know your professors or the best classes are the ones you enjoy. You should know that, it’s all good advice, but what I’m here to tell you is the best classes, the absolute best lessons, are the ones that tell you everything you are doing is wrong.

Existentialism is the study of the meaning of life. What is the purpose of life? What happens after life? All questions that people yearn for the answer to. Albert Camus gave me no clarification on the deep, forever uncertain questions I have, but he gave me a slap of reality that we are asking the wrong questions. First things first, Camus says its essential to acknowledge your own death and until you do so, you will never fully start living. Okay, so great, I’m telling you that we are all going to die, at some point, in some way, we will all die eventually. But, it gets better (slightly more depressing, but indeed better). It gets better in the sense that we are all going to die eventually and to top it off, life is meaningless. Now, before you freak out on me and tell me that there are plenty of things that give your life meaning, let me try to convince you that you too are wrong.

There is an absurdity that Camus found in life. The absurd is evoked when you recognize that eventually you are going to die, but yet you still fight for a meaning of life. In other words, you recognize the ultimate death we are all faced with but yet you continue to take life too seriously. There is a certain futileness and pointlessness to life since eventually we will have worked so hard for it all to be over. To Camus, and now to me, it is absurd, pointless, silly even for us all to be so caught up in the importance of our lives, so concerned to accomplish some greater meaning and worried about our relevance when we are gone, it is all nothing more than absurd.

I warned you…depressing I know. But now I’m going to cheer you back up. You may be asking yourself how then, do you live a life that is not absurd and that is not pointless? The answer is as simple as it seems, embrace the absurdity. To put it more clearly, recognize. Recognize that you are nothing more than a small speck in a huge world and that this world is just one planet in a solar system positioned in a galaxy of infinite worlds and possibilities and possibly infinite galaxies. In all the spans of history and all the life that has yet to come coupled with the vastness of the universe, our own personal lives are completely irrelevant. We are a speck of matter surrounded by infinitely more matter and infinitely more time. However, if we choose to acknowledge that, if we choose to recognize the silliness of taking our lives too seriously, we no longer live in the absurd.

To put it simply, I know my life will result in death, I am aware of it and I know that all this hard work and stress will amount to my death as well. But because I can recognize it, I am not living an absurd life. The problem with most people is that they take themselves and their lives too seriously. It’s unfortunate, really. Because when you begin to take it too seriously you lose the fun, the light heartedness and the ease that life is supposed to have.

I’m most certainly not saying “don’t work hard” or “forget it all, nothing matters,” but what I am say is: when your life feels like it’s too much stress, you’re too overwhelmed, and it doesn’t seem worth it, you have to remind yourself of the bigger picture, that none of this truly matters in the scheme of reality. What matters is that you enjoy it. Allow yourself to recognize the pointlessness and let that be a source of comfort when you take it all too seriously. It’s not the best solution, but I take it to heart to remind myself “Why the heck am I freaking out about this?” or “Why aren’t I just enjoying myself when that is the only thing I truly have control over?”

It’s not the warm and fuzzy answer I was looking for when I pondered the meaning of life. But I appreciate the bluntness and I respect the reality of the theory. We have very little control over our existence, so take the little we have and enjoy it.

Lauren F: B- in grade, A+ in learning experience

When my professor handed my graded news article back in my JO250 Fundamentals of Journalism class, the common rush of adrenaline filled my body as I reluctantly scanned my paper for common mistakes. Surprisingly enough, there wasn't as many red marks as usual; a few grammar mistakes here, a word choice suggestion there. My hopes were raised as I more confidently turned the paper over to discover my grade.

I went through a turmoil of emotion as I saw a big red A- in a circle crossed out, and a B- replacing it, with the scribbled words "misspelled name" right next to it. My eyes grazed the back page, and I saw the last name spelled wrong, a single letter making up the difference between my letter grade. I sat back in my chair defeated, reasoning to myself that all of the little corrections made on the article wasn't even good enough to earning an A.

After the wave of disappointment and self-loathing passed over me, I tried to reason with myself why I needed to make the most of the situation. I knew that my professor didn't give me a B- because I gave him bad work, the A- —albeit crossed out — was an accurate representation of the work that I handed in. The B- that I received wasn't an accurate depiction of my work quality, but rather my work ethic, in that I didn't take the careful time beforehand to read through my work.

I, of course, went through the process of finding a scape goat for having such a small mistake that I knew would bring down my grade — I only had a midnight deadline, I was restricted on word count, I had to keep track of and spell so many difficult names. But, all in all, the only person I had to blame was myself for not taking those few minutes after finishing writing to read over and make sure that all of the names were correct. Rather, I was filled with the gratification of finally reaching my word count and emailed the story in without a second thought.

