Josee: How to Endure Study Time

We’ve all done it before. With a quick glance at the homework ahead of us, it’s pretty easy to shrug it off and say: “Nah, I’ll be fine.”

Transitioning into a college environment can be tricky for those new to the rigorous academic expectations that come along with a BU education. Studying can be boring, dry, and somewhat monotonous. So that’s why I thought I’d share a few ways to make your pursuit of higher knowledge a little less painful.

1. Grab a treat to fuel your working mind. Whether it’s a drink at starbucks, warm mac from Cheesology, or a few cookies stolen from the dining hall, having something to munch on can keep the monotony at bay.

2. Make a “rad” playlist. It’s up to you. Whether it’s classical standards or the hottest mixtape, when you’re listening to music you curated yourself, it can keep your mind from wandering as you finish up your statistics problem sets.

3. Pick somewhere new. Boston is full of really awesome spots to just plop down in study. The great room in the Boston Public Library is a great place to read your latest writing assignment while getting some aesthetically pleasing insta posts. Or, head to a new coffeeshop across town for a cuppa coffee and a place to finish your screenplay. A new environment can really motivate you to keep on keeping on.

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4. Study with friends. While there’s definitely undeniable amounts of goofing off, having friends around to explain certain concepts or quiz you can really make the difference between knowing the material and really knowing the material. Grab some snacks, pull up some chairs, and suffer through it all together.

5. Use the resources here on campus. Whether it’s peer tutoring at the Educational Resource Center or your TA’s office hours, having an extra hand to understand the material can be really helpful when you just need a boost. People want you to succeed and are willing to make sure you’re where you want to be.

The term “studying” may not sound too exciting, but it becomes a requirement when you’re here. Nothing’s more satisfying than feeling like you walked out of a test and kicked it’s butt. Find what works for you and reap the benefits. Peace out.

Jen: Remember that Green Day Song About Having the Time of Your Life?

Even though I do not want to admit it (because I don't want to make it real), I am currently in my last semester in Boston. It wasn't until today that I realized just how close the end of the semester is. I saw that I only have one month (!!) left in Boston before I go abroad for the summer and then in the fall for my last ever college semester. As spring is being sprung, and my Boston bucket list is still unchecked, I’m trying to knockoff a lot of the things that I have still yet to do in the city. Some of my bucket list is simple, like going to a concert at Paradise Rock Club. Some of it is ridiculous, like getting to know the person who plays Wally at Fenway Park and knowing the real life of being a mascot for a professional sports team.

Although I spend a lot of my time reflecting what I haven't done, I remember all of the cool things I did do. I will remember all internships, best friends, roommates, nights in ordering pizzas, group chat names, midnight movies, cans of seltzer and all-nighters pulled in Ezratti like they were yesterday. Like the time I...

...saw every one of my favorite bands at all of the Boston Calling Music Festivals I’ve been to.

...ran my first ever half marathon through the city and the Franklin Park Zoo on probably the rainiest day I ever witnessed!

...played Settlers of Catan with some of my best buds until 12:30am at the Knight Moves Cafe in Brookline! (Spoiler Alert: I lost and did not have enough sheep throughout the game).

...went to Sarasota, FL with my best friends (and had a impromptu wedding with CA Sam Gross).

...appeared on Pop Showdown!, where I sadly lost against CA Kreag (okay, I lost by five points, but I’m not bitter)(really)(I am not).

...survived the Snowpocalypse with CA Claudia.

...decided to go to Revere Beach on the coldest, windiest day in May but still danced in the sun like it was July.

...held movie nights and talked way, way, WAY too much about pop culture and movies (specifically, movies about cats) with Sonia! We also ate way, way, WAY too much pizza and ice cream.

...spent a whole summer in Boston and working with orientation with the one, the only, CA Rachel (here we are with Twenty One Pilots tour buses).

...had two classes, two jobs, and too many group chats and seltzers with Kreag and Claudia.
So, if you’re like me and you’re rushing to complete all of the things you’ve ever wanted to do in Boston and at BU. Do not forget to stop and just remember all of the things you have done. Be sentimental and cherish all of your friends and your memories every day. Remember, what you’re going to do is important, but what you have done is even more special.

