Eagles

Hi everyone! Happy Tuesday! And what a beautiful Tuesday it is - the sun is shining, flowers are sprouting that spell out "BC" on the hills (MAGIC!), and birds are chirping. Speaking of birds, let me fill you in on the craze that is sweeping the nation - EagleCam.

You may think that when I say "EagleCam," I am referring to the webcams that allow you to see onto parts of the BC campus. This is not the case. I am referring instead to an eagle's nest in Decorah, Iowa. This EagleCam allows the viewer to watch a live feed of a mother eagle, a father eagle, and their three newly hatched baby bald eagles! It is so cool! Last Wednesday, I was procrastinating and watching some eagle eggs, and then one started to crack - it was hatching! How incredible is it that I saw a live hatching in Iowa from the dining hall at Boston College? The internet blows my mind sometimes.

Anyway, in conclusion, if you want to be an Eagle, you should also watch EagleCam. You don't have to watch it by any means, but it is strongly recommended - they are just that cute.

Amanda
penzaa@bc.edu

Homework is always better with good weather.

Hi all! Right now I am blogging while sitting outside my dorm because the sun is out and it's wonderfully warm. Nearly everyone on Upper campus is outside playing basketball and frisbee. Unfortunately I had to write part of a research paper this morning, but I really didn't mind because the weather is so amazing. Thankfully, I also managed my time on this assignment, so the ten-page thing really wasn't intimidating.

As a college student you're bound to have a research paper assignment at some point. When that happens to you, the library will suddenly become your best friend. Here at BC we're incredibly lucky to have O'Neill library as a resource. When I first realized the diverse range of books in our library, I was a Steve Urkel on the nerd scale. For a few days I found an immensely dorky pleasure in checking out stacks of books. Of course, I didn't end up needing some of them, but it was fun while it lasted. Anyway, my point to all of this is that research shouldn't be impossible, and BC has any resources you might ever need, on any subject and in any language. Writing this research paper has given me a huge sense of accomplishment and I've learned so much. On a side note, if you ever end up in O'Neill library, make sure you check out the view of Boston on the top floor. It's pretty amazing.

To reward myself for completing my research paper, I'm going into Newton Center for dinner with friends, then going to an a cappella concert (second time in three weeks), then an improv comedy show. It should be really fun!

Stay tuned for my next post, which may or may not include another a cappella concert!

--Kristen

CSOM 2014

volinskk@bc.edu <---- email me with any questions you have about BC, CSOM, anything!

Trivia

Every Thursday night, five of my friends and I gather on the second level of Lower Dining Hall at 9 pm for our favorite event of the week - Trivia, sponsored by Nights On The Heights. All week, we prepare by reading random wikipedia pages, figuring out which songs we want to request from the question asker/dj, and honing our skills at hilarity to come up with witty answers when we don't know the right one. It is, in short, awesome.

This week, we arrived early to secure our spot in the corner by the question asker, Mike. This is the best spot because we are close to the refreshments (pizza), speakers, and there is easy access to hand in the questions. The theme was "green" - all the questions were about going green in honor of Green Month at BC. Unfortunately, we had not prepared appropriately, but never fear! Being the super smart BC students that we are, we were able to recall information we had learned in the distant past (What is the biggest nuclear accident to date? Chernobyl.) and we managed to come in 3rd place. All in all, it was a very exciting night, and a great way to start our weekend (HOORAY no class on Fridays!). Next week, we will be back with a vengeance - our competitors had better be ready for a tough opponent!

Best,
Amanda

Weekend Activities

I remember my college tours quite vividly, and I will never forget how, when the tour guides asked the prospective students for any questions, every parent in the group would inevitably begin their deluge of inquiries. These questions were, of course, important, and I will always be grateful for my parents' fearlessness when it came to asking the tour guides... well, everything.

