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Sunday, June 9, 1996

Experiences at UCLA give new outlook on future

ow what?

This represents my last piece of writing for the Daily Bruin after three years of service. I will walk onto campus for the last time as a student on Saturday. One stage of my life will neatly come to an end on the lined courts of the LATC. So back to my original question.

Now what?

Some readers may groan and mutter, "If I've heard it once ..." That's OK. I'm not writing this column for those people. Besides, all of them have long since turned to other articles, other sections, other diversions. I'm writing this for the only people that are still reading this: my family and my friends. For those of you who didn't fall into either category before you opened this paper, well, you do now. If you've come this far there must be something special between us. Thanks for joining me.

OK, we're all friends here. All those other folks are gone. Let's have a friendly chat, you and I. There'll be some complaining, bouts of self-pity, and moments of fortune-cookie wisdom. Can't be avoided, it's the nature of the beast. But hopefully some of it will be fun.

I've covered many events while writing for the Arts and Entertainment section. Most of them exposed me to new people and ideas. I've visited many of the major art museums in Los Angeles. I've met with a number of campus groups and student performers. Hey, I even talked to Rodney Dangerfield, an inspiration to all the Rodneys in the world (I know you're out there. Unite, my brethren!).

I'm not one to hand out advice. However, for a moment pretend I am such a person. Under those circumstances I would say, "Go out, my friends. Experience the art and culture around you."

Of course, I'm not like that, so I wouldn't say such a thing. But it's good advice nonetheless. If you have not visited the Getty Museum on a day when you have free time to leisurely stroll the grounds, well, you don't know what you're missing. So let me tell you ... It's incredible! My sensibilities are probably less refined than the average Joe Bruin, but even I appreciate beauty and magnificence when I see it.

As an aside, let me just say it was quite a treat to talk with Debbie Gibson in Planet Hollywood on a pleasant winter afternoon. If you don't understand the significance of a chat with Debbie, then you obviously didn't grow up on "Only in My Dreams" and "Lost in Your Eyes." I pity you.

Where was I? Oh yeah, broaden your horizons, go to a museum, a student-run function, all that fun stuff. You may learn a thing or two about yourself and others.

So writing for the Bruin has affected my outlook on art. Fine. It also improved my ability to communicate over the phone and in interviews. Good. Now what?

Well, let's take into consideration my academic experiences as well. I did manage to go to class during my five-year stay here (although at times it didn't seem that way). I read some good books. I learned to appreciate Chaucer and Shakespeare. I learned to hate Milton. Yes, obviously I'm an English major and proud of it.

Funny thing about revealing this bit of information. The inevitable response varies in exactly two ways: "What are you going to do with that?" and "So are you going to teach?" This, of course, brings me back to my original question. But first, one more quick aside (I promise, this is leading somewhere).

I started jogging regularly in September after my doctor instructed me to get in shape. After a while, my legs stopped aching after every run and my body happily adjusted to the workouts. I never expected to appear in Atlanta this summer, but I felt good about my progress. This quarter I signed up for a rec class, "Running and Conditioning."

Turns out I didn't know how to run.

I wasn't using my arms, I wasn't maximizing my stride and my posture was nothing to write home about. This doesn't imply that I'm now a world class track star. I'll burn up a lot more track before I get the technique down. But I'm out there almost every day trying to improve.

So now what? Well, I still don't know what the future holds. I only know how I want to face it; with my shoulders relaxed, my arms pumping, my feet pushing forward, my eyes focused on the road in front of me.

Thanks for coming along for the ride. I'm sure we'll talk like this again soon. What, you don't believe me? C'mon, now what do you think friends are for?

Tanaka, an English graduate, contributed to the Bruin for three years and was a staff writer in '96 with Arts and Entertainment.

... I still don't know what the future holds. I only know how I want to face it; with my shoulders relaxed, my arms pumping, my feet pushing forward, my eyes focused on the road in front of me.