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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