Let’s take a journey back in time to when you were a jittery high school senior fretting over college applications. Between juggling your ten thousand different extra-curricular activities and too many AP classes, you had to fill out the multitude of college applications in hopes to of getting accepted into the college of your choosing. Most importantly, you cannot forget the about the FASFA and the CSS Profile, which asked a million and ten questions to see if you qualified for financial aid. With all the stress of writing those various college essays, you probably created a standard format and added specific detail depending on the college you were sending your essay to. So do you remember what you told the Admissions Office of why you wanted to study at Boston University?
If you suddenly realize you have a lapse in your memory don’t freak out, most students around campus have probably forgotten what they wrote on their admissions essay. However, I can recall perfectly what I scribed on my computer’s word processor. I remember drafting up ideas that would make my answer unique and hopefully catch the eye of the admissions rep reading my essay. I knew that prospective students were mostly likely writing that they wanted to attend Boston University because it was in a major metropolitan area, that it was a research intensive institution, or even because BU had a plethora of resources to offer its students. My essay not only needed to be atypical, but it also needed to represent who I was as an individual. After some time of introspection I realized that above anything else I valued civil rights and equal justice. This couples well with my idol and role model Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When I found out that MLK graduated from BU, I knew instantly of why I wanted to attend Boston University. I wanted to walk the very same hallways that Dr. King once passed through and be in the presence of his legacy. I knew that as an alumnus of BU, I would have the one in a life time opportunity of fulling Dr. King’s dream.
Though I have come to love BU, recently I was reminded of exactly why I wanted to attend this fine institution. Most people don’t know that the largest collection of Dr. King artifacts, second to that of King’s family, is here at BU. In 1964, MLK donated his papers and personal memorabilia to Boston University so that they could be safely preserved throughout the years. The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center has done an excellent job of giving BU students exclusive access to the King Collection. Each year the center opens it doors to lets students hold and analyze a small sample of Dr. King’s pictures, letters, and papers. Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to partake in the HGARC annual MLK showcase, and it was completely magical. When I put the white gloves necessary to touch the historic documents and flipped through Dr. King’s college notebooks I was in complete reverence. I got to hold the first picture taken of him when arrived at Boston University. The most incredible artifact I glanced at was the note Rosa Parks sent to King. No other school in the United States or abroad could have offered me what I experienced being in front of King’s papers. As I walked out the exhibit, I looked over to my mentor Ms. Katherine Kennedy, Director of the Howard Thurman Center, and said, “This is exactly why I wanted to come to BU.” Her tenderly smile reaffirmed that I had made the right decision in coming to Boston University.
Instead of going home to Atlanta or going to Miami Beach to get my tan on, I decided to go to the beautiful state of Nebraska. I know what you’re thinking, “Why Nebraska”? Well, I along with my co-coordinator Jake planned the trip to Omaha, NE through Boston University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB). I along with seven other random students and a chaperone worked with Rebuilding Together Omaha for a week.Rebuilding Together Omaha works with elderly residents in low- income areas of Omaha to fix up their homes.They do minor repairs, painting, and cleaning.Our group worked with a lovely woman by the name of Betty.She wasn’t able to get around much so it was nice being able to help her fix up her 125 year old house.The house has been in her family for generations, so it meant a lot to her.We painted, we cleaned, we fixed up patches in her wall.We also learned from Betty.
She told us about Omaha, the Midwest, and even gave us life lessons about love.She was quite the talker. We worked hard, learned about housing issues, and laughed a lot.Most importantly, the service brought us nine strangers together as a group.
The Group with Betty.
Besides doing community service, we explored Omaha.Rebuilding Together gave us the VIP treatment.From providing nice college apartments, to unlimited amounts of food, Omahaians sure know a thing or two about hospitality.Every day they gave us free lunch and dinners.Have you ever heard of a runza or a cheese frenchee?Well a runza is like a warm and gooey hot pocket. A frenchee is more like a mini fried grilled cheese sandwich.It sounds disgusting, but it was delicious.Besides the great food, we went to the top oft he tallest building in Omaha (the largest between Denver and Chicago) and got and amazing view of Nebraska and Iowa.We went bowling, played on the largest park slides I have ever seen, played lazer tag, and even played paint-less paintball.After our busy days of service and fun, we went back to apartments to reflect on our service, joke around, and tell freakishly scary stories.Believe it or not, we had a wild time in Omaha.
Runza
Cheese Frenchee (yummm)
While Omaha was great, getting there was half the adventure.Did I mention we drove there?Yes, thirty hours of non-stop fun.We stopped at Niagara Falls, Cleveland, drove through Chicago, and even stopped at the world’s largest truck stop in Iowa.Basically, we did everything you could imagine while bonding in a van.
