The Bruin has been here longer than anyone on this campus.
It’s even older than every campus building. And it’s
safe to say that like a fine wine, it has only gotten better with
age.
I would like to think that this year will be no different.
Every year the staff has big plans for the coming year, and we
all try to, in one way or another, make our mark on this
institution that is known as a vital part of the UCLA
community.
I guess we try to come up with a new blend, or we try to
repackage our product to make sure you still pick it up on your way
to class.
Sometimes, I’m even convinced that the content of The
Bruin would benefit students more than learning oceanography. (Yes,
I do have something against that class.)
With its many eyes and ears, The Bruin strives to hold
“the adults” on this campus responsible and remind them
that students won’t let detrimental policies go
unnoticed.
And our most important job ““ we try to poke our nose
anywhere we possibly can and capture stories of those of you who go
beyond your normal duties as students.
I’m talking about students who devote hours to causes like
outreach, or those who practice for months to put on a show that
will share their culture with the rest of the campus. I’m not
asking you to go out there and try to experience all of this
first-hand; that wouldn’t be a reasonable attempt and, after
all, that’s what The Bruin is here for.
I am, however, advising you to try and find a way to make UCLA
smaller for yourself by finding something you are passionate about.
In turn, you will also make this a better place to live and get an
education.
A few years from now (or so I am told) you won’t care what
grade you got in “Introduction to Economics.” You
won’t remember your professor, and it’s likely
you’ll even forget half the content of the course.
However, doing something that benefits the larger community will
teach you how to think past your own self-interest. And trust me,
you will make great friends and memories along the way too.
The best place to start is where you see potential for
change.
It might make me sound naive as I enter my fourth year, but I
believe that ultimately every single student here has a chance to
make UCLA a better place every year ““ or at the very least,
try to.
It comes down to making a choice. Will you let yourself drown in
the sea of students on Bruin Walk? Or will UCLA be more than a
name-brand education? Today is as good a day as any to decide
that.
The Bruin is my “thing” (in case you missed that).
Maybe you will find your calling after a long walk through the
empty campus at night (it’s a whole other world) or it will
hit you while walking back from Wooden. It might even come to you
during a particularly boring discussion for the aforementioned
oceanography class.
Whatever it may be, may your experiences be different from those
of the person sitting next to you in that huge lecture hall.
Zohoury is the 2005-2006 managing editor; e-mail her at
nzohoury@media.ucla.edu. She realizes that you might want to take
her advice with a grain of salt … and a wedge of lime.