Pursuit | Spring 2014

VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 2 | SPRING 2014

CUSTOM COVER

CELL PHONE IDENTITIES SEE PAGE 12

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK

COMING BACK FROM LIVING ABROAD SEE PAGE 20

JENNIFER TRONTI LIVING FOR OTHERS DESPITE CANCER SEE PAGE 28

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EDITOR’S NOTE

(LEFT TO RIGHT) MEGAN PAULOS, KIRA KRAMER & BRADLEE LOCKE

BehindthePassion... …is a very well-developed team. Think about it like one of those group projects I know everyone loves in class. We have the take-charge types, the late ones, the coasters, the micro-managers, the idea makers and everything else that comes along with a group project.

From all of these people, though, this magazine was created. It might have taken many emails, phone calls and late nights, but like any project it was completed. The product is the beautiful concept of many voices coming into one cohesive package. We view this magazine as a piece of art — a representation of the lives on campus and what makes this school California Baptist University.

Every once in awhile we pull ourselves away from our studies, social media and Netflix to hold something in our hands that connects us to our surroundings and the lives inhabiting it. So, thank you for picking up this copy of the magazine and taking time to appreciate the beauty of all of the work that was put into it and to learn about each other, as well as soak up the lives present around you.

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TOP PHOTO by Fletcher Perkins | COVER PHOTO by Kira Kramer

CONTENTS | ISSUE 2

ARTS 06 10

TIO'S TACOS Giving Riverside some charisma GROWING UP IN THE '90S The good ol' days

10

TRENDS 12 15 16

CUSTOM COVER Cell phone identities CREATIVELY CONNECTED Social Media relationships

THRILLING NEW WAY TO ACCESSORIZE Pattern Pants

16

TRAVEL 18

CONFESSIONS OF A FEMALE TRAVELER Safety, culture and fashion

20 22 24

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK Coming back from living abroad TRAIL DUST A tale by a new adventurer BE CURIOUS Exploring the country

18

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SPOTLIGHT 26 28 36

JAY STOVALL A new creation story JENNIFER TRONTI Living for others despite cancer NATALIE SHADLE Leader of an adoption foundation

38

RELATIONSHIPS 38

SIBLINGS THAT STUDY TOGETHER Stay together

42 44

FRIENDS LIKE FAMILY Relationships beyond the classroom SMITH VS. SIMMONS Life between the two

LIFESTYLE 46 48 52

JUST HANGING OUT The leisure life CULTURAL DEMANDS Serving the nation before going to school.

GRACE VS. MIGHT Artists on ice

36 52

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PURSUIT STAFF | SPRING 2014 TOP ROW Jacob Armstrong, Tim Kothlow, Brianna Nelson, Steven Anderson, Kira Kramer | SECOND ROW Delaia Frederico, Megan Paulos, Monica Solano, Dr. Michael Chute | THIRD ROW Lauren Rios, Holly Pope, Sandra Romo, Sarah Jane O'Keefe | FOURTH ROW Meghan Martinez, Bradlee Locke | FRONT ROW Jillian Johnson, Mercedes Lebron, Rebekah Wahlberg Kira Kramer Editor in Chief Photographer Bradlee Locke Managing Editor Spotlight Editor Megan Paulos Art Director Arts Designer Delaia Federico Design Editor Spotlight Designer Jacob Armstrong Photo Editor

Mercedes Lebron Asst. Photo Editor

Matthew Swope Asst. Spotlight Editor

Stephanie Black Staff Writer

Andrew Castellano Arts Co-Editor

Holly Pope Relationships Editor

Hannah Llop Copy Editor

Monica Solano Arts Co-Editor

Meghan Martinez Relationships Designer

Laura Quach Copy Editor

Lauren Rios Trends Editor

Jillian Johnson Lifestyle Editor

Sam Palencia Trends Designer

Brianna Nelson Lifestyle Co-Designer Senior Writer

Lauren Fox Staff Writer Copy Editor

Sarah Jane O’Keefe Travel Co-Editor

Rebekah Wahlberg Copy Chief

Taylor Morris Travel Co-Editor Copy Editor

Marielle Sedin PR Manager Staff Writer

Steven Anderson Travel Designer Photographer

Jessica Bills Staff Writer Photographer Emily Gallina Photographer Michael Ring Illustrator Jessica Schoellerman Illustrator

Joanna Andrews Copy Editor

Sonya Singh Writing Coach

Emily Goodman Lifestyle Co-Designer

Sarah Sabesky Copy Editor

Sandra Romo Adviser

Renee Flannery Senior Writer

Brianne Fernandes Copy Editor

Dr. Michael Chute Program Director

Alex Korhely-Day Senior Writer

Pursuit Magazine is a student-produced, campus publication of California Baptist University 8432 Magnolia Ave. | Riverside, CA 92504 PURSUIT | 5

ARTS 6 | PURSUIT

ABSTRACT ART Martin Sanchez Alvarado’s design for this creative piece depicts a playful figure doing a handstand — a thinking outside the box style.

TIO’S TACOS GIVING RIVERSIDE SOME CHARISMA

BY MONICA SOLANO

Hidden away in the heart of downtown Riverside stands a peculiar Mexican restaurant full of abstract art constructed from some of the strangest items. Welcome to Tio’s Tacos.

Established by Martin Sanchez Alvarado in 1990, Tio’s Tacos has captured the attention of many people with its unusual art made of recycled trash. Shoes, toys, bicycles, empty bottles of hair care products and other household items are some of the recyclables found within the artwork. The art displayed in the family restaurant holds sentimental value for Alvarado, his wife and three daughters, as the majority of it was contributed from their own home.

“The one (piece) that is sentimental to all five of us in the family would be the chapel,” says Stephanie Sanchez, Alvarado’s eldest daughter.

“Growing up in Mexico, my mother always wanted a sanctuary to pray in, and my father built one for her out of the bottles served in our restaurant.”

Seafood, vegan and vegetarian dishes are among the many different choices the restaurant offers and serves in traditional Mexican style. Every three months, Alvarado likes to introduce something new to the menu and is constantly working on new art projects.

“When people enter my restaurant, I want them to get the impression that their mind is being transported to a different world,” Alvarado says.

Spencer Arnold, junior biochemistry and molecular biology double major, remembers his first time at Tio’s.

He was shocked by the number of bizarre sculptures and the delicious food.

CONTINUED

Photos by Emily Gallina

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HARD AT WORK Owner Martin Sanchez Alvarado is hard at work creating another masterpeice to add to the restaurant.

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“My favorite thing about the restaurant is when you walk into the ordering area there are immense amounts of multi-colored Spanish drinks,” Arnold says.

Casey Hall, junior communication disorders major, describes Tio’s as visually appealing with incredible food that makes the experience of visiting for the first time enjoyable.

“It has a flair to it that is unlike any other,” Hall says.

Alvarado says students from different universities in Riverside are a help toward making his restaurant a success.

The family gives back to the community by allowing students to use their restaurant for school projects. Those interested

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS These larger than life skeletons were built in celebration for the Dia de Los Muertos festival.

