Aidan: Branching Out For Second Semester

When I got home for the first Winter Break of my college experience, I reflected upon my first semester as a Freshman with a feeling of great content. I had found a great club (BU On Broadway, a musical theatre group . . . not to push it or anything) that yielded me a wonderful group of friends and an amazing freshman experience. I became so involved in the group time-wise my first semester that I started to think of the opportunities I didn’t take when I started out at BU. To combat this, I decided to make my second semester one of new experiences, clubs, and opportunities. Here is some advice I would give to anybody who wants to freshen up his or her second semester:

1. Give that other club another go.

Remember all the organizations you signed up to join at Splash? Like me, you probably didn’t stick with the majority of activities you went to info sessions for. This second semester, reflect on one standout organization that really impressed you, but you didn’t follow through on. Get info, and give it one more go. It can turn out to be a worthwhile investment of your time.

 2. Don’t be afraid to give it your all

A lot of the groups that will have the most impact on your life will at first seem the most demanding and selective. Also, you may not get the role in the organization that you want right off the bat. That’s okay. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” right? Stick with it. After a semester, people in that group will know you and your abilities, and you will be more likely to be doing the cooler stuff. And a side note: if you know you have the skills to get any job done, make that known, and show them how it is done.

 3. You don’t have to completely abandon what you already know and love

So, you found a great club your first shot at bat in first semester. Dude, that’s totally great, and I feel for you. Just because you want to branch out doesn’t mean you need to leave it behind. Stay involved, even if in a small role. It will keep you engaged and up to date, and means you can return to it full force at some other time and not be rusty.

Kevin: My Top Movies for 2013

In the midst of awards season and with the Oscars right around the corner, it seems like all the talk around COM has been about movies, so I thought I should be a good film student and make my “Top 5 Movies of 2013” list.

5. Captain Phillips

Pretty much anything with Tom Hanks gets my stamp of approval, but this movie really stands out. Going in, I was a little worried the story was going to get the Hollywood treatment and seem too over the top. I was surprised though; while Tom Hanks does come off as a hero, they don’t make him a saint, and I actually even felt bad for the pirates at some point. Barkhad Abdi makes his film debut as the leader of the pirates, and gives one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. The director Paul Greengrass’ shaky-camera style from the Jason Bourne movies is in full effect here, and it works perfectly with the cramped shots inside the boat. For a movie where you know the ending going in, there’s an incredible amount of suspense.

4. Inside Llewyn Davis

I’m usually not a huge Coen brothers fan. I liked True Grit but beyond that, I feel like I just don’t get their movies. Inside Llewyn Davis was another pleasant surprise for me. The music alone is great, featuring Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake, and Marcus Mumford. Some of the tracks are depressing (fair warning, the whole movie is pretty depressing) but some are a lot of fun, like “Please Mr. Kennedy,” JT’s protest song asking JFK not to send him to the moon (yes, it’s as strange as it sounds). The movie is slow, but I was never bored. Personally I feel like it got shorted at the Oscars and deserved to at least be nominated in a lot more categories, if not win them.

3. Frozen

Frozen is fun. There’s no other way to put it. The songs are catchy, the characters are goofy, and I haven’t talked to a single person who didn’t like it. It’s a new take on the Disney princess formula, and the characters are all so quirky and odd instead of being fairy tale perfect, and they completely pull it off. I guarantee you’ll walk out of the theater with a smile on your face, and at the end of the day, that’s what movies are about.

2. American Hustle

I’ve heard a lot of mixed things about American Hustle, people seem to either love it or hate it. I thought it was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. The dialogue was quick and funny, a lot like David O. Russell’s last movie, Silver Linings Playbook. The cast is a who’s-who and everybody does a great job, most of them taking on roles that completely contradict their usual roles. (When’s the last time you saw someone go from Batman to a potbellied comb-over wearing con man so well?) There are lots of twists and turns, and the movie moves so quickly it doesn’t give you time to try and stop to figure out who’s conning who. Think Ocean’s 11 with goofier 1970’s hair.