Hali: Why Theater is a COM Student’s Craft

This past weekend was one of the most hectic and exciting of my semester. Not only did COM Opening House take place on Saturday, April 8th (woo!), but BU On Broadway, my favorite extracurricular, performed Legally Blonde: The Musical.

I’m writing this post because being a part of this show has been one of my favorite experiences I’ve had at BU. We sold out multiple performances, which is a big deal in a 500-seat theater! Several other COM Ambassadors were also involved, both onstage and behind the scenes.

To those who know me, it’s no surprise that I’m obsessed with BU On Broadway. My experiences performing, producing, and serving as treasurer have been some of the most valuable ones I’ve had in my time at BU. On Broadway even helped me decide to minor in arts leadership and hopefully apply my public relations education to the arts world one day. I can’t wait to serve as President next year!

At COM Open House, each CA had to share their favorite extracurricular. As I hinted before, an overwhelming number of us are involved with On Broadway. This weekend, I’ve tried to figure out why so many COM students are drawn to performing arts extracurriculars. Performing in Legally Blonde helped me figure out an answer. COM students are drawn to theatre because it is the ultimate form of collaboration. A show can’t happen without actors working together, without a creative team coming up with a clear vision, or without techies working diligently behind the scenes. In any given show, countless people are taking their unique skills to make a beautiful production come to life. It’s the same type of collaboration that occurs when a group of students work together to make a film, when students brainstorm campaigns for AdLab clients, and so on.  When a show finally comes together, it’s one of the best feelings in the world. This feeling wouldn’t be achievable without the hard work of the entire cast, crew, and creative team.

At COM, we love to tell stories. That’s exactly what we do in theatre. The skills that I’ve gained from working in theatre have helped me tremendously in the classroom, and I’m certain they will help me even more in my career.

Oh, and if you missed Legally Blonde this weekend, be sure to catch BU On Broadway’s Godspell in the Student Theater April 27-29!

Grace: Get Out and Enjoy the Sun: Ten Ways to Explore Boston this Spring

Harsh Boston winters can make even local gals like myself feel blue. After months of heavy snow, slippery sidewalks, and frosty winds, I too look forward to flip-flops and short-sleeve shirts. Lucky for us, Boston springs are full of exciting activities for everyone. Whether you're a music junkie or a sports fan, Boston has it all.

While my personal favorites include activities outside of Boston, there are plenty of ways to have fun inside the city. With a forecast that appears to warm up in the near future, here are my favorite ways to explore both the city and the state of Massachusetts this spring:

1) Walk the Freedom Trail

2) Listen to your favorite music artists at Boston Calling Music Festival

3) Kayak on the Charles River

4) Picnic with a friend in the Boston Public Gardens

5) Watch the Boston Pops perform at the Hatch Schell 

6) Ride the commuter rail up to Rockport, MA to swim at the beach

7) Take a hike at Blue Hills Reservation

8) Visit Cape Cod for the weekend

9) Watch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park

10) Visit the New England Aquarium and go on a whale watch

Samantha: Study Abroad Emotions

When you’re preparing for a semester abroad, it feels like you have all the time in the world. How will you pack clothing for four months in one suitcase? Which “must-do” lists are worth keeping in mind? How will you arrange your semester so you can try every cafe/see every museum/attend every musical all at once?

It’s stressful but exciting, and once you get to your destination you feel free. In my case, arriving in London brought about many emotions, but mostly that of anticipation -- what will this semester hold? Now that I’m nearing my final weeks in the UK, I’ve come a long way since that initial anticipation. This semester has had ups and downs, so I present to you, a timeline of what it’s like to study abroad, month by month.

(the very end of) January

Wow! Look at you! You are living independently in a different country! And using the £! And taking the Tube! Maybe someday, you won’t need a map! So much to do! Get those to-do lists going! LONDON!

February

The dust has settled, and London feels more and more like home every day. Maybe you just booked your first EasyJet flight and coordinated train travel all by yourself. Or reserved an AirBnb. How independent of you! You aren’t stressed anymore, because you know you still have so many months ahead of you.

You finally have your favorite restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Maybe the barista finally knows your order? Take it all in, kid. London is finally your city.