WELCOME Tio's Tacos greets its customers warmly with inspired art as they pull into the restaurant.

TWENTY-THREE YEARS AFTER THE OPENING OF HIS RESTAURANT, MARTIN SANCHEZ ALVARADO SAYS HE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH WHERE HIS LIFE HAS LED HIM. “Opening my own restaurant was always something I wanted to do,” Alvarado says. “Coming from Mexico, I fell in love with many things here in the U.S.” Born in Sahuayo Michoacán, Mexico, as 1968 the 10th child of a family of 18. working at age five due to his 1973 Began father’s death. in photography are welcome to come and snap photos of Alvarado’s art. Teachers who are interested in bringing their classes for field trips are also welcome.

“One thing I always remind my family is that in this life we have to help one another,” Alvarado says. “Because God and the community have blessed us so much, opening my restaurant is my way of giving back to them.”

Alvarado continues to work hard and utilize his creativity by helping others who have helped his American dream become a reality. Many who enter Tio’s Tacos come for the food but stay for the art.

age 16, he arrived in America. He 1984 At started his business by selling tacos, fruits and nuts in the park with his wife a few years after they were settled in America.

Alvarado noticed many recyclable objects and was inspired to turn them into art.

1990 Grand opening of Tio’s Tacos.

2014

LITTLE CHAPEL This chapel was built as a tribute to Martin Sanchez Alvarado's wife and holds sentimental value to his family.

One of Riverside's treasured restaurants and listed in the Top 25 Restaurants in Riverside by Allen Borgen, food and restaurant critic, for the "Let’s Dine Out Food and Travel" radio show on New’s Talk 590 KITE.

FROM HARDSHIP TO SUCCESS, ALVARADO IS REMINDED THAT "THROUGH HARD WORK, EVERY DAY CAN BE A WORK OF ART."

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BY ANDREW CASTELLANO

We read every book in the “Goosebumps” series. We rode our Razor scooters to and from school. We came home and sat down to watch “Rugrats” on Nickelodeon. We even discovered what on earth was in a Wonderball.

As ’90s kids, these are just a few of the things that we, as a generation, enjoyed during our childhood years.

Some trends from the ’90s have fallen out of fashion. Frosted tips and choker necklaces are no longer considered fashionable. However, other contributions from the decade remain a major part of life on the campus of California Baptist University.

“Whenever I see someone riding a Razor around campus, it reminds me of riding my scooter home from middle school,” says Joseph De Santis, senior public relations major. “It brings back good memories every time I see one.”

This nostalgia is common for those who are reminded of their childhood when relics of the ’90s are seen today. When people reflect on an old favorite television show or book, they experience this feeling. These memories serve as a window into the past.

“I loved to watch ‘Rugrats,’” says Areva Neely, junior business Illustration by Jessica Schoellerman

administration major. “I used to go on my own adventures just like I saw on the show.”

“Rugrats” was a television show on Nickelodeon that focused on a group of toddlers and their adventures. The show depicts how daily activities can become adventures when they are seen through a child’s imagination.

In addition to television shows, Neely says she also enjoyed reading books that were popular in the ’90s.

“I read the entire ‘Goosebumps’ series,” Neely says. “‘The Haunted Mask’ was definitely my favorite book when I was a kid.”

Many ’90s children embraced “Goosebumps,” a spine-chilling series of 176 books in which youngsters found themselves in scary situations.

Another aspect of ’90s culture that reminds people of their childhood are snacks, such as Wonderballs, the hollow chocolate spheres filled with surprise candy and a sticker. They are also famous for having catchy commercials.

“I was always so excited whenever my mom let me get a Wonderball,” De Santis says. “This snack was one of my favorites because it made eating chocolate fun.”

The ’90s are long gone but the people and trends that the age produced will live on for years to come.

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TRENDS

CUSTOM COVER WHAT DOES YOUR PHONE COVER SAY ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?

BY LAUREN RIOS

A piece of colored plastic surrounds a phone not just to protect it from damage.

It is more than that. A cell phone cover can describe the personality behind the person whose fingers type furiously away, updating his or her Facebook status or texting a friend about meeting up at Wanda’s Cafe.

“IT REPRESENTS MY LIKES AND INTERESTS. THE CASES ARE EITHER REALLY NERDY OR REALLY GIRLY.” CASSANDRA RAMEY, SENIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR

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“I CHOSE IT BASED ON THE DESIGN; IT SAYS THAT I AM PATRIOTIC. I LIKE THAT IT WAS THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THAT IT WAS REALLY INEXPENSIVE ON AMAZON.” ASHLEY KNAPP, SENIOR COMMUNICATION DISORDERS MAJOR

“I AM VERY CAREFUL WITH MY PHONE. I LIKE TO JOKE THAT I LIKE TO LIVE DANGEROUSLY.” JEFF BLANTON, FRESHMAN APPLIED THEOLOGY MAJOR

“IT SAYS I AM FUN AND VERY COLORFUL, LIKE A PEACOCK.”

“IT SAYS THAT I AM PRACTICAL. ACCOUNTANTS ARE VERY LEFT-BRAINED AND PRACTICAL.”

KYMBERLI CONN, JUNIOR NURSING MAJOR

JONATHAN FREY, SENIOR ACCOUNTING MAJOR

Photos by Kira Kramer

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SOCIAL MEDIA SITES RANKED BY POPULARITY

BY JILLIAN JOHNSON

More than a billion people around the world have created Facebook accounts as a means of staying connected. However, after taking a poll, it is clear that this is the least popular form of social media used by CBU students.

Because of the quickness and accessibility of it, Instagram received a large amount of positive feedback

by CBU students.

“Instagram is becoming more popular because it’s something new and exciting,” says Shelby Gardelius, sophomore kinesiology major. “Just like how MySpace died out when Facebook was becoming more popular, people are always attracted to the newest thing.”

Though Instagram may lose its popularity in the future, students have been drawn to this easy-to-use application that offers a quick way to post pictures on social media.

#1 INSTAGRAM Instagram is ranked No. 1 at CBU, receiving 65 percent of students' votes.

#2 TWITTER Twitter comes in second place, receiving 25 percent of the students' votes.

#3 FACEBOOK Facebook, though once the most popular form of social media, is losing ground as students admit to rarely updating their status or checking it on a consistent basis.

CREATIVELY CONNECTED

STAYING IN TOUCH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

BY JILLIAN JOHNSON

Silence fills the room while students’ thumbs work at lightning speed as they are tweeting, Instagramming and Facebooking.

Social media has integrated its way into the daily lives of students, making it easy for them to connect with friends and family at home. However, it also poses as a distraction from the workload that comes with being a college student.

Students come to California Baptist University from all over the country, leaving their families and even significant others to pursue an education. Staying in touch is only a click away for students feeling homesick.

Text messages, phone calls, Facebook status, Instagram pictures and tweets are all ways that students are able to inform friends and family about their lives.

