College is a journey to discover yourself

Monday, 6/23/97 College is a journey to discover yourself
EXPERIENCES: Higher education not only for gaining academic
knowledge but searching for who we are as individuals as well

Leaving home for college triggered a barrage of advice on me.
Everyone had their two cents to offer. The most profound and
enduring of those sage words was: "If you see a turtle sitting atop
a fence post, know that that turtle didn’t get there by itself."
These words probably confuse you as much as they continue to puzzle
me. Yet, within these simple words is the lesson that we are all
products of history, be it personal or public. Who I am today is
the sum of my experiences as an individual and as a member of a
community. Who I am going to be will be shaped by things to come.
Four years have elapsed since I entered UCLA. It seems impossible
to express the emotions that consumed me as I embarked on a journey
that would fundamentally change me forever. As my fifth year
approaches it is difficult to articulate the profound
transformations I’ve undergone. My family’s instructions and the
foundation they’ve given me certainly have contributed greatly to
the man that I am. However, the experience of stocking my own
refrigerator, paying (or not) the bills and accessing the infinite
knowledge a university provides is an awe-inspiring and
strengthening endeavor. As I reflect on the many obstacles I’ve
encountered (and the many still to come), I realize that they can
be counted as positive experiences as long as I learn from my
mistakes. It is OK to stumble, trip or fall flat on my face only if
I get right back up! Before you trek further, look back and assess
where you are. Ask yourself, "Could I have foreseen that obstacle?
If not, how did I respond?" Most importantly, "How will I handle a
similar situation in the future?" College is where many encounter
true freedom and full responsibility for the first time. Here there
is no one to remind you to clean your room, wash your clothes or go
to class. Whether you soar or flounder is solely within your
control. This little sabbatical away from the "real world" lends
plenty of time for personal reflection and growth. Alas, the moment
arrives to define for yourself who you are, free from outside
influences. At your finger tips are available every ideology,
religion or lifestyle you can imagine. Seize the volumes of
information buried in the tomes of the University Research Library
and Powell Library. It’s time for you to decide what is right and,
most importantly, what is right for you. A true search for
knowledge and love of learning forces one to question long-held
beliefs and traditions. What is to become of this intellectual
query, you ask? At the very least you will be firmly grounded in
your assumptions, or perhaps you will cast away your former shell
to embrace a new reality. The choice is yours! Coming of age is
always an exciting and frightening experience. The era we live in
is ripe with opportunity, promise and hope. The future has so many
possibilities. (I do not say this to sound cliche, but it is true.)
Just look at the Internet: It allows worldwide access to
information and communication. People from all corners of world are
able to share ideas in a matter of seconds. The face of politics,
media, trade and education are fundamentally and irrevocably
changing. The future of the supposedly indestructible AIDS virus is
in doubt. The success of protease inhibitors and other so-called
"cocktails" have reduced HIV in some patients’ blood below
detectable levels. Research and results are so promising that there
is talk of a "morning-after pill" that reduces the risk of
infection after exposure. Even President Clinton speaks of finding
a cure within 10 years. However, there are negatives to these
positives. Pedophiles are abusing the Internet’s resources to lure
children into their tangled webs of smut and other licentious
behavior. Sensitive financial, medical and personal information are
easily accessible to thieves and scam artists. New superviruses can
be spawned by the misuse of AIDS "cocktails" and "morning-after
pills," which may increase the epidemic exponentially. With every
chance to flourish there is an equal chance to fail. I offer these
two examples not to scare you, but rather to illustrate the amount
of caution, concern and foresight that is necessary to embark on a
crucial journey such as the one before you. We are all turtles
sitting atop fence posts, each with our own unique histories. The
road of life has many twists and turns, which will either confirm
or alter your current course. You begin your foray today into the
vast abyss of freedom, responsibility and opportunity called
college. There is nothing wrong with expecting success, but you
should prepare for a disaster. This way you are ready for the best
(and worst) life has to offer. To quote Dr. Seuss: "And will you
succeed? Yes! You will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)"
Enjoy! J. Jioni Palmer Previous Daily Bruin Stories: Losing
religion is common among college students , January 11, 1996
Discussion focuses on sexual relationships, self-knowledge, October
23, 1995

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