One question that always sparked my curiosity was, "What do students do on weekends?" Coming from high school, you can't completely anticipate what it will be like to live full-time at school. Of course, now I can say that it's wonderful, but I was uncertain as a high school junior/senior. So, if you're wondering about the weekends on the BC campus like I was, here are a few of my own experiences as a freshman:

1. First of all, don't be nervous that campus will clear out on the weekends, just because Boston College is close to the city. Although Boston is a great resource that can be reached by T (train) in a short time, students here love staying on campus.

2. There is always something going on that you will be interested in. On Thursday nights, for example, the Chocolate Bar (a bakery/coffee shop in the Upper campus dining hall) hosts live musicians from the area. This week I bought a delicious milkshake and enjoyed the free show with a friend. The next few bullet points fall under this same category as well:

3. Sports games often take place on the weekends. Here at BC, games are huge events. We all wear our yellow Superfan shirts and show our school pride.

4. The undergraduate government hosts events on campus that are always incredible. This Friday, my friends and I went to Conte Forum (our hockey and basketball arena) for a hilarious live comedy show by Nick Swardson. Look him up - you won't be disappointed.

5. Clubs host their own events as well. Before the comedy show, we went to the a cappella concert of one of the student groups on campus, The Acoustics. They were all incredibly talented and, to tell you the truth, I felt embarrassed about my own lack of singing ability. Oh well; they provided an incredible few hours of entertainment (completely free, I might add).

6. For my last point I want to stress the importance of hanging out with friends on the weekends. It seems trivial, and you may have already started on the next blog post by now, but some of my best weekend nights are spent just watching movies in my dorm with friends, or ordering takeout and playing a game of night frisbee. At Boston College, you'll meet extremely friendly, caring people who you're sure to develop wonderful friendships with. You'll go to Boston with them, attend football games together, and do homework together in the afternoon. And it will be some of the greatest times of your college career.

Until next time,

--Kristen Volinski

CSOM 2014

volinskk@bc.edu

P.S. Here's a video from the show I went to:

http://www.youtube.com/bcacoustics

Study Abroad Excitement

Now that spring break is over and midterms are upon us once again, it's nice to have something to look forward to. In February I applied to study abroad next semester in Parma, Italy and a few days before spring break I found out that I was accepted!! I spend my free time now filling out applications, reading course offerings, and looking up pictures of Italy. I have heard so many good things about people's experiences when they went abroad and I can't wait to experience it for myself!

Coming into BC, I thought I wanted to study abroad, but I didn't know definitely. I was nervous about being so far away from home and my family and friends. I don't know the Italian language well and I didn't want to be in a foreign country by myself. Eventually I decided that I was never going to have an opportunity like this again and that any initial anxiety would be worth it in the long run. I could not be happier with my choice. I am so excited for my trip. I already know some of the people that I'll be studying in Parma with so I won't be alone.

College is the time to push yourself towards opportunities that seem daunting at first. If you want something, go for it. I think you'll surprise yourself about how much you can handle.

First week back: BC Hockey and the North End

It's nearly impossible to describe the joy I felt upon walking on BC turf again after break. I suppose it would be something like a child adopting a puppy (Yes, that kind of joy). All of the snow has melted and the freshman quad on Upper Campus has become a utopia for everyone; if anyone were to look outside their window on any given day this week, he would see people laying on the lawn studying, playing basketball, football and baseball, and even sitting in trees talking to friends (that would be me).

Saint Patrick's Day was also this week, and it was really fun to see over ninety percent of the campus - not an exaggeration - wearing green of some sort. The undergraduate government of BC, also known as UGBC, also hosted a dance for St. Patty's Day, with a "Lucky Charms" theme. In order to get into the dance, you had to track down the "charms" around campus. They were in the shape of the Lucky Charms cereal marshmallows, and they could be seen everywhere: hanging from trees, sitting on benches, etc. I didn't get a chance to go to the dance, but I heard very good reviews, which is typical of any UGBC event.

This week was also significant for BC Hockey. Our incredible team is going for #1 in the National Championships for the second year in a row. I attended the Hockey East tournament games against Northeastern and Merrimack College this weekend, witnessing two of the most stressful but exciting games of my life. When we took home the trophy, Superfans from all over rejoiced, and I cheered until I lost my voice. It was awesome.