“Moving far away was a huge decision to make for me and my family,” says Mara Gates, freshman biology major from Vacaville, Calif. “One thing that made that decision easier was social media. My mom, who is totally not tech-savvy, created a Facebook page, and I am able to post pictures and statuses so Illustrated by Michael Ring

she and my friends and family members can stay updated with my life.”

Katrina Samuelson, graphic design and digital media major, is in a longdistance relationship with her boyfriend in Trumbull, Conn., her hometown.

They text daily and Skype often to stay connected and up-to-date on each other’s lives.

“We plan on a weekly basis when we’re going to Skype,” Samuelson says. “We also post picture collages on Instagram on our monthly anniversaries.”

As a photographer, Samuelson says she likes to use Instagram. She not only posts pictures but uses it to see what her family is posting.

Though Samuelson and Gates agree that social media can be a hindrance when it comes to completing their homework, both say they enjoy being able to stay connected with their loved ones back home.

Texting and checking social media sites has become somewhat of an addiction for students today. Most students do not make it through the class period without checking their notifications.

Social media is also a large distraction both in and out of the classroom.

Though it effectively connects people, it must be used at the right time and not interfere with other areas of a student’s life.

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THRILLING NEW WAY TO ACCESSORIZE PATTERN PANTS SHOW YOUR SPUNKY SIDE

BY MARIELLE SEDIN

Time to hit the mall for the hottest spring trends. The first thing to toss in the shopping bag are patterned pants.

A lot of them.

“Pretty much anything looks good with patterned pants,” says Melissa V. Knapp, senior liberal studies major.

“You can dress it up, dress it down – whatever you want. They are really simple, easy and comfy.”

T-shirts and blouses are no longer the primary candidates for a splash of excitement in an outfit. Pants sporting plenty of design have become go-to pieces to add to the closet.

A possible starting point for this fad can be tracked down to the trending swag-filled surroundings of popular music festivals.

The connection between music and fashion has never seemed more current.

“They have taken the term hipster

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as a style and mixed it with this ’70s concert thing,” says Matthew J. Bragonier, senior graphic design major.

“That is where you get a lot of the Aztec prints and geometric shapes.”

While some people look for the most eye-catching prints, sticking to the basics is an easy way to incorporate this hot new look into a closet.

Pants with stripes or dots are often easier to work with than ones adorned with hibiscus flowers or American flags.

Leave those for the professionals.

With any trend, the most important rule for any wearer is to know what works for them and their body type.

“Know your body type and what looks good on you because everything looks different on everybody,” Knapp says. “It all depends on what looks good on you.”

The spring season is here and patterned pants are ready to rock.

Models: Regina Gosney and Matthew Bragonier.

5 TIPS FOR THE TREND Look around before settling on something.

Every store offers a different twist for the item you want.

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Read up. Magazines often feature how to wear the new trend and what combinations look best.

Know your body. This is the most important tip for anything in fashion.

Try simplicity f irst.

Incorporate the idea of the look into your wardrobe before going all-out.

5

Realize you do not have to like every trend. Every fad usually moves on at some point.

Photos by Marielle Sedin

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TRAVEL 18 | PURSUIT

BY SARAH JANE O’KEEFE

TRAVEL IS MORE THAN WELL-PACKED BAGS, PASSPORT STAMPS AND GOOD DEALS ON SOUVENIRS. LEARN THROUGH MY MISHAPS AND TRIUMPHS AND GET ADVICE FROM TRAVEL BLOG GURUS TO MAKE YOUR FUTURE TRAVELS WELL-DRESSED, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND SAFE FROM A VISIT WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES.

SAFETY NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE CULTURE

A LARGE SCARF IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

I have been lost in the alleys of Tokyo and taken the wrong bus in Turkey. Pickpockets have tried their hand at my bag in New York, Los Angeles and Orlando. International flight security has been increased to “red” the morning of my flight, and the other people staying in my hostel have walked in on me.

How is a woman supposed to travel safe?

“I travel with a safety whistle and a doorstop,” says Jodi Ettenberg, the travel blogger behind legalnomads. com. “The latter is to use if I’m solo in a room to keep the door closed, or at least to wake me up if someone is trying to come in at night. Both give me a little more peace of mind.”

Always sit down with a map and ensure a route and backup plan to your destination. Without having to focus on a map while walking, you can pay more attention to your surroundings and appear as less of a target.

Ettenberg acknowledges the fears, sociocultural attitudes toward women and realities of being a female traveler but says considerations need not change if a female is traveling as part of a group, couple or alone.

Offending another culture, whether intentionally or not, can hinder or endanger a traveler’s experience.

Ettenberg says she adjusts to cultures “the same way a man would adjust; by looking around, by doing pre-trip reading, by being sensitive to the body language you use, the body language of others and by respecting local customs of dress, erring on the side of being conservative versus not.”

Preparing beforehand and being aware of one’s surroundings are simple steps that can be used to bypass potential cultural offenses.

Showing respect for the culture around you will likely enhance your experience abroad.

In Turkey, I quickly learned to wear sunglasses to avoid inappropriate eye contact with males. This show of respect made connecting with other women easier, and I was able to enjoy a better connection with the locals.

Stylish is just one way to describe a Pashmina. Whether on a road trip or an international vacation, these scarves are handy in many ways.

Travel blogger Trish Mugg of Trip Styler says Pashminas are essentials on her travel list.

“I’m going out on a limb here, but I think a Pashmina is the do-all, be-all of packing light — the perfect blend of fashion and function,” Mugg says.

On a recent trek Mugg took through Turkey, she said her Pashmina was constantly around her neck, allowing her to wrap it around her head when in religious and traditional environments that called for such attire.

Take it from my painful experience: One of the worst ways to start a trip is with an uncomfortable flight. Do your body and your well-planned adventure a favor and keep a Pashmina handy for use as a blanket, shawl or roll for a doit-yourself neck pillow.

Illustration by Steven Anderson

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FOREIGN STOMPING GROUNDS Sierra van Leeuwen enjoys cross-cultural life on the island of Capri in Italy.

world totally different. My worldview was turned upside-down.”

Exhaustion, lack of sleep and Lundquist says his lifestyle while culture shock can be challenging for studying abroad in Rome was lifestudents who travel abroad, but the changing. He was able to meet a diverse factors incorporated in returning home group of people and was constantly can be equally as difficult. learning new things.

Global travel opens a door to a Lundquist says the most difficult variety of experiences. International part of his return home was relating to foods, foreign languages and cultural his friends in the same way. He explains differences are that his entire a few of the perspective on life, exciting aspects culture and people of traveling. changed after his trip.

However, the He says not shock of a everyone was different culture interested in his can throw a stories or understood traveler into the importance of -LANDON LUNDQUIST how they helped a homesick frenzy. shape who he is While some may think of culture today. Lundquist says he had to find a shock as only occurring when a person group of people to connect with who leaves his or her homeland, California had also traveled abroad.

Baptist University students explain that While these students experienced the reality of coming back to the states reverse culture shock, not all travelers proves to be just as troublesome. are affected in the same way.