While it may seem harsh to drop a whole letter grade for a single misspelling, It was a lesson for the future. As a journalist, there were reporters who could lose their jobs over something as simple as a misspelling of a name. I should've been thankful for losing a letter grade over a misspelled name and not a job at a big name newspaper. Obviously, the article won't do me any favors in terms of my grade, but it taught me a long-term lesson, one that I will definitely carry on with me well-past my time here at BU.

Emily: A very Boston Autumn

The leaves are changing color, pumpkins spice is back, so you know what that means…It’s finally fall! If this is your first fall you’re in luck because Boston has so much to offer. I’ve compiled my ~fave fall affairs~ for you to enjoy!

1. Halloween Horror Marathon

Every year, the Coolidge Corner Theatre puts on a 12 hour marathon of horror movies. They don’t reveal the movie titles until you’re in your seat, so go see if you’re brave enough and check it out!

2. Visit Salem

It wouldn’t be a New England fall without a trip to Massachusetts’ ~spookiest~ town. Plus, a trip to the Salem Witch Museum will put anyone in the Halloween spirit.

3. BU Pumpkin Drop

A classic BU fall tradition is the annual pumpkin drop. The BU Physics Department drop dozens of crazy pumpkins (think paint-filled and dipped in dry ice) from the roof of the Metcalf Science Center. Who knew science was actually cool (and in the fall spirit)?

4. Go Apple Picking

Sure, you could do this anywhere, but apple picking is a staple fun fall activity. Plus, this year BU had an event where they bussed students out to an apple orchard!

5. Head of the Charles

Is may have passed already, but the Head of the Charles Regatta is one of my favorite fall events. Crew is a quintessential New England sport, and it really is exciting to watch (and the Brooks Brother’s tent).

Claudia: What does it mean to go to college with your best friend?

I am extremely lucky to go to college with my best friend in the whole world. My closest and dearest friend from high school, Hannah, is an acting major in the School of Theatre (over in CFA). While I applied early decision to BU, Hannah went through an audition process and didn’t commit until late April. 18-year-old Claudia had no idea she’d be this lucky. In high school, Hannah and I had a radio show called Broadwaves. We exclusively played showtunes and talked about all things theatre. When we were 16, we somehow got to interview (it still baffles me) the Editor-in-Chief of Broadway.com, Paul Wontorek. This show only strengthened our friendship and we ended up bringing Broadwaves to WTBU in 2015.

Fast-forward to Orientation Summer 2014. Hannah and I planned it perfectly and we were in the same session and Common Ground group. Little did we know we would meet our best friends during the Liquid Fun show at Rhett’s Night Out. I was sitting next to fellow CA (and my future roommate/BFF) Jen Masi and Hannah was with her future roommate and bestie Sophie Gore. That was that beginning of some pretty strong college friendships, but also the start of the BU era of Claudia and Hannah.

We have known each other since sophomore year of high school. For those of you who love numbers.. Our friendship started a little over six years ago back in SEPTEMBER 2011!!! That is a LONG. TIME. AGO. And here we are. Seniors in college. Getting ready to graduate. Our friendship has moved from Chicago to Boston and beyond to London and Florence. Best friendship is finding time to see each other even when you are in different countries. I got to see Hannah speak Italian in Florence and we explored Notting Hill together in London (so we are basically Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant).

Hannah and I have never lived together (if you exclude the random month I spent in her apartment last summer). We used to joke about it being a disaster because of our opposite schedules. Even though we didn’t share a tiny double in Warren or West, we still made time for each other. Whether it was DJing on WTBU, going to lobster night, or seeing Hannah perform (or her acting in my projects), we made it work. Even as our lives got busier, and sophomore, junior and now senior year have rolled around, we were still Hannah and Claudia. Even better, we got to meet people outside our respective schools. While I love my COM bubble, I am so grateful for the friendships I have made with those SOT kids. So thank you Hannah.. to not only introducing me to some amazing people, but also helping me cast all my future films *wink*

There are a lot of things you can pull out of this friendship tale: going to college with your best friend from home is a great thing, making friends outside your school at BU is a great thing, or finding time to see your best friend even when school and life get in the way is a great thing. Reflecting back on all of this as a senior in college is telling me a lot of things, but most important is find friends who make change fun and easy. Having Hannah in my life made the transition to college a whole lot easier, but that wasn’t the only benefit. Anytime there has been a big change in either of our lives, we can always count on each other to be there. College is about those long lasting friendships and I can’t believe that my best friend from high school turned into my best friend from BU. Over the past three years, I’ve learned change never stops, but your friends will make any transition a lot easier and will always support you through those changes.

