Student Voices

40 Tuesdays, 40 Terriers, 40 Inspiring Pieces of Advice

Highlights from a year of #TerrierTuesdays

This year, our Instagram #TerrierTuesdays series brought new friends into our lives virtually and showcased students’ journeys to BU, where they are today, and their plans after graduation. Our goal in sharing their stories? To inspire others to follow their own interests and take advantage of all the resources at Boston University to turn their passions into a successful college experience and future. #TerrierTuesdays isn’t about BU as an institution—it is about connecting students with one another. It is about realizing someone is in a club you really want to join or has the same niche hobby as you. While no two stories are alike, each post ends with the same question: “What advice do you have for your fellow Terriers?” Read and be inspired.

Faisal Halabeya (CAS’22)

“Try on different versions of yourself, follow the advice you are given—or don’t! That’s okay too! As long as you learn something about yourself and the world around you, your time will be well spent. And finally, be kind to yourself before all else.”

Caroline Olesky (CGS’20, CAS’22)

“Take advantage of every opportunity. Ask your professors about research opportunities. And don’t forget to thank the people who got you here.”

Nick Telesmanic (COM’22)

If there’s an opportunity or leadership position available for you at a student organization, go for it! If someone told me when I was a senior in high school that I would be running the sports section of a newspaper, appearing on a sports talk show, and working with a goodwill extension of the New England Patriots by my sophomore year of college, I would have called them insane.”

Morgan Clark (COM’22)

“Take advantage of the city we’re in! The BU Bubble can hold you back, so be sure to go out and explore.”

Avsar Rana (CAS’20)

“My biggest message would be mastering the art of confidence and not fearing failure. If you are confident in yourself and everything you do, then you have nothing to be afraid of. If you don’t put yourself out there, you will never know what you are capable of and you will always be restrained. Instead of asking ourselves, what do we have to lose? we should actually be asking ourselves, what do we have to gain?”

Kyle Hammalian (Pardee’22)

“You can’t give away what you don’t have. You have to be your own number one priority. Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health come before academics or extracurriculars. Success is hard to come by, and perhaps not even worth achieving, if you don’t take care of yourself first. We can’t do it alone either—lean into your fellow Terriers.”

Josee Matela (COM’20, Pardee’20)

“Every morning is the chance to have the greatest day of your life. So take advantage of it and be good to each other!”

Liz Stubbs (Sargent’21)

“You’ll meet lots of people who will seem like they know what they’re doing. They probably don’t. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Happiness and success look different on everyone.”

Oliver Pour (CGS’20, COM’22)

“GET INVOLVED! Getting involved in clubs and organizations on campus is more than just the time commitment, but rather a way to get to know other people, be immersed in a community and to be a part of something greater than yourself.”

Kim Cahill (CAS’20) 

“Never strive to be the one that sleeps the least, is the most stressed, never has time to see their friends, and has the hardest classes. Strive to be the one who spends the most time doing things they enjoy, studying something they are passionate about, and makes lifelong memories with their friends.”

Rownyn Curry (Pardee’21) 

“It’s hard not to be swept along by everyone else’s accomplishments and feel like your timeline isn’t lining up with your peers. Just know that it’s okay to be ‘behind’ or to not have had 6,000 internships. Just enjoy your time in college and learning more about yourself, human relationships, and life is enough. We all move at our own pace.”

Emily Perelman (CAS’22)

“I would urge all Terriers to really think about what they’re passionate about and not just what looks good on a résumé when you’re seeking out jobs and clubs. I think it’s just as important to figure out what you don’t like as finding what you do like, and the only way to do that is to explore your interests.”

Nicole Somerstein (Questrom’21)

“Some of the best memories you’ll have in these four years at BU are going to come from spontaneous decisions and last-minute plans. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Most importantly, make sure you’re doing things that you love and that you surround yourself with people who make you happy!”

Imani Roberson (COM’20)

“Just be grateful for the time we have here (the good, the bad, and ugly). It’s all preparing you for the next chapter. Life is short, and the four years we have here are even shorter, so make it count!”

Hessann Farooqi (CAS’22)

“Register to vote! Voting is one of the most important ways to make your voice heard in our country. Get out there and do it, including in those local elections that happen at random times in the year.”

Archelle Thelemaque (COM’21)

“Be mindful that while I am here to speak and advocate for student needs that I am only one Black woman among a sea of brilliant young Black people at BU and in the world and will not capture every nuance of the Black experience; however, what I can do is use this platform to shed light on what is happening around the world and showcase what ways we can all take action.”

View Archelle’s important Terrier Takeover on why Black Lives Matter here.

Sonja Caballero (COM’21)

“Don’t worry if you don’t know what your passion is; once you find something you love, don’t ever let anyone tell you it’s not good enough.”