In Boston, this week was Restaurant week, in which you can get a great deal on meals in the city in specific restaurants. I went with a group of friends to the North End (the Italian section of Boston near Faneuil Hall) and got a three-course lunch for just twenty bucks. This was one of the many times when I've been incredibly grateful to go to school just a T (Boston's train) ride from Boston. Spring break, we had some good times, but BC is the place to be.

Kristen

CSOM 2014

P.S. Here's a picture of the beautiful Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market at night:

Spring (Not Very Much Of A) Break

Spring Break at BC is a very exciting time. Everyone wants to know where you're going to spend your nine-or-ten days of absolute freedom. Whether you'll be participating in an Appalachia Service Trip, spending your week at the beach, or heading home for the week, the week is highly anticipated and exciting. 

After an anticlimactic visit home for spring break last year, I decided that I would really try to make this year's break the best ever. That is why, when the University Chorale announced that they would be headed to Ireland for a spring break singing and sightseeing tour, I was one of the first people to sign up! I had never been anywhere remotely exciting before last week (my family pretty much sticks to New England), and I was ready for an adventure with some of my closest friends. 

We arrived in Ireland at 5:30 AM on Friday and immediately began touring the country. The first thing I noticed (aside from how scary it is to drive on the wrong side of the road!) was how truly GREEN everything was! Of course I had seen pictures, but nothing prepares you for that amount of green space and sheep. There are tons of ruined castles, monastic settlements, and homes that dot the landscape, and almost every road we traveled on was lined by farms. The cities were of course a little busier, but for the majority of the week, we were in rural areas. Over the course of our trip, we visited Galway, Killarney (pictured), and Dublin, and we got to perform in many spaces, including Galway Cathedral, and St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin (they were gorgeous). We visited the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, and Blarney Castle - my friends and I even got to kiss the Blarney Stone! Our week was jam-packed with fun and friendship, so when I finally got back to BC on Saturday night, I was incredibly excited to see my roommates and my bed. Even though the week was exhausting, I know I will always look back on this spring break and be grateful for the opportunities it presented and the ninety new friends I spent it with!

Amanda

CSOM '12

Returning home!

Well, spring break is finally coming to an end. It was incredibly relaxing to forget about assignments and research papers for a week, but I cannot wait to get back to campus, back to friends, back to my comfy bed. For the entirety of vacation I've been diligently catching myself before I say something like "I go back home the 13th", because it sort of terrifies my parents.

It's true, though. I've only been at BC for three quarters and I already can't imagine being anywhere else. I can't wait to go back to campus tomorrow, barrage the girls in my dorm with hugs, and maybe even throw a baseball around in the patches of grass that are just starting to emerge after the winter. BC was beautiful in the snow, but spring is going to be incredible. I guess it's still early and I shouldn't get too excited over a few sunny days, but regardless, I can hardly wait to go back home. Stay tuned!

Kristen

CSOM 2014

Escaping into Boston

In all the "excitement" of midterms week(s) it's pretty easy to get caught up in the routine of staying on campus and just studying. My friend and I decided to take a break from all the stress and go out to breakfast in Boston on a Tuesday morning. One of the major reasons I chose to come to BC is because of it's location. I love having a home here on campus, but then being able to get to the amazing city of Boston so quickly. Being so close to Boston is what made it so easy to go in quickly to eat and escape campus on a weekday morning. I had actually never gone into Boston before class so I felt awesome having this new experience. We took the T (Boston's subway) into the North End and had breakfast at one of my favorite places in the whole city, Mike's Pastry. (If you ever want cannoli or any other Italian cookies/pastries, go to Mike's. They have the greatest tasting treats... they're delicious!!) We then walked back to the T and made it back in time for my class at noon. I don't think I've had a better morning at BC. What's great about BC is that we can explore Boston and all the opportunities it presents and then be able to come "home" to campus when we're done.