March

Heck yeah! You’ve traveled a bunch by now, and are finally kicking butt at your internship. Your days are full, and you finally feel like a full-on Londoner! How will you ever leave?

That being said, the stress starts to sink a little bit by now, and you might start to panic that you won’t get to see everything that was on your list so many months ago. You start to methodically schedule your weeks -- restaurants to eat at, museums you haven’t been to, shows that are leaving town all too soon.

April

You are starting to accept that in the very near future, the time will come to leave. You try to take it all in, enjoying springtime in London. You check off those last things on your to-do list, but mostly try to focus on the present -- the sunny picnic lunches on Primrose Hill, the long walks through Kensington with your new best friends, the laughs you share over lunch with your co-workers at your internship.

“Someday, I’ll come back,” you tell yourself. And how lucky you are to have spent this time abroad.

Sam: How to be the Best Boston Tour Guide

***Disclaimer: In the following paragraph I am not, in any way, alluding to having an excessive number of friends. Not even close. Rather, I am saying that people always want an excuse to go somewhere new, especially if they have a couch to crash on…and I have a couch.*** 

Just like what seems like 50% of the population of BU students, I was born and raised in California where the tacos are abundant and the sun endlessly shines. To my peers at home, moving to Boston was bold and risky, and most of them chose to continue their studies on the West coast. That means that every winter break, spring break, president’s break or long weekend, someone— a close friend, family member or mere acquaintance— reaches out asking if they can crash on my couch and if I can show them around the city. With the experience I have gained from entertaining a plethora of visitors over the last three years, I have finally perfected a foolproof Boston route and am, in my opinion, the best tour guide.

While every tour I give is personalized to the visitor, mine all start in the same place: on campus. If my guest is interested in seeing BU’s campus (like my mom, a prospective student or my best friend) I like to start in central campus and work my way east, making sure to stop by the esplanade and the COM building. If my guest has little interest in seeing BU up close and personal, I hop on the green line inbound to Copley and point out my favorite buildings on the way. 

Copley Square is always my first stop on my tours because of the blend of contemporary and historical architecture that represent the city of Boston so well. I love pointing out Trinity Church and cruising through the Boston Public Library to admire the beautiful building and garden.

From Copley I usually cut over to Newbury Street because it’s always pretty, rain or shine, and has stores and restaurants that can please even the pickiest visitors. Trident Booksellers Cafe and Newbury Comics are two fun, unique stores that I love to show my friends and family.

Next, I walk one street over to stroll down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, a greenway surrounded by trees, which is particularly picturesque during the fall months. This pathway, which exhibits an array of statues of historical figures, leads all the way to the Boston Public Garden, the next stop. 

The Boston Public Garden is beautiful anytime of year, but particularly during the spring and summer when the swan boats float through the lagoon. During warmer months, this is a perfect destination to sit, relax and watch the passersby.

Then, I easily cross from the garden to the Boston Common to take pictures in front of the Massachusetts State House and its iconic golden dome. I then follow the engaging, historical Freedom Trail from the common to Faneuil Hall, where you can pick up a snack in the bustling Quincy Market, do some more shopping or pass through to the next destination.

From Faneuil Hall you're only steps away from the best Italian food in Boston, located in the North End. An authentic pasta dinner is a perfect way to end a bustling day of tourism, or you can continue to the harbor to look at the serene water. After racking up a good 10,000 steps and enjoying some delicious food, this is usually my last stop before making my way back home (via train or Uber).

These are only just a few of the several landmarks and locations that Boston has to offer; alternative or additional tour destinations include Brookline, Fenway, Cambridge, China Town and the Seaport, which can all be tailored to the weather or the preferences of the guest.

Frank: My Favorite WTBU Radio Shows!

