Waves that Heal: The Ocean Serves a Therapeutic Purpose
Pages 29-32
Students Navigate Spiritual Health Pages 15-19
Rising Above: Students Overcome Challenges Pages 36-40
story by Kylie Kowalski photo by Liam Zieg design by Betsy Burrow
My perception of health has varied greatly over the years. As a child, I knew health only to be whether or not I was physically ill. Middle school taught me the importance of physical fitness through sports, and in high school I learned that my faith needed to be nurtured, developing my understanding of spiritual health. College stirred up a whole new comprehension of mental health. All the while, I was trying to figure out how to balance these dimensions of health.
When I developed endometriosis my sophomore year — a painful yet common condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus — I began a new journey of understanding what health looked like in my own life. It became difficult to figure out how to take care of my body while managing school, work, a social life and all my other responsibilities.
change as humans travel through different stages of life. However, learning tips and tools to manage stress and improve health is crucial.
When it came time to choose a theme for this magazine, the choice was clear. Maintaining health is an inescapable reality for everyone. My hope in sharing these stories with you all is
An Invitation to WELLNESS
Letter from the Editor
that you can see how students and community members take care of themselves, and hopefully use that information to better understand and manage your own health.
various identity groups across campus, finding healing in the ocean and learning how to navigate misinformation on social media for maximum wellbeing.
I found support in the various communities I am involved in on campus, through working out and being in nature, visiting the ocean, reading, attending Vintage Malibu church and most of all, keeping a positive attitude and surrounding myself with those who can lighten my mood when I can’t on my own.
A couple surgeries and a lot of trial and error later, I, as a senior, have finally figured out how to deal with this condition. I have learned how to not only exist, but to thrive.
Health is not linear. It can be a winding road filled with constant
Curating a healthy lifestyle is uniquely individual. This isn’t going to look the same for everyone. It can vary based on preferences, religion and other factors.
My Christian faith and spirituality has been a guiding light throughout college. I have always been comforted in knowing that my life is in the hands of God, and I am not alone, in the good and the bad. So I explored the spectrum of spiritual health at Pepperdine and another student looked at how worship positively impacts spiritual health.
This magazine is filled with other powerful stories of overcoming illness, injury and other challenges, finding a “home away from home” in
Many of these stories encapsulate holistic health and offer insight on how to thrive in an ever-changing world. This includes profiles of students, local businesses, how to curate a “Rule of Life” and the benefits of horses for therapy.
I hope you enjoy, learn, laugh and find peace from reading these stories. Although health can be individual, it is most powerful when shared in community. You are never alone.
Be well,
Kylie Kowalski, Editor-in-Chief
Staff & Contributors
Assistant Editor
Amanda Monahan
Creative Director Betsy Burrow
Photo Editor
Mary Elisabeth
Production Assistant II
Justin Rodriguez
Assistant Editor Max Pohlenz
Design Assistant Ella Monte
Photo Editor Liam Zieg
Production Assistant I Alicia Dofelmier
Design Assistant Carmel Drogin
Staff Artist
Sarah Rietz
ADVISER
Christina Littlefield, Associate Professor of Journalism and Religion
Production Assistant I Ana Paula Ruiz Cervantes
Design Assistant Lauren Brown
Production Assistant II
Viviana Diaz
Cassandra Barron
Rachel Flynn
Ava Heinert
Victoria La Ferla
Soliel Lara Aponte
Anežka Lišková
Alexa McGlathery
Nikki Quartuccio
Haylie Ross
Karma Christine Salvato
Front page modeled by Victoria La Ferla Cover photos by Liam Zieg
TABLE
Students Practice Monastic Rule of Life
Rachel Flynn
Being a Bookworm Brings Benefits
Soliel Lara Aponte
10
How Horses Help Humans Heal
Anežka Lišková
13
15
Veritas: More Than Just A Yoga Studio
Haylie Ross
Students Navigate Spiritual Health
Kylie Kowalski
Students & Faculty Enhance Wellbeing Through Worship
Alicia Dofelmier
Mind, Body, Budget: Maintaining Healthy Habits
