It's All about the Communication

The biggest reason I chose to come to BU for my master's was the quality of the program itself and the communication school's solid reputation. I also chose it because I sensed there was great community and school spirit. I really appreciate the efforts the communications program put forth for its graduate students - I receive countless emails, newsletters, and event offerings every week. The resources and opportunities are there, it is simply a matter of taking them when offered. I also love the fact that one of my professors always offers to make "coffee dates" if we want to talk about any particular issue further than the class discussion. I don't know that I will be taking him up on that offer, but it's a completely different approach than my undergraduate experience. Office hours and email communications were the extent of their availability, for the most part. Also, even though I work full-time and am used to being treated as an adult, I still find it nice that the faculty and COM staff want to interact with us outside of the classroom and not just as students - I have already been to a Red Sox game and bar crawl with COM staff, and am planning to be at karaoke night next week. I’m confident the professional relationships and friendships formed will be a big part of my lasting memories from this program.

Undergrads vs. Grads

It is becoming easier and easier to tell the difference between an undergraduate student and a graduate student as I spend more time on the BU campus. Normally, I have a tough time guessing ages, which is probably a good thing. I am on the older end age wise of my peers in the PR program, but it is still apparent that even the 21-year-olds who are grad students are older than the 20-year-old undergraduates. The most telling factor is the apparant attitude difference. Undergraduates walk around with an almost pained expression on their faces, as if they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Slumped over, carrying a backpack, they look less than thrilled to be in an academic building. A fair number of the students in the COM program are probably not sure they will pursue a career path in the field, or are there to fill elective requirements. I usually receive a blank stare when looking into the eyes of the kids in the hallways, trying to smile even though it is not returned. In contrast, most of the grad students I have met, while they may physically look tired, are happy people and engaging. They want to be there. Most grads are carrying coffee and food on their way to a lecture, energizing themselves for the next few hours in order to be active participants. I'm sure part of the difference lies in maturity, but there is something to be said for assuredness and confidence when a person knows what they want to study, or practice as a career. Their enthusiasm is infectious and is obvious to observers.

Time Flies

Time flies when you're having fun. It is a cliché, but it is true. Time also flies when you're busy. I can't believe there are four or five weeks left in the fall semester of 2009. In a few weeks, I will be back to my normal work schedule at my full-time job. Instead of working late three nights a week, I will have a nice winter break and then return to the chaos for spring semester. It was a year ago I was sitting in my cubicle after work, studying for the GREs and thinking that grad school at BU was a possible but not likely option. So many essays, tests, and recommendations were before me then, and it seemed like I would never get through the admissions process. But, here I am writing this blog for class and acknowledging this is what I worked hard for back then. This semester has reaffirmed my decision to go to grad school and pursue PR. It is much easier to sit back and let change come to you, instead of choosing to do different things and further your development. It is hard to make choices and hope they work out without knowing what the end result will look like. This semester is only the first of many steps towards my masters, but I'm having so much fun with schoolwork, reliving the college experience, and learning again.

Balance

I knew it would be challenging to balance two classes, a full-time job, and personal priorities as a graduate student. I wouldn't say it is harder than I thought; it simply forces me to manage my time. Finding time to exercise, see friends, visit my family, and stay on top of school and work has made me ask myself what balance is, exactly. Is it dividing my time equally between all entities in my life? Putting some priorities aside for next month or semester? I am beginning to realize that for me, it means spending enough time on each specific priority to the point where I feel ok about moving on to another one. I expected it to be challenging, but I didn't expect to feel guilty about exercising less, or visiting my family and friends less. I simply can't meet for drinks and dinner a few nights a week, visit my parents in Needham, and attend every zumba class. I always try hard to give enough of my time to all areas of my life, but scaling back is now the reality of my situation. My pregnant, insightful colleague and I were talking yesterday about further education and how it could be viewed as "selfish"(maybe not the right word). She is pursuing a masters as well and will soon have less time for everything she wants to accomplish once her baby arrives. As it is, she has less quality time with her husband as she works full-time and takes classes. After a great conversation, we concluded that further educating ourselves and pursuing individual goals in order to become who we want to be may be selfish, but completely defensible. We both have the right to become more of who we are and who we want to be. We would be doing a disservice to ourselves if we took an easier road. The guilt I have been feeling is slowly fading away.

Grades

We are taught from an early age to do our best at everything we encounter in life. Whether it is on the soccer field, in a piano lesson, or in the classroom, children are told to work as hard as they can to achieve success. In the classroom, this of course translates to aiming for high grades. Children will learn they are better at some subjects than others, and maybe don't have to work as hard, but the objective remains the same: do your best and get a good grade. For the most part, it is accepted that good grades reveal a student is either smart or has the ability to learn. Or, the student tests well. My undergraduate schooling gave an early hint to what I am quickly learning now: the grades don't matter as much as one may think. They are guides that can tell a student if he or she is on the right path, but they can't measure how much a student learns cumulatively, or predict success within any given industry. I have been told in both my classes not to worry about the grades so much, they may not be that important. Quite frankly, it is a bit of a relief. I also believe for the first time this is true.
-Rosie

Riding a Bike

Forty percent of any number is relatively substantial. It is a lot more when it is a percentage of a grade in a class. The task before me this past week was to study for my first PR test as a graduate student. The last time I took a test was four years ago (aside from the GREs). I was admittedly out of practice. However, my test preparation and feelings were similar to those I had years ago. I bought index cards at CVS, waited until the weekend to study, and felt the same test anxiety I used to experience in my undergraduate career. My sister and friends gave me the obligatory “good luck!” wishes yesterday and this morning before I took the test. I even ran into my sister on the T on the way to BU, getting one last word of encouragement. My cautious optimism tells me I did fine, and as it turns out, four years it not a long time – test-taking is like riding a bike. This is good news as I get older and can notice the shifts in my perspectives, feelings, and beliefs that have changed with time, and as I feel more and more removed from the past. However, it is a comforting feeling that some things will always be familiar (even if it is the art of test-taking).

-Rosie

What Is Luck?

As a part-time student this semester, in addition to CM707, I am taking Contemporary PR with Dr. Downes. In class on Wednesday, he brought previous graduates from the program to class to speak about their experiences in the "real world" and asked them to share their insights on the program. Most of them are recent graduates, working in a variety of settings - a non-profit, at Boston University, a hospital, and as a press secretary on Capitol Hill. The general consensus I took away was their appreciation for the program, their advice to enjoy it while we have the chance, and to establish as many personal and professional connections as possible. A consistent theme repeated throughout the Q&A session was their belief that they were lucky in their job searches and placements. True, timing and the right fit can be a powerful combination. However, I would argue that their successes and professional careers likely have nothing to do with luck. As an old saying goes, "luck is what happens when preparation and opportunity meet." I also like, "you create your own luck." I tend to believe they did indeed create their own luck, through working hard, establishing connections, and being tenacious. Modesty will get you far, too. The former students have clearly mastered that as well.