Greta Bauer (CAS’23)

“Don’t be afraid to reach out! You never know about anything until you try.”

Alex Ross (COM’22)

“Never be you afraid of who you are. Never tell me the odds. I guess when my dream job is one only two people have, ignoring the odds is something I’m quite familiar with.”

Simran Singh (CAS’22)

“Stepping out of a comfort zone is the most powerful thing you can do. Whether that be saying ‘Hi’ to someone, taking a PDP, going to office hours, or trying new food, you can’t lose anything by just trying—so you might as well go for it.”

Hailey Hart-Thompson (CAS’21)

“I personally am so afraid of change and the only way to break that cycle is to accept opportunities you’re afraid of. If you are vocal about what excited you and chase it, BU is a place to learn and grow.”

Eshita Rahman (CAS’22)

“There’s no one way your college experience is supposed to look. We all have expectations, and expectations aren’t bad, but sometimes it’s important to take a step back and instead of comparing your experience to expectations, or what your friends are doing, or what your parents want, remember you are on your own journey.”

Emma Cohen  (COM’21)

“Stop waiting. You don’t have to wait until graduation to start achieving your goals and using your skills. If you have passions, put them to work!”

Evan Jimenez (COM’23)

“Things are going to be tough this year, and it will be easy to feel like you’re alone. With the world as it is, it is as important as ever to maintain strong bonds with people around you, and establish new ones with different people. Find those people and explore your passions with them.”

Malaika Moyer (COM’21)

“Make the most of every opportunity. You never know where it’ll lead you!”

Sari Cohen (COM’22)

“It is super important that we all do our part and stay healthy this semester. BU is incredible, whether it’s the professors, the classes, the opportunities, the people, or the city we get to call home. Cherish that!”

Eliza Clark (CGS’19, Pardee’21)

“Make friends with people in your classes! Not only are they a great resource for studying, it’s a great way to meet people you may have not otherwise encountered.”

Amos Mwaura (CAS’22)

“Say hi to that person! Ask that question! Apply for that internship! Though the feeling of failure is scary, the feeling of regret is much worse.” 

Ben Hunnewell (CAS’22)

“Find ways to get involved! BU is on the larger side, so if you don’t find your own community within the school, you could get lost in the crowd. Great ways to do this would be through athletics, clubs, or fraternities or sororities.”

Evan Brown (COM’23)

“Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and step outside of your comfort zone! When I committed to BU, I had a picture-perfect image of what these four years would look like. And guess what? My first year was far from that picture, but I already know that my time at BU has been so much more rewarding than if I’d stuck to those first impressions.”

Sophia Delia (ENG’23)

“You’ll never regret adventuring. Try new foods, make your own family, and take full advantage of the opportunity to be authentic.”

Katie Wilson (SHA’23)

This semester is going to look different, no doubt, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of it. You can still put yourself out there by trying new things and virtually reaching out to others. We need to look for the positives every day in order to have the best semester possible!”

Hrithika Ravuri (Sargent’21)

“I know college can be scary and overwhelming at first, but my biggest piece of advice would be to put yourself out there as much as you can! Your college years go by so quickly and you should try to take in as much as you can before you graduate.” 

Tess Dekker (Wheelock’22, CAS’22)

“Take advantage of having four years to explore Boston! There is so much to do both on and off campus, and your time at BU will go by more quickly than you think. Just remember to be safe, and wear a mask!”

Kate Collins (COM’22)

“I would love to tell people just to be themselves in college and follow the path their gut is telling them to take. If people are their truest form, everything is sure to fall into place where it’s supposed to.”

Michael Khalilzad (Questrom’22)

“Don’t do something because you think or were told it’s the right path. Follow your passion because, in the end, that will often result in the greatest outcome. Even if you are hesitant on following your passion in certain situations, such as at school, work, or life, I still encourage you to try.”

Ariane Vigna (COM’22, CAS’22)

“Challenge yourself, but don’t forget to be proud of how far you’ve come. Make sure to enforce boundaries and say ‘yes’ to activities and commitments that will nourish your soul, not just enhance your résumé.”

Angela Yang (COM’23, CAS’23)

“Messing up is inevitable, so don’t fear it. You’re here to learn, and part of that is to take chances and dive headfirst into things you’ve never done before. Every experience will help you grow, whether professionally or personally.”

Dahlia Maleh (COM’21)

“Go to that virtual event. Whether it be a comedy show hosted by @fckitwontcutit or a speaker from the @BUHTC, be a part of something.”

Hayley Lerner (COM’21)

“It’s okay to be busy, in fact, I think it’s important to be. Treasure your nights spent staying up late working on assignments with friends. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Apply for all the internships you can, invest yourselves in clubs and activities, choose classes you’re really interested in.”