Pepperdine’s picturesque view is the perk that sets it apart from other small, private schools. However, this week Pepperdine Probz is here to tell you that living next to the ocean is not all fun and games. A near-daily woe of the Malibu student is the unwieldy glare of the ocean. This blinding ocean reflection works its way into multiple daily routines, making designer polarized sunglasses an obvious necessity (really, I want to see a Pepperdine student who doesn’t own a pair of sunglasses). Driving on the PCH, walking to class and beach trips are all activities drenched in the sun, due to the proximity of the ocean.
A visit to the beach is a risk in itself, as the ocean glare ensures an uneven tan. How are students supposed to maintain a radiant sun-kissed glow with this burden of reflection? It requires strict adherence to rotating and maintaining even sun exposure — which totally ruins the opportunity to nap.
Driving becomes much more tedious and hazardous when the ocean has its say. Need there be added stress to parallel parking on campus? Struggling to wedge your car between a BMW and a Mercedes is already a high-stakes task, and the addition of the blinding glare takes it to a whole other level of struggle. Not to mention the guaranteed pain of cruising down Seaver Drive at sunset. Since, you know, being able to see is kind of non-negotiable when driving.
Walking to class presents an entirely different problem. Not only does it require prioritizing space in your book bag for a pair of sunglasses year-round, but there’s also an increased difficulty level of recognizing coming passersby.
Let me set the scene. You leave your room to responsibly make your way to class on time, when suddenly the glare of the sun off the ocean blinds your expedition down Lower Dorm Road. Impaired by the conditions, you fail to recognize a friend coming your direction, and consequently hurt their feelings, or have stop and make emotional repairs. Thus, the glaring sun impedes your relationships and your studies, making you late to class because of the apology.
Finally, probably the most serious struggle of all is the impossible laptop and phone screen glare, which inhibits even the most dedicated technology user. Essentially any place where the ocean’s amplified sun rays are present becomes a phone and computer no-go zone. Want to study on alumni? Nope — not unless you are about to turn your brightness all the way up and let that laptop battery live for 20 minutes. Trying to text a friend or FaceTime? Forget it, unless the device is covered in a rare glare-free screen cover.
Clearly, the ocean presented as the shining glory of Pepperdine’s campus shines too bright when it teams up with the sun. Students have to take extreme measures to maintain a normal lifestyle under such harsh conditions.
Make sure to tweet with the hashtag #pepperdineprobz with your own reflective hardships and the other Pepperdine-specific misfortunes!
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