{"id":3989,"date":"2018-04-09T11:00:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-09T15:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comblog\/?p=3989"},"modified":"2018-04-08T20:11:16","modified_gmt":"2018-04-09T00:11:16","slug":"nick-thank-you-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comblog\/2018\/04\/09\/nick-thank-you-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick: Thank You COM"},"content":{"rendered":"

College is a crazy time. You\u2019ll meet lifelong friends and lose some others. You\u2019ll be thankful for your newfound freedom and you\u2019ll miss home. You\u2019ll try new things and fall into old habits. You\u2019ll stay up until 3 in the morning laughing with your roommates and turn to those same people when you experience hardship and heartbreak. There aren\u2019t many constants during this time in your life, but for me, the one constant has been COM.<\/span><\/p>\n

COM showed me the way when I arrived on campus eager to start writing about sports within 30 seconds. COM introduced me to my roommates, one of whom I met through BU\u2019s independent newspaper, the Daily Free Press, and another whom I befriended within the first month of college. COM allowed me to grow and adapt to a constantly changing journalism landscape through its robust curriculum. I got experience at the anchor desk, as the producer of a live half-hour newscast and as a reporter for the largest tech conference in the world in Las Vegas. COM gave me a second home at Undergraduate Affairs, where I\u2019ve worked alongside some of the most dedicated and compassionate people in the building.<\/span><\/p>\n

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My FreeP fam will always have a special place in my heart.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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And the COM Ambassador program has introduced me to so many driven, passionate and caring people that remind me every day why I chose COM almost four years ago. I\u2019ve loved the experience of mentoring incoming freshmen and showing them the ropes; some have become my closest friends at BU. To my fellow CAs, thank you for inspiring me with your talent and creativity. COM really is like a family. Everyone in the building, from your classmates to your professors, is there to support you as you chase your dreams.<\/p>\n

During my time as a COM Ambassador, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to explain to families from around the country why I love COM. And it\u2019s not that difficult a task. I fell in love with COM the second I took a tour of the building during senior year of high school. As I write my final COM blog post just over a month before graduation, it\u2019s only fitting that it happens to be the same day as the COM open house.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Nick Picht and Pete Zampa were my senior mentors freshman year, and I’ve loved the chance to do the same for other freshmen as a CA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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I\u2019ve worked open houses since my freshman year in high school, and I remember how impactful my COM open house was. I\u2019m still good friends with two of the kids I sat next to that day. Listening to Professor McKeen lead the journalism department presentation at today\u2019s open house for the class of 2022 (WOW) made it feel like my COM journey had truly come full circle.<\/p>\n

I heard him talk about all the professional opportunities at COM, BU\u2019s strong relationship with major media companies in Boston and some of the work of our exceptional faculty. I saw myself in a wide-eyed freshman as he asked what sports journalism opportunities are available here. The answer is plenty. And side note: COM just hired a local sportswriting celebrity \u2013 Michael Holley of NBC Sports Boston and formerly of WEEI. Holley\u2019s hiring is just another example of COM\u2019s commitment to providing their students with only the best.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Senior CAs in September. We’re weeping because we love COM.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

McKeen\u2019s speech resonated with me when he told prospective students and future journalists that \u201cjournalism is the purest form of public service because you\u2019re giving people the information they need to survive.\u201d This passion and fervor for the field excites me every day I walk into COM, and gives me the confidence to pursue a career in the news industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

A soon-to-be member of the class of 2022 told me today at the open house that I was part of his decision to apply early decision to BU. My face lit up. This is why we do what we do. I\u2019m excited for that student, and quite frankly, after the open house, I wish I were in his shoes. I wish I could come to COM, pick a COM ambassador and do it all over again. But my time is almost over, and I wouldn\u2019t change a thing. I\u2019m thankful every day that I chose COM, and I know it\u2019ll always be home.<\/span><\/p>\n