1. Much Ado About Nothing

Ok so I know putting a black and white Shakespeare movie as my number 1 looks really pretentious but hear me out. Joss Whedon is about the only guy who could go from writing and directing the Avengers to a small project like this, and have both of them be so great. The story behind the movie is almost as good as the movie; coming off the Avengers, Whedon wanted to make a movie with some friends, so he got together with actors he had worked with before and in 12 days they shot the entire movie at his house. The whole movie feels like that too, it just seems like everyone is having a lot of fun instead of worrying about making a nose-in-the-air Shakespeare movie. I’ll be honest, I had to look up some Sparknotes at the beginning, but once it gets going it’s actually really easy to follow and a great movie.

Hannah C: Wicked Proud To Be A Terrier

I’ll just go ahead and let you know—being a student in Boston is wicked pissah. (Translation: really awesome.) Any Bostonian will tell you that, and I surely won’t be the last. If you’re exploring the COM website as I did a year ago, looking for more insight into BU, there’s a few things you should know about what sets BU apart from the rest. First and foremost, BU is located in the heart of the city known not only for its latest World Series win, but also for its reputation as a hub for higher education.

Earning a degree in Bean Town means being in the company of more than two hundred fifty thousand other students.  That’s something only Boston students can say about the city we call our second home. Boston is so widely populated with college students that it has been aptly dubbed America’s College Town.

Living and learning in a college town makes it possible to meet people from a variety of backgrounds. As a freshman new to college and to the city of Boston, I feel so lucky to spend time discovering what makes the city so unique while also finding common interests with students from all over the country and the world.

So far, during my first year, I’ve learned the meanings of New England phrases such as “wicked pissah” and the correct pronunciation of “clam chowder.” (It’s chow-dah). I’ve had the chance to get to know Boston and its residents when I interviewed them for articles for The Daily Free Press, BU’s student independent newspaper.

And at BU, I’ve met people from as close as my own hometown in New Jersey to as far as China, where my roommate calls home. My experiences meeting people at BU and throughout Boston have allowed me meaningful conversations with people I’d never had the opportunity to know otherwise.

Although I’m only one eighth of the way through college, I’ve had countless new encounters with people throughout the city, at BU, and from a dozen neighboring schools. And after countless introductions, I can sincerely attest to the unique pride that comes with the privilege of saying, “I go to Boston University.”

Abby: Trans-Campus Moving

This weekend I moved into a new dorm.  It was a whirlwind week of packing, and unpacking, going from the one Residence Assistant Office to another and calling the BU Housing Office.  But all said and done I’m absolutely in love with my new room.  I’m now living in a brownstone on Baystate Road.  My room is on the backside of the house and my window looks onto the Charles River and the Esplanade.  Because of my class and work schedule, living on the east side of campus is much more convenient than living in West Campus.  Each student is different- the girl that moved out of this room swapped with me so she could live in West Campus to be closer to the gym and her friends that lived over there.

The process I went through to move part way through a semester is called a Pull-In and works like this- If there is a vacancy in a room anywhere on campus then whoever is currently living in that room can “pull-in” someone to fill the vacancy.  In my case my friend was the one moving and introduced me to her former roommate.  We got along really well and she agreed to pull me into the room.  (You can find more information about this and other room change processes at http://www.bu.edu/housing/.)

I had a ton of help from my new housemates to move my things from one end of campus to the other.  Of course I picked the coldest day of the semester so far to move, but they were troopers and I’m so grateful for them.  To move everything I rented a big yellow moving bin from the Residence Assistant office at my new dorm. They are available all year for moving and especially at the beginning and end of the year for move-ins and move-outs.  Then we took it to west campus to load it up and pushed it all the way back up Commonwealth Ave to Baystate.  I’m sure we looked like a traveling circus act.  After that all I had to do was unpack and decorate my new room.  I can’t wait to finish out the semester on Baystate.  It already feels like home.

Kerri: How to Start Your Spring Semester on the Right Foot!

After not having class for a few weeks, it can be easy to fall into a routine of sleeping in, lounging around, and my favorite, being glued to Netflix for hours on end. But with the first week of classes over, so must the relaxed winter break routine. Here are 6 tips to help you get back into the swing of things:

