The midterm weeks are about to finish up, so that can only mean one thing—time to relax! After tedious and exhausting long-nighters and early morning cram sessions, we Thank God when It’s Friday because we cannot wait to reunite with friends, attend on-campus events or go out to parties, leaving the stress behind! You could leisurely start on new projects or assignments but without the pressure. It might even be time to take a break and ponder career options for next summer. So, when you are figuring out what to do on weekends, do you know where to find the Student Activities Calendar? Hesitate? When working on rigorous assignments or preparing hard-core presentations, we tend to scavenge for study lounges or quiet rooms in Mugar or in Pardee. But, did you know that there are several other on-campus research centers and libraries? Surprised? If we are struggling in a class, dealing with relationship issues, stressing about a major choice, or worrying about not finding an internship, our first instinct is to rush to our closest friends or our parents for advice and comfort. However, were you aware of the University counseling services or Career Center workshops? Negative?
Ultimately, the real issue is how uninformed we might be about the plethora of student resources that BU offers. Furthermore, I believe that having knowledge of the following three University assets will surely transform you into an in-the-know Boston University student, making your experience on campus a little bit more balanced while remaining all-around engaged.
1. Student Activities Office (SAO)
This particular acronym is one you need to have etched into your brain. The Student Activities Office not only organizes events and helps manage student organizations, but also posts weekly events on its virtual calendar and invites students to occasional hangouts. For instance, SAO arranges setups in the GSU Metcalf Ballroom for the Beanpot and Super Bowl. How fun would it be to watch both games on a 20-foot screen? The goal of SAO is to connect BU students with the University through monthly social events. In the meantime, visit the Student Activities Office website regularly and select the Events or News tab to find out what fun-filled activities are happening in the upcoming week. Your epic weekend is only a click away.
2. Libraries
Mugar Memorial Library is probably the most well known library on campus. Most of us make an effort to visit this hotspot to study or conduct research. On the topic of research, you might have heard of The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center (HGARC), which is housed in Mugar. HGARC holds the documents, photographs, books and other material of notable figures in an array of fields such as politics, public relations, film, etc. The Center provides Student Discovery Seminars and Student Internships as well. In addition, some of you may have wondered if you could rent out library books. You can! The BU WorldCat Local link allows any BU member to borrow books from Mugar as well as other University libraries. Other libraries? Yes, there are plenty of other libraries that are accessible to all BU students, faculty, and staff. Interestingly, a number of the Schools, including Theology, Engineering, Law, and Music, have their own libraries that provide research tools and subject-related material to various groups of students. Even if you are not enrolled in any of those Schools, you have full access to their facilities and the liberty to browse bookshelves all day long.
3. Counseling and Career Services
The Boston University Counseling and Wellness Center offers students with mental health services, however personal counseling is provided through Student Health Services (SHS), which is stationed at 881 Commonwealth Avenue. If you need to speak with someone about personal concerns or ask a professional for health guidance, the SHS supplies staff psychologists and Student Health Ambassadors. In addition, there is a list of wellness programs on the SHS website that range from Stress Buddy to Coffee Talk: Relationship Chats. In the Center of Career Development (CCD), you can form useful relationships with career counselors. The CCD holds more than 10 workshops that assist students with resumes, cover letters, interviewing, career hunting, and much more. In addition to the workshops, there are invaluable career services such as the BU CareerLink. This link provides the opportunity to search for internships, sign-up for career expos, and even schedule Career Counseling appointments. All of the University resources are available to you 24/7. These hidden treasures are pure gold and each are worth finding. You have the information, now take a break and go explore!