Niagara Falls
Overall my Alternative Spring Break experience was great.I went on an ASB trip last year as well and it always amazes me how much I learn and how close I become with a group of random strangers.It’s nice to get away from the busy Boston University campus and to try something new and step outside of my comfort zone.
Greatest slides in the Old Market in Omaha
My spring breaks just keep getting better and better, but I don’t know if anything can top my 2011 trip to Omaha.
I had such an incredible and life changing (literally) experience this summer. To start off with, I worked for the Admissions Office as a Student Admissions Representative. That just basically means I welcomed guest who came to tour BU, answered phones, replied to emails, you know all that fun jazz of an office. But, what rocked the most is that I got to live for free on-campus…shout out to BU Housing. Overall My job was incredibly fulfilling because I could see the difference I made in the prospective students who figuring out where to attend college. But, living in an apartment in Boston was a life lesson. I learned how to efficiently live on my own; from buying groceries, to cleaning the apartment, and even learning how to cook.
By the way, my cuisine is supreme. I also discovered Boston through so many amazing restaurants. There are so many great places to eat outside of North End and Newbury Street. By chance I discovered this beautiful and quaint coastal town called Rockport. If you have the chance, take the commuter rail north and you will fall in love with Rockport’s small Mom and Pop shops, the delicious seafood, and majestic atmosphere.
Living in Boston is a must because it is a completely different city than during the academic year. The city hosts everything from an all-you-can eat ice cream fest, free movies on the Esplanade, a breathtaking Fourth of July celebration, and even free dancing at Government Center. In short, this was the best summer I ever had.
OLAH AND COMO ESTAS TO EVERYONE! That means hello and how are you! (Just in case)It has been awhile since I have written something for you guys. Thus! I will give you an update on my life that will make the senses tingle.
It is now fall everyone! The leaves are falling in a wide spectrum of beautifully, vivid colors and with those beautiful colors I am leading a beautiful life. My first topic is the International Health Care Gala I went to this past Friday. Swank mode was turned fully on. There, I met and mingled with people who have made an indelible effect on healthcare in America! Next, I tore up the floor with some of my amazingly, bizarre, yet riveting dance moves.After this, I sat down and had a delightful meal and enjoyed the rest of the night.
Moving on…
APPLE PICKING!!! A man once said to me, “it was God who made apples, and gosh darned I will eat each one I see for that reason.” Personally, I am not as enthusiastic for apples as that man was; however, I went apple picking this past Saturday and it was sublime! I picked cranberries, apples, drank delicious, freshly squeezed, all-natural cranberry tea and juice, and did I mention this was all free? Yes, free of charge ladies and gentleman! Needless to say, it was a good Saturday with some amazing people.
Well unfortunately I must say goodbye, but I will continue to update in the future!
Visiting Chef Series this year was the best dining hall experience of my four years in college. I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a ‘foodie,’ but I do believe in the full enjoyment of food. This year’s Visiting Chef featured The Fireplace, a New England grill with wood-smoked and rotisserie cuisine. Not only was Shelton dining hall decked out in Fall inspired decorations and fancy white table clothes, but each dish had a unique presentation that matched the decadent taste of the cuisine. My main dish consisted of salmon cakes over Mesclun mix drizzled with a dill aioli sauce, asparagus on the size and butternut squash risotto with steamed purple cabbage under the perfect vegetable medley. I didn’t stop there. How could I!? As I made my way to the drink machine I spotted the New England Artisanal Cheese table. Wasabi cheese squares, Pepper Jack and Swiss—I tried them all! Still, the best was yet to come. The desert bar still needed my attention. I had to choose between Butterscotch Bread pudding, Apple Pan Dowdy or the Afterschool Cookie Plate. I decided on the bread pudding; little did I know this would be the best desert I’ve had in years! The bread pudding had the perfect combination of a crumbly, yet crunchy, outside and soft and delicious middle. The rum drunken raisins and the fresh whip cream with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side was the perfect ending to my dining hall experience!!! Without a doubt, next year I will be back for one of my lovely friends with a meal plan to swipe me into the dining hall.
Happy New Years everyone! I had the chance to ring in the new year with one of my best friends from BU. LUWAM GHIDEI! I love this young woman. This former ASDB Coordinator is now a first year medical student at UT Southwestern Medical School. After a busy semester it was nice to relax, have fun, and catch up with Luwam in her home town Dallas, Texas.
Luwam Ghidei!!
It was my first time in Dallas so it was a learning experience. I am really into social justice as it relates to medicine and education. I also really enjoy discussing race. So Luwam took me to the African American Museum, which was free! It was mostly an art museum, which was fantastic! I took lots of photos. I also got to spend time with another good friend of mine Jonathan Priester a couple of days too. The highlight of the trip besides ringing in the New Year was the Jazz restaurant called Buttons (www.buttonsresteraunt.com ) we went to that had a live Jazz concert. Honestly, the place was pack! Classy and sophisticated! I was in love.