Here are some pictures of me and Hannah throughout the years!

L.E.: It’s Pumpkin Season!!!

I know everyone talks about loving all things pumpkin flavor around this time of year but I was the first person to like pumpkin ever. I know this because I was the first person in my grade to drink coffee when I was a kid. That being said, I believe that my opinion on pumpkin flavored items is vital for others looking to get some pumpkin in their life.

I love Trader Joes because 1. its super cheap 2. they have interesting food that you can’t find at other grocery stores and 3. they love and respect the pumpkin flavor more than everyone in the world. So here are my recommendations to get your pumpkin fix the next time you go to TJs.

1. Pumpkin Cereal Bars

These are the best on-the-go fall snacks. I stock up on these because they’re seasonal and I like them more than the regular flavors.

2. Pumpkin Ice Cream

I have to admit, I’ve only tried this once because I don’t really like regular Ice Cream- I’m more of a fro-yo gal. BUT, the one time I had it, it was super good and I wouldn’t be opposed to having it again!!

3. Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s

I don’t normally buy Oreos, but I went kind of pumpkin crazy the last time I went to TJ’s. I bought these and tried one in line and I was surprised by how much I liked them! They’re a pretty specific flavor in a way that one or two is enough- anymore than that would make you feel sick but that’s good because you won’t eat them all at once!! Self-control towards sweets is key during this time of year.

4. Pumpkin O’s

I bought these during my pumpkin splurge and let me tell you, I AM SUCH A FAN. I had them for breakfast with a banana and almond milk and it was so joyful. I went back the other day to by more and almost pitched a fit because they didn’t have them on the shelves. But apparently they brought them back today and they’re on super sale for a dollar!! You heard it here first!!!

5. Pumpkin Bagels

I’ll admit, I haven’t actually tried these yet but my roommate has them and they always smell so good when she toasts them so am adding them to the list.

6. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread

I have no shame and I will tell you that I enjoy a pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese on the regular and it is 100% not too much pumpkin. Don’t listen to the haters!!

7. Pumpkin Rolls

I’ll admit again that I’ve never tried these but every year I really want to. However, I can’t justify buying a whole thing of cinnamon rolls for just myself. If your down to go in on a can with me please let me know in the comments below.

8. Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix

I made these once, 10/10 would recommend.

9. Pumpkin Frosted Toaster Pastries

I bought these in my pumpkin splurge and I was excited for them. However when I finally made one I was a little underwhelmed. Still good though!

10. Pumpkin Cheesecake

I hate pie but I LOVE cheesecake. This is so good, buy a whole one for just yourself.

11. Pumpkin Spice Coffee

My favorite pumpkin item of the season is ALWAYS pumpkin coffee. I wish so badly I could have it every day of the year but unfortunately they only sell it September- November. I still stock up thought.

12. Pumpkin Spice Almond Beverage

Last, but certainly not least, is this new product from TJ’s. I love almond milk so when I saw that they had Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk I was so excited to try it in my coffee. I add it to my pumpkin coffee every morning and it creates such a rich flavor and it’s always the highlight of my day!

Ethan: How Acting Helped with My Anxiety

Hello, everyone. I’m here to talk about how acting has helped me grow as a person. I don’t think I am a very good actor (I mean, I don’t think I’m too bad, either), but it has been a very big part of my college experience, and it has genuinely helped me with my anxiety.

This is me circa 2009. I was a pretty shy kid. For a while, I had dealt with anxiety (and I didn’t know it until recently (oops)). Since realizing what it was and talking to my doctor about it, I began to try things to combat it. One of the things was acting.

I took an acting class my sophomore year of high school. It was scary. I was the oldest in the class, so I at least had some sense of seniority, but I was still afraid to let go. I was uncomfortable in my appearance, and I didn’t want people to think less of me if I did things that weren’t “cool.”

For reference, this was me sophomore year with my dad and brother.

Thanks to (second) puberty, and some attention to my diet, I am more confident in my appearance. Luckily, this coincided with a time during which my friends and I began messing around with making short films.

This is me now (shoutout to CA Christy).

My friends would often come up with stories to tell, and they would prefer to be behind the camera. This frequently left me in front of the camera and on screen. I quickly became comfortable with it, and I ended up getting pretty into it. I was enrolled in the College of General Studies when I first got to BU. Through this, I looked into extracurriculars to get more involved with film and television. One of the outlets I found was assignments in my friends’ classes.