Ava Heinert
20 36 33 53 49
Exploring Relationships to Social Media
Max Pohlenz
23
Searching for Serenity
Karma Christine Salvato
Rising Above: Students Overcome Challenges
Justin Rodriguez
Students Find Community through Running Club
Cassandra Barron
25
Health Tools
Currents Staff
Myers Mentzer: Looking Beyond her Titles
Nikki Quartuccio
How ICA Helps Build Community
Ana Paula Ruiz Cervantes
27 43 59
Larry Flores: Rise of Surf Trip Supply
Victoria La Ferla
29 41 45 55
Waves that Heal: The Ocean Serves a Therapeutic Purpose
Amanda Monahan
Seniors Connect with Malibu
Liam Zieg
The Malibu Lagoon: Where Ecology Meets the Ocean’s Edge
Alexa McGlathery
How Students Turn Bad Days Around
Viviana Diaz
Students Practice Monastic Rule of Life
story by Rachel Flynn
photos by Liam Zieg
art by Sarah Rietz
design by Lauren Brown
Pepperdine students shared insight into how creating a daily routine using the Rule of Life framework is helping them as they actively prepare for the future.
The concept of the Rule of Life comes from a monastic way of life and the rule of St. Benedict, said Chandler Darby, the associate director of Seaver Chapel. The idea is for a person to highlight a handful of intentions and values that are important to them and work it into a framework that practices can be built around.
An example of this could include an intention to live a healthier lifestyle as a framework with practices such as cooking at home, scheduling time for getting outdoors and/or challenging oneself to try a new sport. The possibilities are endless with the Rule of Life while also weaving in the Christian faith to daily activities.
“You get to know those practices and you start to build a toolbox, so that when you are transitioning into different seasons of life, you can
arrange things and think through ‘What does this season demand of me?’ and ‘How might these practices fit together in different ways?" Darby said.
For students looking to develop their own framework for a Rule of Life, Darby said a helpful way to think it through is to ask oneself: “What is a core value that I have?” and “How do they [core values] all fit together?”
What makes the Rule of Life unique is that it’s entirely individualized based on a person’s season of life, Darby said. The principle really focuses on interweaving daily practices with one’s personal faith journey.
Leah Dixon’s Routine
Senior Leah Dixon, who attends St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, said she first heard about the Rule of Life as a high schooler — it reminded her of the Game of Life and that piqued her curiosity.
Dixon incorporates the Rule of Life by beginning her day at 7:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee, her devotions and her gratitude journal.
“It’s not a cut and dry thing for anybody,” Dixon said. “It’s just a set of practices and rhythms that kind of help you create time to be with God in your life.”
Dixon said she finds herself busy as a former athlete, a member of her sorority, a pilates instructor and a student.
“I have so many things that take up a lot of time, and even though a lot of those things are fulfilling, I still have to make time to fulfill myself with God,” Dixon said.
“It’s a short amount of time, just 15 minutes, but doing that right when I wake up is really important to me,” Dixon said.
After her academic classes, Dixon teaches three Pilates workouts in either Malibu or Santa Monica.
“I’ve used the Rule of Life to kind of marry those two ideas of, you know, spending
“When I’m playing tennis, I’m on the court, and I’m really in the zone, and I kind of forget about all of the assignments and responsibilities I have, and I’m just there,” Davis said.
After practice, Davis said he drives home and works on homework for the rest of the night.
“If I have anything, I have my routine set in stone, and that’s important to me,” Davis said.
time with God and taking care of my body through working out,” Dixon said.
Dixon said she concludes her day with returning to her gratitude journal before turning out the lights.
Alexander Davis’ Routine
Senior Alexander Davis said he is not as familiar with the Rule of Life, but he has established a strong routine that keeps him organized and grounded. Davis is the captain of the club tennis team at Pepperdine and plans to intern at Deloitte, one of the Big Four accounting firms, this summer.
management, the intentions she’s set are helping her to establish a rhythm for the future.