  1. Invest in a planner and/or desk calendar! I am a huge fan of the homework planner and desk calendar. If you don’t own one of these already, this is one purchase I highly recommend! They not only help you to keep organized, but they also make you time conscious and keep you aware of upcoming tests, projects and papers.
  2. Find a new study spot. Finding a new space to study will feel like a fresh start; which is essentially what a new semester is for! If you’re accustomed to spending nights on the 2nd floor of Mugar, try out another floor, or even a totally different building (like the COM Lounge!).
  3. Set aside a certain amount of time for studying, doing homework, and writing papers. I will be the first to say that I am an occasional procrastinator. Reserving a set number of hours per day/week toward your class work will prevent those all-nighters in Mugar filled with coffee and Red Bull. Once you become used to doing work at these times, it will start to become routine!
  4. Get on Twitter! If you aren’t already a big tweeter, it’s time to start! Many professors utilize this media platform to update students on upcoming events, relevant news to their courses, and interesting facts. It is another great way to stay connected to the University and the city of Boston. Even Dean Elmore tweets!
  5. Familiarize yourself with your professors’ office hours. This will only be beneficial to you. I have found, from my own experiences, that when a professor can match your name to your face, you are in a better place than the rest. Displaying interest in your studies and taking the initiative to meet for extra help is always a smart move.
  6. Get involved in something that interests you. Many clubs and organizations are beginning to hold interest meetings for the spring semester for prospective members. Getting involved in an extracurricular activity will also help teach you how to balance your free time with schoolwork.

 

Hanna: Spring Semester Resolution

As I sit on my bed here at home, I am ashamed at how lazy I have been during this Winter Break. The trek to the gym feels like the worst possible idea, and Netflix is roping me in for yet another episode of 30 Rock. I, along with countless other hopeful optimists, have set the New Years’ Resolution to get more in shape this year. We have promised ourselves to never miss a day at the gym, no matter how much our minds fight us against it. Yet somehow this self-promise does not seem to be going too well thus far over break.

Knowing that I will be back in Boston before I know it does provide one last shimmer of hope for my goal to get active. At a place like Boston University, it becomes a lot less difficult to get out and get going. To start, the Fitness and Recreation Center (referred to around BU as “FitRec”) is a hot spot on campus. With four stories of machines, basketball and racquetball courts, dance and fitness studios, an Olympic size pool, a rock wall, and an indoor track, the building has anything the athletes inside all of us could want. FitRec also offers a selection of free classes for students, who are automatically members. My favorites are the Happy Hour Workouts on Friday afternoons. Every week the class is something totally new, and I’ve found myself doing everything from Zumba to Yoga to Tabata Training. Also, any student can add a fitness class onto their academic schedule for actual college credit. When it comes to FitRec, BU students cannot go wrong.

Can’t make it there? No problem! I almost never pass up a chance to run along the Charles River on the esplanade. The path is always buzzing with cyclists, runners, children playing on its many parks, and anyone just searching for a place to enjoy the outdoors. However, there is one problem with running here: sometimes, I use the stunningly jaw-dropping scenery to stop my work out and take a picture or two. So what if my run is a little less intense! I can’t let me Instagram followers miss this, right? Seeing the sunshine over the river, even in the colder winter months, will make any tiring run worth it.

I may just have to change my “New Years’ Resolution” to a “Spring Semester Resolution” because home does not seem to provide enough motivation to get started. Luckily my second home is the perfect place to reboot my fitness, and I cannot wait to get back there and get going.

Kate: How To Dress for the Boston Winter

I have a morning ritual that includes checking my Weather Channel app from the warmth and coziness of my bed.  After a morning delay on campus because of Winter Storm Janis and a few texts from family members reminding me to wear a hat, I was a little nervous to see what today would bring.  High of 8 degrees with the windchill in the double digit negatives.  Woof.  While I love Boston, my answer for the tried and true question "What's your least favorite thing about BU?" is the cold.

In the past, I always traded practicality for dressing cute (i.e. the time I wore cropped pants and loafers when the high was 3 degrees).  However, now that I'm a senior, I've accepted that dressing warm is only thing to get me through the below freezing, snowy, blistery, icy weather that comes with a Northeast winter.  And here are my four rules for survival.

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Rule #1: Invest in a long coat.  I came to college with one of those michelin man, short North Face down coats without a hood and that was potentially the biggest mistake of my young college career.  Not only did I often come home with snow-soaked hair but the wind always found a way to blow up my back which was just not appealing.  Christmas of my sophomore year, I invested in the longer version above and have never looked back.  Pick one with a detachable hood and maybe even a fashionable little waist tie and you'll be happy as a clam.