Sierra van Leeuwen, senior “When I came home I adjusted communication studies major, says it well, and I was so thankful for all the was difficult for her to come back to little things I used to take for granted,” familiar surroundings after studying says Randi Martinez, senior Spanish abroad in Rome. and English double major.

“Reverse culture shock is Martinez says studying abroad in interesting,” van Leeuwen says.

Spain made her excited to return to the “Everything I saw and all the things I state where she could run errands and did all caught up to me and I was really eat American food. She even explains emotional.” that it was hard to remember she had Van Leeuwen says she grew spent the summer abroad. extremely close to her host home, and Culture shock is more than this made for an emotional goodbye. the struggles of adjusting to new “I let my heart be completely there surroundings somewhere far from and that made it very hard to leave,” home. As these CBU students share, van Leeuwen says. traveling can make the readjustment Landon Lundquist, senior to home life just as challenging, if not international studies says, “I see the more so.

BY LAUREN FOX

I SEE THE WORLD TOTALLY DIFFERENT. MY WORLDVIEW WAS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN.

Photos Courtesy of Sierra van Leeuwen and by Jacob Armstrong 20 | PURSUIT

MAP IT OUT Van Leeuwen creates a visual map of her favorite European locations.

FOOT WORK Stepping out of her familiar Converse, van Leeuwen steps into new Italian leather Oxfords.

AIRPLANES ARE ALREADY LIKE A CROWDED, UNNERVING CIRCUS AND THESE PEOPLE QUICKLY FORCE THE EXPERIENCE TO GO FROM ENJOYABLE TO DREADFUL. HERE'S HOW TO DEAL WITH THREE CHARACTERS SURE TO MAKE YOUR FLIGHT SEEM LONGER THAN IT IS.

F THE SPACE HOG. Stand firm with your space radius by blocking off your area. Offer to put their excessive amount of carry-on items in the overhead compartment without giving away your sneaky motives to survive the trip without their Disneyland souvenir bags suffocating you.

F THE TALKER. Come prepared with headphones to either listen to music or watch a movie. Pulling out a book will not silence the overly chatty individual.

F THE NEGATIVE NELLY. These people constantly comment on how the plane may fall out of the sky. Reassure them so you can get back to doing nothing for the next several hours. Don’t just laugh them off; this will not help the situation.

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TRAIL DUST

NEW ADVENTURER TELLS TALE

BY TAYLOR MORRIS

I spent four days of my summer completely entranced and romanced by nature. Never had I gazed upon a more beautiful sight. Hiking through 300-foot trees in the Big Basin Redwoods State Park left me with moments that could never be captured by photos.

Three friends and I stuffed all the essentials necessary for camping into packs that would be strapped to our backs for TREK TIPS

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the next four days. This included light food — Top Ramen noodles and canned chicken that are always enjoyable after a few miles — hammocks for resting our tired feet, tents that would prove to do a poor job of keeping the raccoons out and, of course, strong bug spray for those pesky mosquitoes.

I had heard that the first 45 minutes of the hike were always the worst and soon found that to be true. My backpack weighed me down a bit more than it did when I was trying it on for size.

Bugs They are everywhere. Carry DEET bug spray. Getting past the smell and the oily feeling will save your skin.

FOOD Dried Top Ramen with canned chicken is cheap and light to carry. After four hours of hiking, you will look forward to that sustenance.

ENJOYING THE TRAIL Taylor Morris and Cooper May, freshman global community science major, take multiple breaks to admire the forest and rest.

That was hardly the difficult part. A good two hours later we passed a sign that read, “Warning: Strenuous hike.�

Once I accepted that it was going to be a difficult trek, that I was going to get dirty, bitten and sweaty, I was able to enjoy the "hum" of nature. The beauty was, obviously, more visible without the obstruction of freeways, trains and planes.

We took the Skyline to the Sea trail and went from the campgrounds all the way to the beach. We covered seven to 10 miles a day while encountering friendly backpackers, WALKING Walking sticks are a great help. They provide a way to shift your weight, pull you up those inclines and keep you from slipping and sliding on the declines.

interesting critters and breathtaking trees that twisted up so high the tops of them could not be seen from the trail.

Any person is able to enjoy these trails of varying lengths and difficulties, located just a few miles from the Santa Cruz beautiful coast.

California has plenty of trails in places such as Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Mount Shasta and Mount Whitney. All have their own wonders waiting to be explored. Grab some friends, fill up a backpack and hit the trails.

CLEANLINESS It is likely you will not shower for some time. Baby wipes are inexpensive and do not take much room in your backpack. Wiping down with a baby wipe helps you feel refreshed and somewhat clean while smearing off the dirt.

Photos by Taylor Morris, Jacob Armstrong & Steven Anderson

WATER Water will be found in creeks and rivers, but be sure to invest in a decent water filter. Always filter your water, and never drink from stagnant pools.

Moving, running water has fewer parasites and other harmful substances.

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1

BE CURIOUS “IT’S NOT WHAT YOU LOOK AT THAT MATTERS, IT’S WHAT YOU SEE.” — HENRY DAVID THOREAU

BY TAYLOR MORRIS & STEVEN ANDERSON

Leave your phone inside and take yourself outside.

There are natural wonders around you screaming to be seen and explored. The catch: These moments require your full attention. Put away the distractions of everyday life that invades the blank space in your mind and see the world around you.

1. CAUGHT IN THE STORM Being stuck in a storm is not the worst thing that can happen.

The sky grows dim, the air bitterly cold. The Grand Mesa area in western Colorado becomes a picture-perfect view.

2. RAIN DOWN Admire from a distance and bring a jacket. Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite National Park goes from a waterfall to a hailstorm when the water turns to ice at 20 degrees.

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Photos by Steven Anderson

2

3 3. FRIGHT FEST Challenge your concept of reality in Utah’s Goblin Valley State Reserve. Living up to its ghoulish name, the valley holds stony creatures with long and creeping shadows that stand tall and unwavering in this ghostly wasteland.

4. SEEING STARS See the sky in a whole new way in the Eastern Sierras. Plant your folding chair in the Ansel Adams wilderness and stay a while underneath a wide-open, mystic night sky.

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5. CLOSE TO THE EDGE Gaping canyons carved by millennia of running water, wind and ice, impresses viewers with a scene that seems larger than life.

Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison River calls for someone to stand on the edge and look straight down into an abyss of marvel and wonder.

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SPOTLIGHT

BY JESSICA BILLS

Grace. A five letter word that is so easily defined by almost anyone on campus. Yet, how many people have experienced the fullness of this gift?

In Jay Stovall’s life, God’s grace came in, flung the doors off his rebellious heart and spurred him to commit to a life of obedience.

When Stovall started at California Baptist University in fall 2006, basketball was his focus. He soon found himself in a new environment and by the spring of his freshman year, Stovall saw himself starting to fall away from the Lord. “(I thought) I’m not worthy of being this godly man," Stovall says. "I took the road of being guilty, allowing shame to take over and not really accepting God’s grace.”

