A New Start

  Here at Pepperdine, I have already found some of the most genuine people that I am sure God has purposely put into my life. I have been getting involved, like joining clubs that I would no have normally joined, attending ministry and worship nights to reconstruct my relationship with God, and seeking a business fraternity that can help me for my future career.

  My classes have been extremely helpful and I love my professors. They all seem passionate, kind, and very helpful when it comes to confusions or misunderstandings of the subject. What really brings me closer to loving Pepperdine is also the small class sizes, ranging from 20-40 people, where I can interact with classmates and the professor, and ask more questions without feeling intimidated. The classes are small in order to students to be more involved in discussions and conversations instead of simply sitting in a large lecture hall with over 300 people, snoozing away as the professor speaks.

  As for my life outside of classes, I find myself either running on the track, going to the beautiful Malibu beaches, or conversing with my friends. Everything – whether I am exercising or eating – is better at Pepperdine because of our aesthetically pleasing view of the ocean. I can run on the track and start smiling because of the gorgeous, pink sunset right next to me. I am able to enjoy laying in the warm sand, listening to the ocean, with just a five minute drive from school. Pepperdine has so much to offer me, academically and socially, where I can find genuine people, evaluate my spiritual life, and have an education that will bring me farther than any other school could have done.

  在佩帕代茵大学，我发现了许多真才实学的人，而且我相信，这些都是上帝对我的特意安排。我开始积极参与各种活动，比如，加入学校俱乐部，服侍教会，主日敬拜，重新找回我与上帝的关系。我也正在寻找与商科专业相关联的组织，从而对我今后的事业有帮助。

   课堂对我的帮助太大了，我非常喜爱我的教授们。当我对课业有疑惑或者产生误解时，他们都热情地伸出双手帮助我。还有另一个更让我喜欢佩帕代茵的原因，那便是小班教学。在我们班，平均人数是20到40人不等，这极为有利于我和同学与老师之间的互动，而且，我可以随时提问，用不着产生任何恐惧心理。小班教学给予学生更多参与讨论和交流的平台，而不是象大课堂那样，300多学生坐在那里只听教授在讲台上滔滔不绝。

  至于我的业余生活，我发现，无论是在操场上跑步，还是在马里布美丽的海滩散步，或者与朋友们谈天说地，在佩帕代茵大学都是那么令人愉悦。那是因为，我们美丽的校园面朝大海，美景壮观。我经常一边跑步一边微笑，因为绚丽多彩的夕阳就陪伴在我身旁。开车五分钟，我便可以仰卧在温暖的沙滩上，聆听耳畔传来海涛波浪。

  无论从学术还是社交，佩帕代茵大学都给予我太多。在这里，我能结识真正有才华的人，在这里，我能寻找到属灵成长的精神家园。我相信，在这里接受教育，它一定会带领我走得更长远。。。

红花后注：

应我的要求，女儿爱美丽写了一篇反映大学新生活的文章《A New Start》，不过，她本人似乎也感到有些应付妈妈，于是在信中写道：“当然，如果妳请求我的话，我也是能够写得更多更细些的。” 凭着我这个妈与女儿多年“智斗”的经验，我立刻写信回复女儿，先是对她愿意分享心得表达感谢之意，然后就将她一军：“妳那么有才华有思想，进入新生活一定有许多感受想说，不写出来让妈妈分享，实在太可惜了。” 最后，我施展柔攻术，试图软化女儿的心：“只有看到妳在学校真正开心和快乐，妈妈才能真的放心。妳就再多写一点吧。要不然，我每天想妳会想瘦的。” 果然，没几天，女儿就写来了续篇《A New Start》。女儿不忘补充一句：“妳若还不满意，我还可以写更多些。” 红花马上得寸进尺：“妈妈太满意了。不过，妳能定期给妈妈写吗？多多益善啊。”