By DeNae Thomas
Assistant Lifestyles Editor
It’s a simple question — one that everyone asks each other after a vacation. But when you ask Rob Garey what he did during Christmas break you learn quickly that Garey is an exceptionally involved guy.
“I tend to get bored extremely easily,” Garey said.
During the three weeks back in his hometown of Seattle, Garey went skiing in Canada for his 21st birthday, helped coach his sisters’ basketball team, almost reached the summit of Mount St. Helens, did some Christmas shopping and spent time with his family and friends.
On campus, Garey keeps himself stimulated with several activities in addition to his studies. He is the Resident Advisor of Rockwell Towers, a member of the Pepperdine Ambassadors Council, involved in Pepperdine’s outdoor club, and is in the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Since he is a junior, Garey is busy making plans for his future.
“As an international business major, I have a real interest in how business builds relationships and builds bridges to other cultures,” Garey said.
He learned a lot about international business during an internship last summer when he worked for a small consulting company based out of Washington. He was able to go to China and work for Wal-Mart and Home Depot, both of which are expanding internationally.
When he graduates, Garey said he definitely wants to travel. “I want to see the world and interact with different cultures,” he said.
Even with his international business major, Garey plans on entering the mission field sometime in his future. “Everyone has a ministry, but they are not necessarily in ‘the’ ministry,” Garey said.
“I want to start off with business because it is probably one of the most dynamic mission fields out there today, especially in the international scene. I see it as a huge opportunity for our generation to influence cultures that have been really closed-minded,” Garey said.
Garey hopes being in business will open a lot of doors, and later plans on having a full-time ministry position.
In the meantime, Garey is continuing to prepare for an international career and is planning on attending an overseas program this summer through another university based in Canada.
“The program is like an Asian business trip where we go to Japan, China and Korea,” Garey said.
Do you ever wish you were back in Florence?
All the time. Especially when talking to people who are over there right now and people who just came back. It brings back a lot of memories. I am extremely jealous of them.
You were an RA in Florence. Why did you decide to be one again in Malibu?
When you are away for a year you get really disconnected from everything that happens on campus, so I thought being an RA again would give me an opportunity to get involved in students’ lives and help plan events. I think I am going to retire the jersey after this semester, but we will see what happens.
What do you miss the most about Seattle?
Washington is God’s country. Yeah, it rains a lot, but we use that as an excuse to keep people away because we don’t want overcrowding up there. It’s the perfect place. The people are friendly. It’s green. There is a lot to do. You have the mountains. You have the ocean and another country just north of it. Also, I’m not a big coffee drinker, but if I was that would be another reason to love it there.
How did you end up coming to Pepperdine?
It was kind of a last minute thing. I got my application in on the cut-off date, so I limited myself to two things after high school. It was either going to come to Pepperdine or go to Europe and study the Bible for a year at a Bible school in Germany. I felt led to come to Pepperdine.
What is the most defining thing about you?
The main defining factor about me is that I love God. That is the main consuming thing that influences everything that I do — my relationships and the goals and dreams that I have.
Do you have any fears about the future?
One of my biggest fears is not being able to live up to the potential that I know God has called me to live up to. God has given me so many opportunities and I am constantly plagued with the fear that if I don’t live to my potential, that I would have failed God in some way, and failed my family and my generation.
Who is your role model?
I have tried to pattern my life after David from the Bible. He was a man after God’s own heart and that is one of my goals in life. That should be every man’s goal. Yes, David was a sinner, but he was also radical for God. He was adventurous and wild and crazy and breaks the mold of how we view Christian men in our society.
What are your views on the lack of dating on campus?
I think it’s a good thing because you have an opportunity to develop friendships with girls as opposed to beginning your relationship with the intention of dating or even marriage. I am a firm believer that you will marry your best friend.
Ideally, what do you want to do when you graduate next year?
Buy an around the world ticket and spend the next year traveling the world. And then see what happens from there.
Is there anyone you want to give a shout-out to?
I want to send my love to Trevor McLaren and wish him a warm welcome to Towers. Watch out ladies.
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
Grateful.
January16, 2003