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Time went on, and shame remained a wall between him and Christ. His sophomore year, he was suspected of stealing money from a state park where he worked in the summer. Suspicions grew into accusations, which led to his arrest.

I SAW A CLEAR PICTURE THAT GOD EMBRACED ME DESPITE ALL MY GUILT AND SHAME.

“It was in that moment when I was sitting in jail where I really felt God say, ‘You are either going to continue down this path and these are the things that

are going to continue to happen or you are going to live a life of obedience and really follow me,’” Stovall says.

He decided then, in the prison of his spiritual rebellion, that he was all in for God. Still, when his release time approached, Stovall says he was petrified to see his father.

“He raised me right and, for me, to have him pick me up from that situation was the hardest thing,” he says of that experience.

But when he was released, Stovall was surprised how readily both his earthly father and heavenly one received him.

“That was the first time I saw a clear picture that God embraced me despite all my guilt and shame,” he says.

“He accepts me with grace and love.”

This left Stovall with the conviction to make a sacrifice for his

STOVALL

“I AM SOMEONE NEW IN CHRIST AND BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE I AM SUSTAINED.”

newfound relationship with Christ.

Because his former identity was wrapped up in his athletic status, he decided to leave the team. He says this was the toughest decision he has made.

In his junior year, Stovall became a resident adviser. That is when he saw God directing his passion for serving people. He went to Malaysia on an International Service Project that summer, where the task was to play basketball to build relationships.

“The thing that I gave up for God because I was idolizing it is the thing he gave back to use to spread the gospel,” he says.

Stovall continued his CBU years involved in campus activities. He served on another ISP as a student leader, was a resident adviser for a second year and won homecoming king. A year after his arrest, he was found innocent and

cleared of the charges.

He graduated spring 2010 with his bachelor’s degree in marketing and came back in the fall for his master’s in public administration as the new Smith Hall residential director for the Office of Residence Life.

Mario Perez, junior sociology major, knew Stovall first as his freshman RD, then his friend and now his mentor.

“He makes sure that I am doing good in all areas of life," Perez says.

“When he asks how you are doing, he actually cares and wants to know.”

Stovall is now the first RD of Tower Hall, a co-ed living area for freshmen. Stovall says the transition from leaving the brotherhood of Smith to a clear canvas with the Tower was quite the undertaking, especially because it is Stovall’s first time directing

women students.

Through his years ministering through Residence Life, Stovall has impacted the lives of not just students, but also colleagues and coworkers.

Tim Hawley, undergraduate admissions counselor, has been good friends with Stovall since their senior year at CBU. “He cares about students and seeing their lives change because he experienced that (at CBU), and thus he wants it for others,” Hawley says.

Hardships, shame and brokenness aside, Stovall attributes the power of God’s love for making the mess of his life into a beautifully redeemed identity — resurrected just as Jesus was.

“I am someone new in Christ and because of his grace I am sustained,” Stovall says. “I am not driven by guilt but by grace.”

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28 | PURSUIT

JENNIFER TRONTI

NOT A STORY ABOUT CANCER STORY BY MATTHEW SWOPE PHOTOS BY KIRA KRAMER DESIGN BY KIRA KRAMER & MEGAN PAULOS

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CHEMO ON FRIDAYS Jennifer Tronti says it's a good thing when she has Chemotherapy on a Friday, because she has the weekend to res and regin her strength, not to mention her medicine gives her a massive appetite.

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THROBBING PAIN OF CHEMOTHERAPY. LONG DAYS TEACHING. FEELING OF WEAKNESS ALL OVERCOME BY JOY AND SUPPORT. When clumps of hair began to form in the shower drain, she knew she had a choice to make. Her husband ran the clippers along the sides of her head. Jennifer Tronti decided a mohawk was the way to go, just to show off for her two sons. Later that night, though, the rest of the hair would go.

“I have given up—everyday is a bad hair day,” Tronti says with a chuckle. “Now I just tell myself everyday is a bad scarf day – it just isn’t tying right.’”

Tronti, assistant professor of English and director of the undergraduate English program at California Baptist University, wears her diagnosis with a smile on her face, even on the bad days.

“There is a kind of relief that happens when you finally get the diagnosis, as well as, I don’t know, some days I still don’t really think I have it, but I do,” Tronti says.

CONTINUED

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THE MOMENT It began during the summer of 2013 when she found a lump in her breast. After months of doctor’s appointments, tests and a biopsy, doctors were sure Tronti had a cancerous mass in her breast. The stagetwo diagnosis, and knowledge that the cancer had metastasized to the lymph nodes under her arms, was only revealed after Tronti made the choice to go ahead with a single mastectomy.

Tronti, a California Baptist College graduate, has worked full time at CBU since 2000. She continues to teach full time and advise undergraduate English majors, as well as mentor new adjunct professors even during her aggressive rounds of chemotherapy.

“That’s the astounding thing: She still continues to do all the work she normally does,” says Berniece Alspach, assistant professor of English. “She’s an incredibly humble person, and she is incredibly important to our department. She carries a lot of the work for us, but you would never know it because she doesn’t (brag).”

The entire department realizes how valuable she is. Dr. James Lu, professor and chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature and the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, speaks highly of Tronti as a person.

“I have known her for 19 years,” Lu says. “She has always been collegial, cordial and a very dedicated teacher as well as colleague. She is a real CBU family member.”

Lu explained that only a woman with such a strong godly spirit, inexhaustible energy and great courage to fight cancer could continue to teach full time and with excellence all while still fighting cancer.

CONTINUED

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CAFFEINE DRIVEN Jennifer Tronti admits coffee is her only vice, drinks it every day— mulitple times a day, even during Chemotherapy.

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THE SUPPORT During the weeks after Tronti’s mastectomy, she was unable to lift anything heavy. Rosemary Welsh, secretary in the Department of Modern Language and Literature, felt compelled to help in any way she could.

Welsh checked in with Tronti before her class to see if she needed anything. Tronti graciously declined. By the time Welsh made it back down the hallway to her own office, she felt convicted to go back. When she arrived at Tronti’s office, she saw the professor struggling with her laptop bag and books.

“I don’t want to be rude or disrespectful toward you,” Welsh told Tronti, “but I think God really told me to come back and help you.”

She relieved Tronti of her belongings and carried the things to her class. Welsh continued to help, carrying Tronti’s belongings to and from classes until the professor was able to carry her class materials safely on her own as her chemotherapy sessions lessened.

“You can become really self-involved and everything becomes about you and your body, and where I am challenged is not to be too self-absorbed,” Tronti says. “You have to remember other people need things, and you have to look outward.”

The Department of Modern Languages and Literature has always considered itself more of a family than a department. With more than 60 professors, they have all tried to pick up the slack so Tronti does not have to work as hard outside the classroom.

“She is the one who keeps things normal for us – never making her condition an awkward, unspoken issue,” says L. Maggie Fanning, English lecturer. “Even in her illness, she is still making sure that our department functions as needed. And that’s what family does. We encourage each other and help each other cope.”