African Art Museum
Dallas is a city filled with confident beautiful people that’s for sure! I had a lot of fun. I even learned the wobble! (Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IsvGaaLi60 )Which I plan to bring up to Boston! Unfortunately, I couldn’t picture myself living in Dallas though for more than a year. People drive everywhere!! Luwam and I went for a walk around the block and lets just say it is something that is frowned upon. I am back in Boston. Now I have to figure out what I should do for spring break!
While many of my friends will be heading back to campus in a couple of weeks, I’ll be heading off to Padova (Padua), Italy to study abroad for the semester.I know what you’re thinking, “What is a Padova?”Padova is a small city about twenty minutes outside of Rome.It is home to many historic buildings and chapels but most importantly will be my home for the next five months.I will be taking classes at Boston University’s Center for Language and Liberal Arts. They offer great Italian and Political Science classes.While I did not intend to study Italian in college, I randomly took it freshman year and have been in love ever since.The language and culture have always fascinated me.
One of the best parts of my program is that it is a homestay.Instead of living with other students, I will be living with an Italian family.The families range anywhere to big seven person families to elderly Italian women.These hosts welcome students into their homes to eat and experience the true Padovian culture with them.I can’t wait to absorb everything from my host family, including the delicious cheeses and pasta that I am sure they will provide.
I am going to miss America and the community that I have found at Boston University but I must say I can’t wait to travel Italy and immerse myself in a new culture.
This is Sandra Archer and I am a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences studying psychology and public health. This past summer I went to Punta Gorda, Belize on a public health initiative trip and it was the most amazing and indescribable experience I have ever had. The number one killer in Belize is Diabetes and so our intervention was compromised of school/classroom lessons, home visits with diabetes testing and counseling, clinic visits with testing and counseling, and hosting a community fair for testing and raising awareness within the Punta Gorda community.
The first day in Belize I was completely overwhelmed, with the 6 hour bus ride from one side of the country to the next and then being greeted to a house and town without running water for two days. It definitely was not the Hilton on Miami Beach but despite everything it was all so beautiful, the people, the clear skies, sea breeze, and the relaxation within the air. All till now, months and months later, I love take myself back to the moments I had there.
Hey guys! Last semester I studied abroad in London. Here are some key points to my adventures:
The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most visited sites with more than 400.000 visitors annually. The bathing lagoon is 5000 m2. At each time the lagoon holds six million liters of geothermal seawater all of which is renewed every 40 hours. Blue Lagoon’s guests actually bathe between two continents as the Euro-Asian and American tectonic plates meet at the Blue Lagoon.
When I was going to london , I had a ten hour layover in Iceland so i decided to be brave and leave the airport on my own. It was one of the best decision i have made despite being absolutely scared! I did not think I was going to go in but i rented a bathing suite ( I know pretttyyyy grosss) but went in. It was awesome!
Further…
My favorite experience here in london has to be experiencing the proximity of the living quarters. What I mean by that is I live with three wonderful girls whose names are Haley, Stephanie and Jessica. They are all interns and come from different places in the states. I can not imagine living with any other people and I’m really glad , luck put all of us together in one room. My roommate once said to me , ” Now i know for sure i have three people to live with in this world.” Although it has been merely 2 months we have grown closer and it seems we were all sisters separated at birth. Another important aspect of our dynamic relationship is that we are all from different races, which allows us to learn from one another and appreciate the culture and heritage we bring forth. Moreover living with others on the floor has been a great experience.The late night dinner, late night studying and late night chatting are all the things I have come to truly appreciate.
needed to be atypical, but it also needed to represent who I was as an individual. After some time of introspection I realized that above anything else I valued civil rights and equal justice. This couples well with my idol and role model Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When I found out that MLK graduated from BU, I knew instantly of why I wanted to attend Boston University. I wanted to walk the very same hallways that Dr. King once passed through and be in the presence of his legacy. I knew that as an alumnus of BU, I would have the one in a life time opportunity of fulling Dr. King’s dream.
white gloves necessary to touch the historic documents and flipped through Dr. King’s college notebooks I was in complete reverence. I got to hold the first picture taken of him when arrived at Boston University. The most incredible artifact I glanced at was the note Rosa Parks sent to King. No other school in the United States or abroad could have offered me what I experienced being in front of King’s papers. As I walked out the exhibit, I looked over to my mentor Ms. Katherine Kennedy, Director of the Howard Thurman Center, and said, “This is exactly why I wanted to come to BU.” Her tenderly smile reaffirmed that I had made the right decision in coming to Boston University.
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By the way, my cuisine is supreme. I also discovered Boston through so many amazing 
Luwam Ghidei!!
African Art Museum
From Left to Right: Tamika, Jonathan, and Luwam!
