At the beginning of every school year, I am a nervous wreck.
Without fail, I spend the last days of summer vacation not relaxing, but stressing over various problems that are never as bad as I make them out to be.
This year, I came to the startling realization that there will be more new faces than familiar ones when I enter the Caf. Also, because I completed my minor, I will no longer be taking a much-loved sequence of classes. A lot of the friends that I looked up to have graduated. To make a long story short, I had a minor existential crisis.
This was different than my crises three years ago, where I was worried about whether I’d do well in those aforementioned classes or if I would even make lifelong friends I could go to for advice.
Our time in college is insanely short. It lasts an average of four years, and because the life expectancy in the U.S. is about 79 years, that means it’s only about 5% of our lives.
An absolutely bonkers amount of change — moving from a senior in high school to someone entering the workforce or grad school — takes place in this 5%, and change can be scary.
But this change is not necessarily a bad thing. Being nervous about change means you care about the outcome and you have a vested interest in things going well.
And I really, really want this year to go well. I love Pepperdine, and I’ve loved my years here — whether in person on Malibu’s campus, studying abroad in D.C. or through a Zoom screen — each moment that I have been at Pepperdine has been an opportunity for growth and change.
Pepperdine — and the people here — are truly special. Each new person you connect with has an amazing story, and I have been privileged to share some of these stories through the Graphic and walk alongside my friends as we all write the next chapter.
To any new students, I want to say, greet these opportunities with open arms. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, the best part of Pepperdine is the people, so take the time to get to know them. Grab Pizookies, go square dancing and go swimming at the beach with the people you encounter. Take in each moment — even the late nights in Payson, when you’re staring at an essay that is three pages too short, contemplating why you chose this major.
To returning students, capture and cherish the little unique moments. Laugh hysterically with your best friends in study rooms at 1:00 a.m., when you’re so tired the most inane things feel like the funniest joke in the world. Go to your favorite spot on campus that you’ve visited a million times and take in the beautiful view.
Going into this year, I want to welcome the changes that await me. I’m taking a surfing class, making a list of the top coffee shops around Malibu and planning on hiking to the Cross for the first time.
As we welcome the new academic year and find shelter in the calm before the storm, accept the coming change, and see where the waves take you.
Prepare to get the most out of this 5%.
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Follow the Graphic on Twitter: @PeppGraphic
Contact Samantha Torre via Twitter (@Sam_t394) or email: sam.torre@pepperdine.edu
