Hello, world.
I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, and I hope that this new Perspectives column dedicated to my own obsessive rants will benefit your lives in some way. My writing style has been called quirky and, truthfully, I am the oddest person I know. I am a sophomore, a Thai food addict. I live in comfy clothes. My favorite animal is an otter.
Now that we have been introduced, my dear friends, let us discuss an important event that occurred yesterday and this morning: The Sophomore Exodus. We, the class of 2015, just sent more than half of our population off to conquer the bright and beautiful Study Abroad—six programs sprinkled throughout Europe, South America, and the Far East and encompassing everything from the iconic Tower of London to the bustling downtown of Shanghai to the sunrise over Lake Geneva.
Last September, we sophomores applied to our desired programs right as the clock struck midnight. Dreams rode on the press of the “submit” button. Dreams of walking on the cobblestones or dirt road or urban turf that would lead back home after a long weekend of traveling. Dreams of the great International Programs staff and dreams of the student applicants. We had heard the stories as well as the myths of those unforgettable and life-changing months of that beautiful sophomore experience from many a returning student. The spell of study abroad had been cast over us.
As for myself, I want to breathe the air that only exists atop the Swiss Alps. So I will be leaving for Lausanne, Switzerland next spring. That being said, studying abroad is not for everyone. Indeed, this year, the Malibu Program promises such enticements as co-ed and themed housing, weekend excursions to Catalina, and the sheer pleasure of being a hop and a skip away from Lily’s Café & Pastries. But for those who found their hearts’ desires in a study abroad program, the glowing future permeated their every thought until they were constantly imagining themselves camping on the Great Wall of China or gazing upon the sunset glory of Old Town Heidelberg or tango-ing the night away in Buenos Aires.
As the student body at large returned to school over the past week, those who had opted for the yearlong or fall semester programs could be found crashing on couches, floors, and even hammocks all around campus. Pepperdine was clearly the temporary residence of choice before leaving to go abroad.
And then 60% of the sophomore class left within the span of forty-eight hours. Goodbye, friends, we will meet again. Now, campus is by no means empty (thanks largely to the gazillion new freshmen), but the Sophomore Exodus cannot help but have an impact on us. Because, let’s face it, we love our fellow sophomores. And we miss them now that they are currently scattered to the four corners of the world, having unforgettable adventures, and reppin’ their Pepperdine pride.
From all of us holding down the fort here in Malibu to all of you currently dealing with jet lag and strange (if not delicious) cuisine: have the time of your lives. And don’t come home unless you do. See every mishap as a story to tell future generations of potential study-abroad enthusiasts. Go explore your city and every city to the fullest. Push yourself to the limits. No comfort zones allowed. Side note for those of you going to Florence: please, for the sake of sweet carbohydrates, stuff yourselves with homemade pasta and gourmet pizza for me, okay?
Good luck, sophomores! And ayo waves.