Alyssa

Boston College '13

Kairos

At Boston College, as well as other Jesuit high schools and universities across the country, there exists a mythical retreat called Kairos. Students who sign up are randomly chosen at some point during their educational career and are whisked off for a weekend of secret magic and fun and joy and come back completely renewed and the happiest people on earth. They know something that they won't tell you, and every time you ask what happens on Kairos, they say "You have to go to find out." Sounds weird, right?

I was a nonbeliever in Kairos for a long time. I even went so far as to publicly express my rage at not knowing "the secret" of Kairos and not being a part of that group that seemed so elite. Those people with their joy and their smiles and their retreat experience, they didn't know what it was like to be a real student. They were so privileged and cool and I felt so...not. I wanted what they had and I wanted it now.

As a junior whose friends had almost all been called for Kairos, I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to go. I would never be one of the elite and that was okay with me, I was finally starting to accept my fate. That is, until one day in the Rat (world's best dining hall) when I was checking my e-mail and had one from "kairos" that said I was called for retreat number 98!! I was psyched. I was finally going to find out all of the secrets of the Kairos world and, more importantly, I was finally going to be able to tell everyone I knew something they didn't! Things were great!

I finally went on Kairos this past weekend and had the time of my life. On this retreat, I learned two things. The first thing is that I hate wearing shoes (I am now the #1 fan of walking around in my socks), and the second thing...is a secret. :)


Amanda Penza
CSOM '12

Zynga Boston and An Entrepreneur for Others

Hello prospective students! There are many things I love about being in the Carroll School of Management, but many times what distinguishes CSOM from other schools are the unique opportunities offered to students on a daily basis. This past week I attended two events, both with awesome speakers. In CSOM, many students are involved in the school’s management academies. These include the finance academy, marketing academy, accounting academy, and more. This past Friday I went on a field trip with the Information Systems Academy to Zynga Boston in Cambridge. Ever played Cityville or MafiaWars? These are just two of the hits created by this prominent gaming firm, which recently expanded into Boston. At the office we had the opportunity of speaking with Nabeel Hyatt, the new head honcho of the Boston branch. It was awesome networking with Nabeel and learning about the industry from an expert, as well as meeting other cool BC students with the same interests! Check out the photo above of Nabeel and us in front of the Zynga logo.


Another event I attended this week was a talk given by BC alum Michael Delponte. Mike shared his story of being a theology major at BC and then going on to create Sparkseed, “a global nonprofit organization that accelerates and invests in the most promising student entrepreneurs seeking to make social change.” His story was truly unique, and during the talk he inspired us with advice about college, life, and following your dreams towards a fulfilling career. Mike is just one example of a BC alum willing to help and reach out to students who are trying to pursue their passions. At the end of the talk he gave out his business card and invited the attendees to reach out to him if they ever were in need of advice or guidance. I would encourage any Boston College student to attend these types of events, as I have acquired so much meaningful advice from a variety of awesome speakers!

Thanks for Reading!

Sofia Papastamelos
papastam@bc.edu

Service Fair

Hey everyone! One of the things that really attracted me to Boston College was its spirit of community service and ideal of men and women for others. A large majority of BC students take part in some form of community service, whether its for a service trip, campus club, or the university’s PULSE program. Last week, I attended the Boston College service fair in the Fulton Honors Library. Here, a number of representatives from great programs, centers, and schools around Boston gathered to recruit BC students for their awesome service opportunities.

 A lot of students at BC volunteer at Boston service centers for several hours each week, but seeing as I already have such a hectic schedule, I was worried about not having the time to participate in any of the programs offered. I always loved volunteering in high school but haven’t had the chance to help out on a weekly basis at BC. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of opportunities that were presented at the fair, many of them being manageable and easily accessible. I finally signed up to do a tutoring program with elementary school children for 1-2 hours a week that takes place on campus. I truly love that BC puts such an emphasis on service and am glad that I can give back to the Boston community in my own little way! I would highly recommend taking advantage of the service opportunities at BC, they are always such a great experience!

More to Come!

Sofia Papastamelos, Papastam@bc.edu