“You can either live to work or work to live, and I don’t want to be caught up in the cycle of like, ‘OK, I’m living to only go to work and make money’ and, like, not have enjoyment,” Hoidal said.
For students curious to learn more about the Rule of Life, Darby recommended two resources: “Practicing the Way” by John Mark Comer and “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard J. Foster.
Katelyn Hoidal’s Routine
Senior Katelyn Hoidal said she became familiar with the Rule of Life principles through John Mark Comer’s book “Practicing the Way.”
As a Christian who attends Vintage Malibu church, Hoidal said a key takeaway for her was the implementation of Sabbath and discipleship into her routine. She’s set the intention of getting all of her work done before Sunday so she can dedicate the day to rest.
Hoidal begins each day by working a Sabbath into her morning routine in the form of prayer, journaling and reading the Bible.
Davis said his routine changes with the season he’s in, however, his foundational routine is the same no matter what. Every morning, Davis begins by making his bed before brewing his coffee. He then goes about his day attending classes until the late afternoon, when he hits the tennis court.
“That’s drastically changed my day,” Hoidal said. “Waking up like 45 [minutes], an hour early, and doing that has changed my heart posture going into the day.”
Hoidal said she’s incorporated discipleship into her intentions by mentoring several first-year students.
As she prepares for graduation and beginning her career in wealth
Being a Bookworm Brings Benefits
story by Soliel Lara Aponte photos by Mary Elisabeth design by Carmel Drogin
In a digital era where students spend most of their time on their phones or with endless to-do lists, reading has almost become a forgotten pastime.
Despite demanding schedules, senior Kate Floberg, senior Stephen McDaniel and junior Victoria Wile have found ways to carve out time to immerse themselves in a good book.
“I enjoy the escapism of reading,” Wile said. “To be able to take in a conscious stream of thoughts from someone else can often be therapeutic.”
For some, reading is a source of pleasure and for others a learning tool. Beyond that, reading can be a path to self-discovery and increase cognitive development and mindfulness.
“It’s my favorite thing to look forward to at night,” Floberg said. “Only counting my three years at Pepperdine, I’ve read 300 books.”
Personal Growth and Self-Discovery
These students said reading has played a pivotal role in their upbringing, serving as a powerful tool for learning and self-discovery. Through the stories they encounter, they have learned to navigate their own identities and understand the world around them.
Floberg said her love for reading came from her parents and sisters. Books have played a very important role in her family’s way of bonding with each other.
“My mom is an English teacher, my dad loves to read and my sisters also do,” Floberg said. “It naturally became integral to our household’s upbringing.”
McDaniel said at a young age, he was able to progress academically and emotionally through what he read. He went on a “reading kick” in middle school.
“When you read about other people’s experiences, it really broadens your perspective on how others think and live,” McDaniel said. “It definitely helped me grow as a person.”
Mia McGee, research and instruction librarian at Pepperdine, said reading pushes children to be curious and discover the world around them.
“It encourages children at a young
age to ask questions and be insightful of the unknown,” McGee said.
Floberg said reading gave her the ability to understand people better, not only in books but in her day-today life.
“Reading all types of books from such a young age, I think it helped build my empathy,” Floberg said.
Students said reading reflects a willingness to learn from the experiences of others.
Floberg said it wasn’t hard to put herself in other people’s shoes.
“When you learn about someone else, you start understanding yourself more,” Floberg said. “You ask yourself, ‘What would you do in the other person’s scenario?’”
Wile said the beauty of books comes from the diverse narratives that exist.
“For me, it has become a journey of self-discovery,” Wile said. “To know what you like and what you don’t — because when you read, it’s for yourself, not anyone else.”
Stress Reduction and Mental Wellbeing
Reading is often related to academic work, which for most, creates stress. However, according to a National Institute of Health experiment in 2022, recreational reading leads to improvement in mental health.
McGee said for students, reading serves as a break from reality and gives their busy minds a rest.