The thing I love the most about Boston University is WTBU. That’s not even an exaggeration. The great amount of love I have for our student run radio station cannot be put into words. I’ve had so much fun and have made such great friends through WTBU that I feel like I owe the station in some way. So, as a way of paying WTBU back for all the good it has done in my life, I’m going to share a list of my favorite WTBU shows! This list is in no particular order since I love all of these shows about the same amount, so without further ado here are my favorite WTBU shows:

  1. #illuminaticonfirmed

#illuminaticonfirmed is without a doubt the “wokest” show on WTBU. Every Friday from 8pm to 10pm, their DJs deliver you a daily dose of conspiracy theories in an attempt to “wake you up” from your “knowledge slumber”. In addition to their talks about aliens and cryptids, they also play some experimental music between talk breaks that really helps set the mysterious and otherworldly vibe I love so much about this show. #illuminaticonfirmed is just a joy to listen to; you not only get to hear the most outrageous conspiracy theories and the spookiest of tracks, but you also get to listen to the DJs’ genuine reactions of confusion, shock, and disbelief to them! Tune in every week to find out what’s the newest thing the “big corporations” are trying to hide from us!

https://www.facebook.com/IlluminatiConfirmed-1592524371046187/

  1. Time Signatures

Have you ever wondered how genres of music like blues, house, and jazz came to be? Do you want to discover some more obscure music genres? Well, fret (ha, music joke) not! Time Signatures has got your back. The DJs over at Time Signatures explore different music genres from their roots to their current state, every Saturday from 4pm to 6pm! They not only tackle the more popular genres, but they also talk about more unknown ones like shoegaze! The DJs also do very extensive research on each genre so you’ll not only listen to some nice music, but you’ll also learn about their composition and execution! If you’re a bit of a music nerd like I am, be sure to give Time Signatures a listen!

https://www.facebook.com/tsignatures/

  1. The Blunder Years

Okay, okay, okay, you got me. The Blunder Years makes the list because, well, it’s my show! I was lucky enough to get a radio show on my second semester here at BU, so I kind of want to talk about it for a bit. The Blunder Years is pretty much a confession show. My co-DJ and I talk about those embarrassing moments we had while growing up and how we reacted to them then, and how we would have reacted to them now. It’s not only about us though, we also have a Google Doc on our Facebook page where people can share their own embarrassing stories anonymously so we can read them on air. So if you have any embarrassing story you want to get off your chest, why don’t you send it our way? We broadcast live Fridays from 10pm to 12 am!

https://www.facebook.com/theblunderyears/

WTBU has a great variety of programing. They have music shows, talk shows, and even news shows, so if none of the shows I mentioned interests you, you can definitely find something that suits your tastes. If you like what you hear, consider maybe becoming an intern for one of the shows! After interning on one show for a semester, you can apply for a show of your very own the next one, so if you still haven’t found a show you like on the radio station you can apply to make your own. Also, WTBU isn’t just for COM students; students from different BU colleges can also intern and apply for shows! So, what are you waiting for? Come and join the best thing BU has to offer: WTBU!

Laura: How I Decided What I Want To Do With My Life

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something that would allow me to use my creativity. I have been keeping a journal since 7th grade and my love for writing grows more and more each day. When deciding what to study in college I stumbled across the field of communications and all of the stars were aligned. I like to talk to people, write, use creativity and think about what makes a good brand or campaign. Everything pointed to public relations and I was ready to go. 

After taking COM 101 in the fall and studying the public relations chapter I questioned if that career choice really was for me. That was when I turned the page to the next chapter in the textbook- and my love for advertising began. After reading about how far the advertising industry has come and different famous ad-campaigns that have shaped consumers’ minds I was hooked. I started to think back on why I never feel the need to skip commercials while I am watching TV, or why I love flipping through magazines and everything became so clear.

This spring, I am taking a nutrition course through Sargent College and while I am admittedly not the best at the science behind it, I realized the need for health and wellness advertising. My professor showed the class a video (featured below) about the marketing behind the healthy food market and I had a mile wide smile planted on my face the entire time.

After watching this video and realizing the excitement it gave me (who knew school could be so thrilling?) I finally realized that it is my dream in life to go into the field of health, food, and wellness advertising. This will be the perfect way to use my creativity and also put my love of social justice to use. Sometimes advertising gets the reputation of “messing with consumers minds” and that it “will do anything to trick people into consuming.” I see this specified field as a great way to change that reputation. When I graduate from BU I can only hope that I will be able to work for a team that is able to produce advertisements that raise awareness for diseases, make eating healthy more exciting and that let people know they are not alone if they do happen to have an illness.

