Peer Opinions

Last night I saw a guy from Natick, Jeremy, who I haven’t seen since I left for college. It turns out he has an undergraduate degree in communications with a focus in copywriting. He told me how tough it has been for him to find a job. After graduation he moved to Los Angeles for a few months. He applied to every advertising agency he could find, but had no success. As of now, he is unemployed and lives in Natick with his parents. He repeatedly stressed the current lack of job market. His story terrified me.

When I told Jeremy that I just started the BU graduate program for advertising, he was suddenly very optimistic. He said that, from his experience, he thought that staying in school right now was the best thing anyone could do, that a focused masters program like BU’s would give me a lot of advantages, and that he had heard BU particularly was great for making connections and building a strong portfolio. I think I may have detected a glint of jealousy behind his earnest support of my decision.

I usually feel secure about going back to school, but I do sometimes wonder if it was the best choice for me. Talking with Jeremy made me further realize how lucky I am to be at Boston University, and reinforced my determination to take advantage of my current situation.

Tequila Rain Take Two

Last night was Tequila Rain mixer take two. Instead of just MIT and Boston University, students from Emerson, Bentley, Boston College, Harvard, Babson, Northeastern and Brandeis were all invited.

I went to the first Tequila Rain mixer with some fellow advertising students. When we walked in the door, we were each handed a playing card from a red deck. The doorman explained that in order to get our free drink, we had to find the person from MIT who had the same card from a blue deck. Within minutes of arriving, I found my card match – A French girl named Fanny. I was eager to practice French, talk about France or really just share my excitement for France with someone - we hit it off immediately. I ended up dancing with her and her MIT friends for most of the evening.

I saw Fanny last night for the first time since then. We met for dinner in Kendall Square and then took a shuttle over to Tequila Rain with some other MIT students. They were surprised to learn that I go to BU, and joked that I was “the token BU girl.” I'm happy to have made some more friends on my side of the river, and I hope to be “the token BU girl” again soon.

Rivers

Growing up in Natick, I spent a lot of time playing in the woods behind my house. My best friend and I were constantly making forts. These forts were constructed out of branches, naturally grown “walls” of vegetation, and our imaginations. Our pride and joy was called “Dry River Fort”, due to its location next to a small stream which, as the name suggests, was more often than not without water.

One of my favorite places at Kenyon College was the old railway bridge over the Kokosing river. The train line has now been converted into a bike path, but the rusty iron bridge remains. I often went to this bridge, biking or walking along the river to get there. Sometimes I went alone, but usually I went with friends. We sat and talked, or just quietly observed the slowly passing, green-brown water, our feet dangling over the edge of the bridge.

Now I spend my time by the Charles River, here in Boston. I bike along the Charles four days a week on my way to and from class. On the weekends, when it’s warm, I read on the grass of the Esplanade, admittedly distracted by the sailboats and the ripples on the water.

I like to think that a river will be a constant in my life. Although I am not far from Natick, having it nearby helps me feel at home.

Go Caps!

Last night when a friend texted me, “GO CAPS!!!!”, I thought he was referring to capital letters. I never have been one to get too excited about sports. A Redsox game just means an increase in traffic, and I would have to think really hard to name one player on the Patriots team. Just to be on the safe side, I’ll keep my guesses to myself.

I played field hockey and lacrosse in high school. I enjoyed playing and was friends with my teammates. I would cheer them as they played, wear ribbons in my hair on game days, and sign everyone’s shirt at the end of each season.

Yet, somehow, I’m starting to feel a greater team comraderie here in the School of Communications than I felt back at Natick High School. In particular, the advertising program has a real sense of “team spirit.” In two of my classes, professors have mentioned that our group is more social and friendly than groups in the past. Communications students outside of advertising have told me that “the advertising kids” always seem to be hanging out, and that they wished people in their program were more friendly- like us.

I am proud to be one of “the advertising kids,” as well as happy and thankful that we are all getting along. Go team!