“It’s a mental break from your reality and [reading] helps to walk away from it,” McGee said. “You come back from it refreshed and with a new perspective.”
Floberg said reading is her way of relaxing after a long day.
“I read before bed every night,” Floberg said. “Sometimes I stay up until 3 a.m. to read, it just relaxes me and takes me somewhere else.”
Students believe recreational reading is a time-consuming but money-saving pastime compared to hobbies that require an abundance of materials.
Escapism is a transformative process that allows the mind to immerse itself in other worlds.
Wile said her favorite genre, horror, might be stressful for most to read, but she enjoys the thrill.
“I get myself worked up on it [reading] but I enjoy the escapism of my reality and in a way relaxes all my senses,” Wile said.
Floberg said reading daily has reduced her anxiety.
“I struggle with anxiety,” Floberg said. “However, I’ve read about characters that have anxiety and it has helped me relate and not feel alone.”
Reading also requires time, determination and a personal
Kate Floberg
Stephen McDaniel
Victoria Wile
commitment to gaining deeper knowledge.
Wile said spending less time on social media and more time reading has improved her mental health and attentiveness.
“If you have time to scroll on your phone, you have time to read,” Wile said. “Since deleting TikTok, I’ve replaced mindless scrolling with reading, and it’s far more rewarding.
McGee said for students who are always on their phone, putting it down might not be as easy.
“After 15 minutes, you will find it a lot easier to concentrate and to read instead of looking at your phone and have the need to see who is messaging you,” McGee said.
Floberg said she believes her attention span became shorter during her “TikTok era.”
“I’ve been reading my whole life and never had an issue with constantly reading,” Floberg said. “Because of TikTok, I’ve had to take ‘read breaks’ more often.”
McDaniel said scrolling through social media has now become muscle memory.
“I find myself just scrolling through social media on my free time,” McDaniel said. “I think reading is a good way to improve my attention span.”
Practical Ways of Incorporating Reading into Daily Life
Students said they recommended various practical ways of
incorporating reading into their daily lives.
McGee said everyone can find a book that calls out to them.
“Reading is like music,” McGee said. “Like there is a song for every feeling, there’s a book for every feeling.”
Floberg and McDaniel both said they recommend reading before bed and keeping a routine.
“Before bed is the secret sauce,” Floberg said. “No matter if you have trouble winding down, reading provides exhaustion or sometimes keeps me up for a while.”
McDaniel said he found that reading helps him get a good night’s sleep.
“Reading for at least 15 minutes before bed helps me sleep better,” McDaniel said.
How Technology Can Complement Traditional Reading
Students have found ways to incorporate technology into their reading habits.
Wile recommended the Libby app, a mobile app that provides thousands of audiobooks and ebooks for free.
“The Libby app gives you access to every single audio and ebook you could want,” Wile said.
For both beginner and avid readers, keeping track of reading can feel overwhelming. However, these students discovered that book-tracking apps like Goodreads turn
reading into a more rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Floberg said Goodreads has changed her whole reading experience.
“It has changed my life so much I even told my high school teacher about it,” Floberg said. “My favorite thing to do is go to a library, find a book I want to read and go on Goodreads to read the reviews.”
Wile said although a little outdated, she loves the concept of the website.
“I have an addiction to updating my Goodreads after binge-reading,” Wile said. “I feel like it definitely needs updates, but I love the satisfying experience.”
McDaniel said he finds technology very useful to have several books in one place.
In 2007, Amazon created the Kindle, a portable wireless electronic reading device. Its ability to have an entire library of books stored in one place made reading more practical.
“Kindles compliment reading very well these days,” McDaniel said. “For travel, especially in a long flight, it’s super nice having an ebook on a Kindle.”
Wile said her Kindle is her favorite reading accessory.
“Me and my Kindle are inseparable,” Wile said.
Technology has made reading more accessible, allowing stories to enrich lives. From reducing stress to self-discovery, students said books continue to positively impact them.