Rule #2: You can never have enough scarves.  I'm a scarf horder. You can't really see it in this picture but I am currently wearing a massive, knit infinity scarf that has been my life saver in Boston.  Sometimes I walk around with it wrapped over my head and around my face and let me tell you, it is very warm.

Rule #3: Wool socks are back in style.  Freshman year, my dad bought me wool socks and I scoffed.  Three years later, I'm biting my tongue.  I even purchased these J.Crew Camp Socks in every color during an after Christmas sale.  Warmth is always stylish.

Rule: #4: Snow boots are a must.  After three years of pretending that my leather riding boots would get me through winter (shocker...they don't), I finally bought a Northeastern favorite, L.L. Bean Duck Boots, seen here.  I am in love. They are great for snow, rain, and ice and keep me from wiping out on slick spots down Comm Ave.

And there you have it folks. Don't end up like me, spending your first time three years as an icicle.  Practical is always fashionable.

Tom: Winter Internship

Hi all!

BU Students, Welcome back to Campus! I am very happy to be back on campus for my last semester ever (GASP!).

 

While most students spent their Winter Break streaming Netflix, catching up with old friends, and taking corny family photos - I spent my winter break by returning to my summer internship at AKA NYC. AKA NYC is a Broadway and live entertainment boutique advertising and marketing agency located in... yes, you guessed it... New York City. Some of their clients include MATILDA THE MUSICAL, ROCK OF AGES, and the recently closed SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK. I returned to the company as a Marketing and Promotions Intern.

Interning over the winter break was an excellent opportunity to get back to the swing of interning, reconnect with old friends and co-workers, and to continue to broaden my experience in the theater industry. You would be surprised how much you can learn even in just a three week internship, and are even more surprised by how much changes in just four months.

Most importantly, my winter internship reinvigorated my love for theatrical advertising moving into this semester. While my auditions are still in the works, I'm certainly hoping to get back at Theatre Producing in my last semester with BU On Broadway and BU Stage Troupe. When I have more info on what shows I will be working on this semester, I'll be sure to share!

Cheers to a happy spring semester (and my last!)

-Tom

Anneliese: Alternative Holiday Playlist

AnnelieseScheckI like Christmas music, I really do. But every convenience store, airport, grocery store, shopping mall, etc. has been playing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” on repeat since Thanksgiving, and if I have to hear it one more time I will personally set out to ruin Mariah Carey’s Christmas. Because she’s ruining mine.

Okay, okay, perhaps that’s a tad dramatic. In any case, I’ve compiled a list of Christmas songs performed by some of my favorite indie and alternative artists. They provide a nice alternative to the Christmas renditions we’re forced to hear every holiday season.

1. Dr. Dog “Christmas Party” Oh my Christmas Tree [EP]

2. Sufjan Stevens “Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time!” Songs for Christmas

3. Jimmy Eat World “Last Christmas” Bleed American

4. Julian Casablancas “I Wish it Was Christmas Today” Single

5. Arcade Fire “Jingle Bell Rock” Single

6. Andrew Bird “Old Lang Syne” Holidays Rock

7. She & Him “Baby It’s Cold Outside” A Very She & Him Christmas

8. Mayer Hawthorne “Christmas Time is Here” Single

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Steph: Paper Writing 101

StephSemetAs evidenced by the most recent blog posts, finals are the one thing on everyone's mind right now. Before I leave BU for winter break on Saturday, I have two final papers to turn in. Because of my classes this semester, I have had to write many many papers and only taken two tests. So my mind is totally focused on writing. Here are some tips for perfecting the art of paper writing.

Start Early.

I know, easier said than done. Personally, it takes me forever to write a paper, especially when I first start. No one likes pulling all nighters and finishing the paper at 7am the day it's due. Plus, the longer you have to write the paper, the more time you'll have to edit and make sure you get the best grade possible.

Meet with your Professor or TA.

I'm a big believer in this. Sometimes it's helpful to meet with your professor if you're not sure what to write about, or just to make sure that your topic isn't too ambitious. Most will be happy to look over a thesis statement or even an outline. Which brings me to...

Start off with a really comprehensive outline.

I cannot tell you how helpful this is. I started doing this last semester, and once you have a really good outline put together, writing the actual paper takes half as long and is a lot less stressful. Already knowing what you're going to say helps keep you on track so that you don't end up going on tangents.

I hope these tips help you all out with all of your final papers! Here's to the last week of classes. Have a wonderful winter break! 🙂