Kiera Scholten
Living Assistant
Imagine cruising down the 10 freeway with windows down, sunglasses on and “California” by Phantom Planet blaring from the car stereo. A moment of darkness, and then, PCH! The sunshine warms the entire being. A glimpse of the bright, sparkling blue of the Pacific sends tingly feelings all over. Destination Malibu is here.
The big return to Malibu after a long summer is a different experience for everyone. For new students, it’s full of excitement and uncertainty. For those returning to Pepperdine this year, coming back means finding familiarity. The summer may have held an internship in a city far from home, travels to other countries, long hours of work or relaxing at home with friends and family.
Whether one’s summer was hectic, lonely, boring or fun, returning to Malibu can be an escape from the outside world or a retreat to a comforting past.
“It felt good to come back to a place where I’ve had so many awesome memories,” said sophomore Josh Damian.
For some, the return is an opportunity for self-reflection.
“I recognized the contrast between life at home and life here,” said junior Ryan O’Pallick. “I realized that I could be more myself and discover more about myself in this environment.” Though O’Pallick’s home is only a half hour away, its contrast makes it seem like a different world. Only after a long summer away does Malibu truly gain a sense of hometown comfort, he said.
Sometimes a summer away changes one’s perspective. Junior Jenessa Povey returned to Malibu after spending the summer in Kenya, a first-time experience for her.
“It doesn’t take money to make people happy,” Povey said. “(Kenya and Malibu are) two different worlds, but both amazing in their own way.” Though it was frustrating to see people here stress about small things, she still recognizes how blessed we are to live in a place so filled with “the beauty of God’s creation,” she said.
Some students have been gone from Malibu for more than just one summer. In fact, more than 200 students are returning from a full year abroad. What was familiar a couple of years ago may now seem foreign to them. Last year, they had to adjust to not only a new location, but a new culture in Argentina, Italy, France, England, Germany or China. But now as they readjust to Malibu, they may find it is as if they never left. Though their experiences may have affected their perspectives, they may find that Malibu is relatively unchanged. To some, it remains a comforting constant. One can always come back to the sun, surf and sand and not feel out of place.
Junior Andrea Diede spent last year in Pepperdine’s Florence program. Being away gave Diede new energy and excitement to be back. She felt like a freshman without the uncertainty.
“Traveling around Europe last year was an amazing adventure, but I’m really looking forward to putting that same energy I had there into life in Malibu,” she said.
After a long time away, returning students like Diede can look forward to jumping back into life in Malibu, while also knowing what to expect.
Malibu is unlike any other college town in the world. This past month, a Princeton Review survey voted Pepperdine the most beautiful campus in the country (last year the survey rated it number six).
But for some students, returning to Malibu has nothing to do with the beautiful scenery, but everything to do with the people that fill it. Junior Amber McMahon was overseas in Heidelberg, Germany, last year. She said that she became extremely close with the other students living in the Moore Haus (where Pepperdine students reside in Heidelberg). Being separated from them for four months over the summer was difficult, McMahon said. She recalls spending many sad hours over the summer looking at pictures from the experience. Now, being back in Malibu and able to see her Heidelberg “family” again, she said, “I learned that it doesn’t matter where you are; it’s the people who you are with.”
Returning to Malibu means many different things for Pepperdine students. Their summers may have been good or bad, but when they return to Malibu, it seems they can be confident that whether for the people, the place or a little bit of both, it’s a place they can call home.
08-29-2005