How Horses Help Humans Heal
story by Anežka Lišková
photos by Liam Zieg design by Ella Monte
One of the many compelling moments
Rose Mary Riggs said she has witnessed in her equine therapy practice was a military veteran facing the grief of losing his 3 year-old son in a tragedy.
The loss had caused his family so much pain, and ruptured the relationship with his family because he felt so much guilt.
During a large group session at Riggs’ Shakti Ranch in Malibu, the group held space for the veteran as he interacted with the horse.
During Riggs’ facilitation, by talking him through where to go, what to do and what he was feeling, there was a sudden pivotal moment where he realized “he did everything that he humanly could [for his son] and it just was not in his control.”
He was finally able to forgive himself after years of self-doubt and a sense of responsibility around his son’s passing.
“To be able to shift back into what is most true, that the love was true, the connection was true, instead of being consumed by guilt, is everything,” Riggs said.
Riggs began working with horses at a young age and said she always felt a deep connection to them. In her 20s and 30s, she studied various forms of therapy before she came across equine-assisted therapy, which caught her attention as a possible high-impact practice.
This is when she decided to start Shakti Ranch in Malibu, a place for a unique form of therapy to help people heal through a connection with themselves and the horses. Through her training and work with trauma survivors, particularly military veterans, she recognizes horses as powerful guides in healing.
Who Benefits from Equine Therapy?
Riggs works with a number of different clients at her ranch, ranging from veterans, abuse survivors, individuals diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression and those facing major life transitions. She even works with younger clients, specifically children with special needs.
During an equine-assisted therapy session, the facilitator guides the client into an observation of the
herd, environment and self, Riggs said. Through this connection, the client begins to access more of the right hemisphere of their brain, where studies show humans have an increased capacity for intuition and emotional intelligence. Later, the facilitator invites the client to move toward the horse they are feeling curious about, eventually making a hands-on connection with the horse while they continue to observe themselves.
As an equine-assisted therapist, Riggs’ role is to look to the horses as a guide for how to navigate the session with her client. Much of this is based on observation of the horse and client’s behavior during the hands-on connection.
Horses don’t think in stories like humans do, which helps people to break free from mental loops. It allows clients to have sudden moments of clarity, almost like an “aha” moment, said Emma Barnosky, equine-assisted learning facilitator.
“Horses help us hone the ability to discern and to really take in information in a more neutral, receptive, curious way,” Riggs said.
Moriah Staph, an associate marriage and family therapist and equine facilitator, said equine therapy has a great impact and is very healing for anyone who is interested, whether a person has experienced trauma, is trying to regulate their nervous system or is just looking for a deeper connection with themselves.
“Equine therapy is the fastest, most powerful form of therapy,” Barnosky said.
Structure of Sessions
Not only is the horse’s presence powerful to those taking the session, but also
Rose Mary Riggs
to those facilitating it, Staph said.
“Every time I’m there, you realize how magical it is too, in ways that you couldn’t fully explain,” Staph said.
Barnosky serves as a translator between the horse’s behavior and a client’s emotional state. The sessions are usually 60 minutes but are flexible, depending upon the client’s needs at the time.
Some clients have structured exercises to foster connection with the horse. Others co-create their session with the horse and let the interaction be natural and see where it goes. Some only focus on nervous system regulation, where just being near the horse can bring a sense of grounding.
Riggs said she has many exercises that she has created over the years to facilitate a therapeutic experience for clients, but the hands-on connection exercise is the foundation that she uses most.
“I really think of the horses as the therapeutic engine,” Barnosky said. “I’m just there to facilitate and translate.”
The Role of Horses in Therapy and The Science Behind it
Horses help individuals process emotions in a nonverbal way. They help people become aware of emotions they might be suppressing, Staph said.
“They act as these beautiful mirrors for us to kind of see what’s going on within and under the surface of ourselves that we’re not always aware of,” Staph said.
Horses don’t judge, but they reflect exactly what’s going on inside someone. Their presence helps people regulate emotions and stress through body language, Riggs said.
