CHRIS MAYER
Living Assistant
It has been said that all people are all searching for something. Whether it’s a set of car keys, a meaningful relationship or God, individuals spend much of their lives in pursuit of different ends. Senior Colby Peterson takes this quest to another level by applying it to all parts of his life. Never settling for the given answers and always thirsty for another adventure, he spends lots of time probing for deeper, more meaningful knowledge.
“My life is spent searching for something new,” Peterson said. “I’m always looking for different answers to my questions and want to find them for myself.”
As an international studies major with an emphasis in Asian studies, Peterson has spent much of his college life abroad, including two weeks in Japan and two summers in Germany.
Growing up in Thousand Oaks, he said he was always eager to get out and explore the world. His first chance came when he was accepted to Pepperdine’s international program in Heidelberg, Germany. He broke his ankle in two different places just a few weeks before his departure date, though, and the adventurous spirit did not return until several surgeries later. Today, he’s as lively as ever.
If you could resurrect two musicians and have them play a concert, who would they be?
Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon and Bradley Nowell from Sublime.
What’s your favorite place you’ve been to in the world?
Kyoto, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, because I read a story about a guy who burned it down and justified his actions by saying he wanted to destroy something beautiful, and it is exactly what you imagine old Japan to be.
So what beautiful thing would you like to destroy?
It would be great to go down in history as the guy who destroyed the pyramids.
Why?
Nothing against them. It would just be great to tear something down in a matter of minutes that took millions of man-hours to create.
What is your proudest achievement in life?
Getting this far and still being alive.
You hadn’t planned on making this far?
I don’t really plan on anything except traveling the world.
Give me a list of places you plan on going and what you want to do there.
I plan on going to Japan and teaching English to kids. I also want to go to Russia and see it, and Africa to go on Safari and live with tribal people. I also plan on studying under a yogi in India at some point in my life.
A yogi, like the bear?
No, no, no. They are yoga masters. I recently have become interested in yoga and figure if I want to learn how to do something right, I should go to the source.
What other areas of your life do you apply this philosophy to?
Learning Japanese and languages in general. I went to Japan to improve my Japanese and also spent time in Germany to help my German. I also do this when trying to learn different things. I enjoy reading original material instead of critiques, reviews or summaries.
Any parting words?
The truth doesn’t lie.
What does that mean?
You will find out for yourself one day, my friend.
09-29-2005