I was in an ungodly amount of Production 1 films, and I made it into a handful of Production 2 films as well.

https://vimeo.com/142584485

This was one of the Production 1 films. It’s a silent film, but we were able to come up with idea, shoot it, and edit it all within two hours.

During my junior year, two friends and I started a Youtube Channel named COB. We assumed different roles for the channel, and I took on the roles of acting and producing. We set out to make short comedic videos on a weekly basis. Most of the time, we aimed to be absurd as possible while still hitting a bigger audience. Given the content, I often needed to act outside of my comfort zone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z09qe0D5Vsc

This is our Halloween episode from last year.

I, along with some friends, wanted to make a video with a larger production than usual one summer. We came up with a story, launched a Kickstarter that earned $15,000, and flew down to South Florida to shoot the film.

https://vimeo.com/231416121

Due to some unexpected obstacles, I ended up stepping in to play the main character in the film.

This past semester, I auditioned and was cast in the musical Legally Blonde on campus. I was given the role of Kyle, the UPS Delivery Man. This required me to wear short shorts and dance on stage… in front of about 500 people for three different nights. This was objectively the hardest acting I’ve done not because the role demanded too much but because I could see my audience. I was used to having as many takes on camera as I needed, but I only got one chance each night to get everything right - and I could see the people judging that. I may or may not have blacked out every time I went on stage, but I can honestly say that it was one of the most incredible comfort-zone-shattering experiences in my life.

As an anxious and shy person, I didn’t have very many refined social skills. I found that I tended to stay well within my comfort zone, and this didn’t help me grow. When I began to realize this, I took steps to break out of that funk, and one of the most helpful ones was acting. Sometimes acting like a doofus helps you become more comfortable being yourself in front of others.

Alex: How to Cope with Mediocre Internships

I went back home to California this summer after a stellar semester abroad excited to start my new internship. My internship abroad had been everything I could have dreamed of—a cool office, supportive supervisors and fellow employees, meaningful tasks that taught me a lot, interesting and noteworthy clients, Friday Happy Hours (hey, if we’re being honest). After completing an amazing internship, I was positive that my summer internship would be just as fun, educational and welcoming. Unfortunately, my expectations were a bit too high. To make a long story short, my summer internship was not the experience I was hoping for, but I know I’m not the only one who has dealt with an underwhelming internship.

So how do you make a mediocre internship better? Sometimes things can be out of your control, but here are some tips on how to at least stay positive during those tough temporary months in the office.

Keep a smile on your face: You’re probably rolling your eyes at me right now and saying, “Yeah right, Alex, you’re crazy if you think I can even smile for two seconds at this place.” It might be hard, but it’s important to be respectful of the people in your office and not come across as the grumpy intern in the corner who would rather be anywhere else. A positive attitude can really show through in the office and it will make a good impression on your supervisor and coworkers (and maybe a future recommendation?).
Find positives in your work location: This might sound dumb, but sometimes finding a favorite lunch joint around the corner or making the park down the block your go-to lunch spot can give you something to look forward to throughout the day. At my internship this summer, I didn’t have a go-to lunch spot but even acknowledging the fact that my internship was in one of (very, very, very) few L.A. areas with decent free parking was enough to brighten my day.
Make a perfect work playlist: If your supervisor doesn’t mind if you use headphones, make a fun playlist of your favorite songs to work to or new music that you’ve been meaning to check out. Crunching out a press release or online article can be a lot more enjoyable when your favorite tunes are on.
Schedule meetings with your supervisors: If you’re feeling like you’re learning nothing new, schedule a meeting with your boss (or the CEO if available) to discuss the industry. You can’t always control the tasks your supervisors will give you, but talking to them about their experience in the field and any advice they have will at least give some meaning to your internship and help you feel like you’ve learned something. Don’t be afraid to set these meetings up, even if your office is really busy! If a company offers internships, it’s their responsibility to teach the interns and a quick meeting every once in a while will not ruin your supervisor’s busy schedule.
Always bored? Catch up on reading: If you feel like you’re constantly asking your supervisor for tasks to no avail and twiddling your thumbs behind the computer, find some good articles and news to catch up on. BU offers The New York Times and the Boston Globe to students for free so utilize those resources! One of my favorite e-mail newsletters to catch up on news is The Lunch Read, a collection of the best online and viral articles sent to you every Wednesday. Catching up on news and pop culture throughout the day can make you feel like you’re at least learning and doing something—whether or not it’s related to your internship.