Fanning’s family, along with numerous faculty and staff members around the university, has pitched in to help. They have given Tronti’s family food and money, just to make a difficult time a little less tough for her husband, Don, and two sons, Elijah, 15, and Zachary, 11.

“The whole department has pitched in,” Tronti says.

“It all has been really sweet, yet overwhelming. I don’t understand or feel like it’s deserved. It truly is really appreciated.”

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MORNING OF CL ASSES Jennifer Tronti had not yet been home after spending the night in the hospital. Her husband created a grab bag, stuffing a shirt, sweater and shoes in a bag hoping they all matched for her to wear to school.

THE NEWS Her eyes begin to tear up.

“That one, that one will bring me to tears,” she says.

Last December, Tronti’s son Elijah became ill, finding himself unable to stand or even roll over in bed without considerable pain. Tronti knew something was wrong and took him to the hospital, where he was later admitted. The doctors thought arthritis was responsible for his pain, but one doctor was more persistent and pushed for more testing.

On Jan. 10, Elijah was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, a more treatable form of blood cancer.

Twenty minutes after her son’s diagnosis, Tronti left Loma Linda Children’s Hospital for her own chemotherapy infusion.

“I’d rather have breast cancer two times than my son to have (cancer),” she says, passion burning in her eyes.

Even with two cancer diagnoses in the family, she continues smiling, refuses to be a victim of circumstances and still climbs the four flights of stairs to her office in the James Building.

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NATALIE SHADLE

SEEKING CHANGE AND LOVE 36 | PURSUIT

BY BRADLEE LOCKE

N

atalie Shadle isn’t just a freshman graphic design major. She teaches piano and art back home in Temecula as well as the children at her church every Sunday. She writes for the Lancer diaries on the university’s website. In what spare time remains, she is trying to revamp the foster care system in America.

“I’d rather be busy than bored,” she says laughing. “My mom said it’s a disease that I inherited from her.”

Shadle originated the idea behind what is now known as the Rose Again Foundation. The foundation, made up of eight board members, is only a few months old and seeks to change the American foster care system. It encourages adoption and provides post-adoption support as well as assists those who have “aged out” of the system.

Shadle makes the argument that children, no matter their background or circumstances, are worth more in the eyes of God. “These kids, who have been neglected by their earthly parents, are still no less a child of God,” she says passionately. “They don’t deserve any less than any of us do. It’s crucial to be able to give these kids a reminder that they are truly worth time, and that they are worth effort.”

Shadle explains the importance of having family and friends who support people in a time of need. The fact that she had family to support her through trying times in her

youth pushed her to want to be that "family"w to others who are also suffering and in the same position in which she found herself.

“Maybe in a way through loving on them, we’ll be able to give them a taste of what it’s like to be loved by our God,” she says. “No matter how hard we try we can't be that unconditional love, but we can at least show them that there’s something more to life and relationships.”

Despite her passion and leadership in the foundation, Shadle stresses how much Rose Again is not her own.

She backs away from the limelight so the cause she supports and the people who support her can take center stage instead of herself.

Although Shadle originally intended to open a children’s home in Riverside, she realized the complications in doing so. The foundation has since decided to change its focus, and through some twists and turns, Shadle says they now have a clear vision of where they want to go in the future.

“The fact that everything changed was more of a blessing in disguise,” she says.

The Rose Again Foundation submitted its non-profit application in early December. The hope is that the foundation will find out by summer whether it is accepted or not. Until then, they are fundraising, hosting events and getting the word out about what they are doing to help adopted children and their families.

FAMILY TIES “Piling the whole family into the car can be quite the feat,” Natalie Shadle says as she attempts to get all her siblings to stand still for the photo. Lise (mom), Craig (dad), Natalie, Tyler (17-year-old brother), Julianna (13-year-old sister), Sami (6-year-old sister), Vienna (3-year-old sister), August (baby)

Photo by Kira Kramer

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REL ATIONSHIPS

SIBLINGS THAT STUDY 38 | PURSUIT

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TOGETHER

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BROTHERLY LOVE From house to home Grant and Sean Robinson play basketball together and hang out on a regular basis.

BY STEPHANIE BLACK

S

iblings can be best friends or annoyances. Either way, they are family, and as one common saying goes, “Family is forever.” College can be a time to branch out and start a life away from family.

However, siblings sometimes follow their family members to college and the escape plan goes awry.

“I didn’t want to come (to California Baptist University) because my brother went here­— that was the sole reason,” says Lindsy Blake, freshman undeclared major.

When she finally decided to attend CBU, her brother says he was thrilled and she eventually shared his feelings.

“She told me she was going to come here when I was overseas with an International Service Project and I cried,” says Shane Blake, senior English and Christian behavioral science double major.

For the Robinson brothers, having siblings on campus is definitely a welcome lifeline to their home since their parents are missionaries overseas.

“You feel more at home having a sibling here, especially being from overseas,” says Grant Robinson, freshman undeclared major.

Sean Robinson, Grant’s older brother and a junior communication studies major, says: “The best thing is having someone who knows you so well. The further back you go with someone, the more you can talk about.”

Siblings are not always drawn to the idea of family members being on campus, but they are still drawn to CBU. “The older sibling gets to find the glory in the Christian community and pass it down to the other siblings,” Shane Blake says.

The perks of having a sibling on campus go beyond family support.

“It’s nice because we not only share a car, but we can go home together,” says Kayla Plouffe, freshman graphic design major. She carpools with her older brother, Calen Plouffe, senior kinesiology major.

Having a sibling at the same college may seem less than desirable at first, but the situation can be a blessing in disguise once the benefits are known.

THE BEST THING IS HAVING SOMEONE WHO KNOWS YOU SO WELL. THE FURTHER BACK YOU GO WITH SOMEONE, THE MORE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT. -SEAN ROBINSON

Previous Page | Photo by Megan Paulos Top Left Photo by Megan Paulos Right Page | Photos Courtesy of Plouffes.

ROCKIN' REL ATIONSHIP The Ploffe siblings don't just go to the gym to rock climb; they prefer venturing outdoors to enjoy the climb.

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friends

LIKE

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FRIENDSHIP GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND INTO THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN

BY BRIANNA NELSON

W

FAMILY TIES The Pearson and Hauck families wrangle the kids for a quick picture before going back to the fun and games.

Pictured are Suzanne Pearson, Dr. Dave Pearson, Professor Lauri Hauck, Kaylee Hauck (9), Jaylin Hauck (7), Brett Pearson (10), Owen Hauck (4), and Colt Pearson (3). (not pictured: Jason Hauck)

hen you walk down the stairs that lead to the basement of the W. E. James Building at California Baptist University, you are transported from the airy main floor to the low-lit hallways that house the Department of Kinesiology.

As you travel down that hall, laughter often can often be heard filling the air.

Dr. David Pearson, professor of kinesiology, and Lauri Hauck, lecturer of kinesiology, can be found laughing in their offices, swapping pictures of their kids and sharing the latest escapade of their children.

“I have a son and she has a daughter who are the same age, and we have two little boys that are the same age,” Pearson says.

