Humans of Pepperdine . Claire Lee Sophia Zummo

From the United States I go, there are just so many Claire Lee Links to Canada, Bolivia, Mexico and South Korea, Claire Lee similarities in human beings.” When Lee faces uncertravels around the world. tainty in her life, she said she Humanity Together A sophomore political science major, Lee uses her grounds herself in her faith, which reminds her of how faith, friends and the places she is unique. Wherever she by AJ Muonagolu she travels to understand herself and how unified the is, Lee knows her place in the world reflects her unique human experience is. She experience with God and how writes about her travel expe- she chooses to praise Him. riences for The Graphic. “Location — like the “There’s just so many communities I’m a part of shared experiences that we — and the way that I comhave, yet they’re so different municate and live my life for in the way that the story is God and obedience is just created,” Lee said. what makes me different as a New areas or cultural daughter of God,” Lee said. and societal differences can The world is a great place create a feeling of discomfort with many different perspecfor some people. However, tives, sights and people, but Lee said she can always find everyone needs more unity unifying characteristics in that comes from personal the places she visits. understanding, Lee said. “I didn’t really quite ex- “The world needs people perience that culture shock,” who can be themselves, but Lee said. “I just saw so many it takes a journey to find out Photo courtesy of Claire Lee similarities. No matter where who you really are,” Lee said. Sophia Zummo Sophia Zummo has a drought causing crops to not love for all of the things that God created. grow. Because of this, the entire community suffered; Imagines More Zummo, a junior biology there was no food to eat or major with a sustainability minor, grew up in San Diego sell. “Places that I have Sustainable World with a passion for nature grown to love ... are the ones and community. This has that are suffering the most,” by Lydia duPerier grown into a deep devotion Zummo said. for fighting climate change To help solve problems in developing countries. like this, Zummo said she “The first lesson my hopes to one day start her dad taught me was what it own nonprofit organizais to be a steward of God’s tion where she can help creation,” Zummo said. these countries implement For Zummo, being a sustainable programs. She steward is more than just said the bigger the impacts caring about the environ- of climate change, the more ment — it is loving all of the developing countries are creation, including people. going to struggle. In high school, she was “It would be really cool involved with mission work to take that and be able to where she saw the needs of take my vocation of helping developing countries. One others and my faith and place that really impacted her was Uganda. She said connect them together,” Zummo said. Photo courtesy of Sophia Zummo there had been a severe

Sophomore Joe Karlous was in high school when his grandfather’s death led him to an existential ultimatum: pursue God wholeheartedly or settle into a lukewarm faith.

Karlous, a psychology major and setter for the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball team, was steeped in Coptic Orthodox traditions most of his life. Still, he was amazed at the peace his grandfather carried with him on his deathbed — a peace Karlous struggled to understand, despite his own faith background.

“I was so confused why, because he was leaving so much behind,” Karlous said. “But he understood that there [is] a greater reward after this life.”

In that moment, Karlous determined he would choose God despite the pain he internalized while grieving his grandfather.

“I was like, ‘I’m all in,’” Karlous said.

Karlous said he continued to struggle with experiencing joy and genuine laughter during that period in his life.

For Karlous, the pursuit of God means constantly telling God what is on his mind, falling on his face before Him, and choosing to get back up and continue to give Him everything despite his downfalls. He said following God is a daily choice.

“No matter how far we run away from God, we’re still His children at the end of the day; He still claims us no matter what,” Karlous said. “I think that’s what makes humans so special — is that we have a Father who will love us even when we don’t love Him.”

Joe Karlous Goes ”All In“on His Faith

by Lindsey Sullivan

Photo courtesy of Joe Karlous

How Tiger Tigers symbolize fierceness, Ashtiani Lives courage and confidence. It comes as no surprise that senior advertising major Tiger Ashtiani Up To His embodies the significance of his name. Moving from the small town of Name Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, to the huge and vibrant city of Los Angeles was a dream come true for the aspiring by Yamillah Hurtado television star. Living in the City of Angels has fueled Ashtiani’s life-long dream of becoming famous because he said there are so many open doors waiting for him to walk through. “The opportunities [here] are crazy,” Ashtiani said. “And growing up in Idaho, with it being really small, the opportunities there are so minimal.” For the past year and a half, the advertising major has stepped into the spotlight as an anchor for Pepperdine’s visual news program, NewsWaves. Ashtiani has already begun his journey as a content creator by posting videos on TikTok, where he’s gained over 150,000 likes on his videos. Photo courtesy of Tiger Ashtiani

Armed with a radiant personality and a desire to bring people joy and laughter, Ashtiani hopes to take on YouTube by starting a vlogging channel. He said he’s hesitant in doing so due to a fear of failure, but quickly reassured himself.

“Every YouTuber has started off with zero subscribers,” Ashtiani said. “So just because I start at zero doesn’t mean I will stay at zero.”

The reason for Ashtiani’s confidence is simple:

“Everyone should have confidence in themselves,” Ashtiani said. “Everyone should feel like they’re important, because everyone is.”

Ashtiani’s sense of self-worth and unapologetic embrace of his uniqueness has taken him far in life, and he said he hopes it will lead him to become a successful entertainer in an industry that is highly competitive.

“People hold themselves back when they try to hide parts of themselves,” Ashtiani said. “Being unique is so prized right now and it’s inspired me not to tone down who I am.”