SHANNON URTNOWSKI
Living Editor
Chances are you have probably seen senior Chris Chang around campus. He has gotten his feet wet in a number of different activities and programs at Pepperdine. He is a motivated student with a number of ambitions in life, yet he also knows how to maintain a sense of balance.
Chang, a sports medicine major, is active as a University Ministries worship leader, the captain of the men’s soccer team, the president of the Inter-Fraternity Council, a Celebration Chapel music intern and a Student Activities worker.
With all of this on his plate, it is a wonder that Chang ever has any time to sleep. But, he pulls it all off and even has time for study and fun.
I understand you play the guitar and sing. How did you first get involved with music?
I actually started playing bass guitar back in the day, like probably when I was a sophomore in high school. My youth pastor gave me the opportunity to go and play and be a part of the worship team, and I did that. That kind of gave me the opportunity to get interested in leading eventually, and he kind of took me under his wing and taught me how to play guitar. It carried through, and I had success with that.
And what about soccer? How did you first get involved?
I have played soccer my whole life, and when I came here I was interested in playing D1, but obviously we don’t have a D1 soccer team here.
I was actually more involved with volleyball in the years past instead of soccer because I was busy with everything. But, this year there was not going to be a team until I decided to head it up. Now, we have a team of five guys. But, my overall interest for soccer — I guess I am kind of a health freak, so I like to keep in shape and soccer keeps you doing that.
What are your future plans?
Well, my ultimate dream is to eventually one day be swinging across a vine in an Amazon jungle in a loin cloth as a medicine man in a village. That is what I really want. I want to get involved with medical missions.
My hopes are first to travel to somewhere in Latin America to learn Spanish. But eventually, I want to get into medical school and become a doctor or physician.
And, then I want to go back overseas to third-world countries to help with more medical missions and aid places that need basic, basic stuff — places where no one is willing to go to.
How did you first get interested in that?
I went on a Honduras medical mission and, at that time in my life, it was a crossroads in a way because I was choosing between if I even wanted to do medicine or not. And, I was really turned off to the idea of taking hard classes and really having to bust my chops to make a grade. But, after going there and seeing the poverty, it really opened my eyes. I want to go and reach out to those people and share with them what we have.
What do you like to do for fun?
I am a huge surfer. I try to surf at least three, four or five times a week. Surfing is my life. I grew up in Huntington Beach, so I am a beach boy. I am not your typical Asian guy who does chess club or math club and stuff like that. And, I am also training for a Half Iron Man. I have a lot of ambitions in my life.
Who have been the major influences in your life?
Well, besides my parents, who have always been behind me and supported me and encouraged me to do what I want to do, I have had a couple youth pastors and youth ministers that are great and have taken me under their wings.
One in particular back home, his name is Rick, has been a really big mentor for me. He is the one who taught me to play guitar, taught me how to sing, taught me how to be a leader in church and outside of church — how to live my life as an example for everyone else.
And, people have been keeping me accountable, like my roommate and the other guys in my apartment. They have all been really great.
11-02-2006