Pearson and Hauck’s friendship spans beyond their time together as CBU professors.

“We met because she was in my class,” Pearson says. “I was her professor about 10 or 11 years ago. Part of our job here is to help develop talent and to find the students who are special and talented and gifted and going places, and she was someone in the class who clearly had it all together. I wanted to help and do the best I could to get her a job.”

When Pearson’s wife went into labor with their first son, Brett, she had Hauck substitute for her at the elementary school where she taught.

“When my wife returned from her maternity leave, they ended up sharing a classroom, and the two of them taught together for seven years after that,” Pearson says.

Their bond has solidified over the past several years, causing their families to grow in friendship.

“We live close,” Hauck says. “I remember (Suzanne) and I would walk lesson plans back and forth to each other, or we would all meet at the park.”

Pearson and Hauck explain that their interest in kinesiology is what brought them together initially, but their children are what made this friendship so unique.

“The kids just love spending time together,” Pearson says.

“They are all very close, and they still come running in and give me hugs like I’m their ‘uncle’ or something. They act like brothers and sisters; they are not afraid to fight.”

This familial bond has developed between both families.

Pearson explains how he and his wife feel like the Haucks are their family.

“To be able to have people you can count on like family is very critical. Everybody needs that,” Pearson says. “No matter what you need they will be there for you, and that is what we have. That’s very special and unique.”

Photo by Jacob Armstrong

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SMITH VS. LIFE BETWEEN THE TWO HALLS

DORM ESSENTIALS Skateboards are a common item to see around Smith Hall

BY HOLLY POPE PRACTICE TIME Henty Van Der Merwe, a Smith Hall RA, works on his next musical masterpiece

SMITH HALL SHOWCASE Kyle Querin, Tyler Johnson, Dominic Nelson, Travis Charlebois, Alec Knighten, Steven Crosby, and Chris Pearce display their individuality with their hallmates.

STUDY SESSION Isaak Juntunen works on class work with a group of friends in the Smith Hall lobby.

For years, two buildings have stood sideby-side on the campus of California Baptist University. From the outside, the same birds chirp, the same paths connect to the main campus and the same blinds stand as a veil of secrecy, concealing untold tales from the freshmen dorms.

Identical in appearance, Smith Hall houses the men while the women reside in Simmons Hall.

A small blue sign indicating the entrance to Hall 1B hangs above the double doors of both Smith and Simmons. Once the students swipe their identification cards and open the doors, the differing scenes shatter the illusion that all is the same.

Within 1B, the days often begin slowly and seem to awaken into more lively evenings after dinner.

“Right around dinner is when everything goes ballistic,” says Bryant Felix, freshman political science major.

Felix and Daniel King, freshman accounting major, describe free time spent on their hall as hanging out in their resident adviser’s room, playing Xbox, watching movies, playing sports and going various places together.

Daphne Peeling, freshman undeclared major, says many women spend time playing volleyball, but food seems to be a common gathering point for their social occasions.

From inside jokes and humorous accents Photos by Jacob Armstrong and Emily Gallina

SIMMONS to placing the faces of women on their hall onto Disney characters’ bodies, Peeling and Rachel Rogers, freshman psychology major, describe entertaining ways 1B has found to relate to one another.

“Recently we went to Oak Glen with a few of the other girls, and that was a lot of fun,” Rogers says.

Meanwhile, the men amuse themselves by playing random games of buck-buck, stealing each other’s skateboards and bikes to ride around campus, and hiding the sign on their resident adviser’s door.

“My roommate slept on everyone’s bed in the hall,” King says. “He’s just a really deep sleeper. It’s become kind of a game to see when he falls asleep, the things we can (do to) mess with him, like put whipped cream on his hand.”

Is there any hope that two diverse halls can relate to each other as brother and sister halls?

“We’re going to have more events with (Simmons Hall), which we’re looking forward to,” Felix says. “We’re excited to get to know them better.”

An example of this is when the women of 1B twirped their brother hall to the coffeehouse event.

As the year draws on, hopefully residents of the two halls will be able to discover enjoyable connections that may arise amid their differences.

HANGIN' IN THE HALL Natalie Prins, Emilee Thomas, and many other women on the hall enjoy spending time together.

COMMUNIT Y TOGETHER Stephanie Vaz Ferreiera and Marie King enjoy spending time on the hall chatting with their fellow hallmates and doing homework.

DECK THE HALLS The women enjoy their feminine and creative decor done by their Resident Advisor Marie King.

FILLED FRAMES The hall contains frames filled with family photos to help with homesickness.

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LIFEST YLE

JUSThangingOUT HAMMOCK CLUB

INVADES CAMPUS

PEACEFUL PL ACE Kendall Barkley’s passion for hammocking began from her camping trips and grew into more of a leisure activity that it allows her to take a moment away from the stress of college.

46 | PURSUIT

BY ALEX KORHLEY-DAY

deep breath, a cool wind blowing and a relaxing moment outside of the daily routine is not something that the average college student is able to have very often.

Kendall Barkley, junior liberal studies major and vice president of the Hammock Club, says she knows this firsthand, and she became passionate about simply relaxing in a hammock.

A club where pure relaxation is the main goal is new to California Baptist University and one that has become interesting to many students, Barkley says.

Comprised of passionate hammockers, the club is built upon the foundations of bringing students together to relax, enjoying the campus God has provided for them, building a sense of community and meeting new people, Barkley says.

The Hammock Club had three events during the fall semester, which kicked off the beginning of this new club on campus.

Photo by Kira Kramer

The first event, which Barkley says was a hit, was simply a hangout on the campus' Palm Drive.

Students used the palm trees as the base for their hammocks and were able to lounge around and relax.

The second event entailed a challenge – a hammock scavenger hunt. The leaders of the club gave those involved a list of places around Riverside to set up their hammocks and take a quick snapshot. The group with the most photos in the most places with their hammock won the challenge.

The third event was a drive-in where the club set up their hammocks, came together and watched a projected movie for the holidays.

Krysta Mullings, sophomore criminal justice major, says the Hammock Club is a great way to decompress and take a moment to relax with friends from the hardships of college.

“Being a part of this club allows for us to have a different and unique way of hanging out and also a way to really get to know each other,” Mullings says.

Though one cannot avoid the stress that comes with being a dedicated college student, one can choose a relaxing way to unwind, even with a textbook in hand, and reclined in a hammock.

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CULTURAL DEMANDS

BY RENEE FLANNERY

B

efore coming to college, most students had a checklist. Take the SAT and ACT. Check. Apply to colleges near and far. Check. Visit college after college until one feels right. Check. Comfort a mother who realizes she will only get to see her child on holidays and maybe a weekend here and there. Check.

Now, imagine having to add one more thing to the check list before finally packing up and moving out – join the military. Check?

Yu-Min Park, a junior from South Korea, came to California Baptist University to study graphic design in hopes of one day becoming a graphic novelist. Before Park’s

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journey led him to CBU, he was first required to complete two years of military service in South Korea’s army.

In order to receive a student visa to earn an overseas education, students in South Korea must serve for two years in their nation’s military.