Laurel: Anything but Square: Union Square Donuts Review

Union Square Donuts are not anything like your local neighborhood donut shop; that is unless you can find a maple donut with actual bacon on top. Odds are, you won’t. Union Square, located in the Boston Public Market, Somerville, and Brookline, offers its customers a vast array of decadent flavors that will keep people begging for more. Anywhere from coconut to sugar raised to seasonal flavors such as orange cardamom and poppy seed—Union Square has it all!

I have brought every family member who’s come to visit me to Union Square and every reaction is the same—they fall in love. My aunt even took a box home to the rest of her family so Union Square ended up in California!

My previous visits had been about the enjoyment of eating a donut, but this time I went to perform a formal taste test so you all can indulge with confidence!  I brought my friend along with me, a notorious picky eater, so if he was impressed, we can all rest easy. I was tempted to walk on the wild side and try the Boston Cream donut, but my childhood roots pulled me to the birthday cake, a classic cake donut with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles. Justin, my trustworthy companion, opted for the classic sugar raised, a donut tossed in cinnamon sugar. We were both thoroughly impressed at the lightness of the donuts; they were not dense and did not leave you feeling stuffed with carbs. The chocolate was rich and flavorful and the cake donut had the classic texture and consistency. The sugar raised was light and fluffy with the perfect coating for flavor. Overall, we were very impressed and already planning our next trip.

Union Square prides itself on their unique in-house recipes using wholesome ingredients to make fresh donuts daily. Their care and attention to detail is evident in every bite! Go forth and explore the upscale world of gourmet donuts in your local New England.

**Aside from fancy flavors, Union Square offers vegan donuts to accommodate donut lovers of all dietary needs. **

Lauren: Extracurriculars are the New Classroom

As an associate editor for the Daily Free Press and an editorial intern for BU Today, some would think I have more experience than I actually do. No, I don’t have a degree in communication or journalism (yet). No, I haven’t even had internships with big name newspapers (yet). I’m just your lowly BU student journalist with five or some years of actual journalistic experience behind me.

Having the primary idea that I would succeed as a neurologist, I took my slight disgust at seeing the inner human body as a sign that it wasn’t the right path for me. Though I stopped have this career aspiration only as a high school freshman, I felt like I had no direction, jumping to find different passions in music, psychology and photography, but nothing stuck.

I happened upon journalism on accident, joining my high school’s Journalistic Writing course when I begrudgingly found out that I couldn’t fit a photography class into my freshman year schedule. But I stuck it out, relishing the experience rather than resenting it. When I made the decision to pick up journalism as a career out of the blue, I knew the only proper journalistic thing to do was to get more research and experience.

But what did I know? The only paper I’ve ever written for was my high school newspaper, the Oracle, along with some offhand participation in my elementary and middle school paper, the Wildcat Times and the Tiger Tribune, respectively. I'd written for my town's local newspaper as well, but none of my articles would reach a readership higher than a thousand at best. Coming to one of the best journalism schools in the nation was nothing less than daunting to me.

My first day back in September was nothing like I would have ever expected. I was easily able to become a part of the FreeP here, and join a few other journalism things on the side (BUTV10, BU Today, etc.). Despite not having any huge internships behind me, I was given as equal of an opportunity to learn about journalism, in and out of the classroom. While I was still surrounded by former Globe co-op participants and former NBC interns, I wasn’t a fish out of the water here, but I was still a small fish in a big pond.

All fish-related colloquialisms aside, I truly do believe that extra curricular activities truly do prepare you for the professional world of journalism more than you may think. They provide you with helpful connections (and lasting friendships) with people, while exposing you to a journalistic culture that a 50-minute discussion just won't do.

Seeing that I only have been a BU student for a little more than a semester and a half, I still have a lot to learn as the rest of the of my time here progresses. Thanks to the guys and gals here at the College of Communication and beyond, I know that journalism was a good choice to pick up as a career. Sure, I have yet to find a voice and to stop being awkwardly detached in phone interviews. Sure, I sometimes throw in an Oxford comma in my articles on accident. But that all comes with time and practice, something I hope I’ll have in years to come. And though I didn’t know it in the past, I would have much rather taken J-writing over a photography class any day.