“It’s very important for Korean guys to go to the army,” Park says. “It makes us proud. I finished a big thing in my life. It was a big event.”

Through his time spent in the army, Park was able to recognize the good and the bad about having to serve.

“I learned many things, such as incorporating each other and respecting other people,” Park says. “I learned how to do manual work, laundry and how to clean and fix machines.”

CONTINUED

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS MANDATED TO SERVE THEIR NATIVE COUNTRIES PRIOR TO ATTENDING CBU

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A

STUDENT VISA

TO EARN AN OVERSEAS

EDUCATION, STUDENTS IN SOUTH KOREA MUST

SERVE IN THEIR NATION’S

FOR TWO YEARS

MILITARY.

ARTISTICALLY INCLINED Yu-min Park's experiences in the military affect his artistic work in graphic design creating a more warrior type theme.

Photos by Megan Paulos

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WE SERVE THE NATION FOR

SIX MONTHS, WORKING EVERY DAY FOR SIX HOURS.

MEDICALLY MINDED Christian Mugisha's studies are geared toward him finding a cure for his father, who is ill in Rwanda.

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While Park never went into battle, he was trained to operate a 81mm mortar – his weapon of choice. What looks like a massive metal tube standing on its end is actually a highly explosive weapon that shoots upward for more longrange, accurate fire.

Park says the biggest lesson he was able to learn while in the army was boldness.

“Before I did the army, I was scared to do anything outside the country,” Park says. “It gave me courage.”

For Christian Mugisha, freshman biochemistry and molecular biology double major from Rwanda, serving his country in programs called Itorero and Urugerero is required after graduating from high school.

Mugisha is striving to one day work as a medical doctor.

Before he arrived at CBU to begin working on his major, he participated in Itorero, a nationwide program that aims to instill different facets of Rwandan culture into its students.

Photos by Megan Paulos

“(We) learn about the cultural values, the government programs and what the country expects,” Mugisha says.

The program lasts two to three weeks. After completing Itorero, students move into a program called Urugerero. “(We) are sent in (our) home villages to serve the nation for six months, working every day for six hours,” Mugisha says. “Some of the actions we had to complete were working in hospitals, recording data about the population and environment maintenance.”

Mugisha says being a part of these nationwide programs inspires the young adults of Rwanda to be more responsible and to be friendly with their nation’s authorities.

The responsibility required to make the step to attend college is already intimidating for most. With the leap of faith it takes to travel to the other side of the world, the decision often comes with completing time serving one's country, as well.

JULIE KIM NATIONAL CHAMPION STORIES BY SARAH JANE O’KEEFE

acing up her boots, Julie Kim, junior kinesiology major at California Baptist University, spoke fondly of the children in the summer camp where she had been sharing her passion for ice skating at Riverside’s Ice Town.

She knows all too well what it is like for these young beginners to be on the ice for the first time. At 8 years old, Kim was inspired by Olympian Michelle Kwan, and as a result, decided to take up figure skating.

Just a year later, she was competing. By 2005, at the age of 14, she won at the Junior National Championships held in Jamestown, N.Y. During her training at Ice Town, Kim had multiple coaches but her main coach was Tammy Gambel. She also had a power-skating coach, spin coach, off-ice coach, personal trainer, choreographer and a finishing coach.

“You really have to be passionate about it,” Kim says.

At the height of her training, Kim spent the majority of her day in the ice rink. Homeschooling cost her a traditional childhood, but gave her valuable hours of practice time.

“Skating is hard emotionally,” Kim says.

She said competitive pressures and drive for fitness caused her to struggle with her eating habits, as well as emotional well-being. It is something she is still working through, today.

Shortly after winning the national competition, Kim injured her hip. Doctors were unable to give a definitive diagnosis, and Kim was forced to stop competing.

Having interned at Ice Town, Kim is preparing for her future as a figure-skating coach. Transitioning into coaching has been difficult as she had to find a stronger sense of confidence before taking on students of her own.

“Honestly, (figure skating) doesn’t feel like a sport,” Kim says. “It almost feels like I am an artist, drawing on the ice. It is more of an art to me.”

IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE I AM AN ARTIST, DRAWING ON THE ICE. IT IS MORE OF AN ART TO ME.

GRACE VS

MIGHT SS.

MATTHEW BALDWIN PUCK PLAY AFICIONADO hroughout 11 years and hundreds of games, Matthew Baldwin, senior criminal justice major, took to the ice with two goals in mind: where the puck needed to go, and from where it needed to be kept away.

“My main position was left wing,” Baldwin says. “In my career I also played right wing, center and defense — pretty much anything but goalie.”

Hockey was not always Baldwin’s passion.

“I wanted to play a sport and, after trying pretty much all of them, I ended up at hockey,” Baldwin says.

His love of the game has not taken his ambitions to the professional level. Instead, he enjoys the sport for the game itself and his ability to play.

The last team on which Baldwin played was at College of the Canyons, which is the community college he attended before enrolling at CBU. It was Division III hockey for the American Collegiate Hockey Association, and his was the first community college team to win the national championship.

Now Baldwin has to limit his hockey playing to recreation, but caring for his gear still takes time.

“The things that need the most maintenance are my skates,” Baldwin says. “You have to sharpen them, dry them after every time you are on the ice so they don’t rust and cover them to make sure they do not get dull or get any nicks in them.”

Over the course of his competitive years, Baldwin has seen a connection between his faith and his passion for hockey. Typically, the only Christian on a team, his off-ice decisions sometimes separated him from the team.

“When everyone else was focusing on how they could score with the ladies, pun intended, I would be off by myself trying not to get involved and that affected how the guys saw me,” Baldwin says.

“It was hard to make many friends, but God would always provide at least one friend for me on any team I was on, and I could always turn to the Lord for support and strength when times got rough.”

Their sports may not be in the mainstream, but their dedication, passion and abilities are commendable. No matter the differences in their respective sports, Kim and Baldwin both have passion as the driving force behind their love for the ice.

Photos by Steven Anderson

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worshiping beauty capturing worth joy community

InPursuitof...

LATE NIGHTS AND LONG HOURS ARE DEDICATED TO THE MAKING OF THIS MAGAZINE. ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE CHALLENGING, WE ALL HAVE A PURPOSE BEHIND WHAT WE DO. WE ARE ALL PURSUING SOMETHING.

beauty

...

WITHIN THE WORLD. KIRA KRAMER | EDITOR IN CHIEF

worth

...SOMETHING TELLING. BRADLEE LOCKE | MANAGING EDITOR

...EMBRACING MEGAN PAULOS | ART DIRECTOR

joy

.

community

...

GROW TH. REBEKAH WAHLBERG | COPY CHIEF

capturing worshiping

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THE STORY. JACOB ARMSTRONG | PHOTO EDITOR ...

GOD THROUGH DESIGN. DEL AIA FEDERICO | DESIGN EDITOR PURSUIT | 55

Pursuit Magazine

California Baptist University 8432 Magnolia Ave. Riverside, CA 92504

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