“As humans come within even 20 feet of a horse, the horses will begin to mirror back to you your internal state,” Riggs said.
Junior Delfy Balderrama-Carrillo began horseback riding at age 5.
Even though she hasn’t attended equine-assisted therapy, she said her relationship with the horse on the ground is extremely important for building trust. A lack of relationship affects performance and connection during riding, since the horses can sense emotions and energy so well.
“There will be times when I’m having a really rough day, and I go into the stall with my horse, and we just chill,” Balderrama-Carrillo said. “It creates this very peaceful environment.”
Balderrama-Carrillo has been riding a different horse now that she is in Malibu, but at home in Culiacan, Mexico, there is one specific horse she has been riding since she was 18, and she sees a big difference between the two.
field is much stronger. Their large electromagnetic field influences a human’s heart rate variability, which in turn calms the nervous system.
A horses’ way of being is inherent-
“If there’s no relationship on ground and outside of the ring, it makes a very big difference,” Balderrama-Carrillo said.
The No. 1 benefit to equine therapy is nervous system regulation, Riggs said. Regulating one’s nervous system can reduce stress, lessen anxiety and increase a sense of presence, leading people to be more receptive and be able to take on others’ perspectives. These emotional qualities are what set people up for a high level of happiness and fulfillment in connections and relationships.
“Being in nature and being around them, it really just kind of calms you down and puts things in perspective,” Staph said.
More specifically, horses have a unique ability to regulate human nervous systems due to their own physiological responses. Since a horse is eight to 10 times the weight and size of a human, their electromagnetic
ly calm, present and highly receptive, which is a nervous system state similar to the parasympathetic nervous system, which triggers the “rest and digest” state. This leads to lower stress levels, Riggs said.
Something as simple as hugging a horse and a few moments of silence can change one’s mood, Balderrama-Carrillo said.
Something called heart rate synchronization can also occur during a session. Over time, a human’s heartbeat syncs with a horse’s, which slows down anxiety-driven states. This is a similar effect to when horses within the same herd also synchronize their heartbeats, creating a natural calming effect for them all, Barnosky said.
“They’re very perceptive to the way that you’re feeling,” Balderrama-Carrillo said.
story by Haylie Ross
photos by Liam Zieg design by Ella Monte
Veritas is more than just a yoga studio. It’s a community center.
Co-founders Sydney Strabala and her fiancé Joshua Royse serve as joint CEOs for the studio located in the Malibu Country Mart.
The journey to health and wellness is a winding path, but the Veritas Yoga community preaches that having people to walk with is critical to reaching one’s destination.
“The key to the journey of wellness is community,” Strabala said. “You can go on this journey by yourself, but you’re really going to get far if you’re in community.”
Veritas: More Than Just A Yoga Studio
story by Haylie Ross photos by Liam Zieg design by Ella Monte
The Malibu and greater Los Angeles communities are facing hardship in the aftermath of the Franklin and Palisades fires. Still, Strabala said the people at Veritas are committed to helping their community in any way they can.
Moving in Community
Strabala and Royse’s bond grew over a shared passion for yoga, which evolved into a dream to start a studio of their own. Strabala said they envisioned a place of sanctuary for individuals of all demographics to come together and move toward their health and wellness goals.
They first opened their doors in June 2024 and since then, their dream has become a reality.
Zach Wagner, an instructor at Veritas, has been with Strabala and Royse since the beginning. He said he loves their emphasis on community.
“Veritas Yoga is a nice community with local people and it’s growing and blossoming into something really special,” Wagner said.
Senior Morgan Baker, a regular at Veritas Yoga, said the studio is focused on fostering relationships rather than monetary gain.
Unlike other studios Baker has
attended, she said Veritas’ main goal is to serve the community over trying to grow a business.
Baker said Veritas classes provide a unique experience where every instructor strives to learn each person’s name and make every participant feel welcomed, seen and heard.
“Throughout a class, you just feel connected with everybody and it feels like a family,” Baker said.
Providing Support Through Trauma
Strabala said their practices can serve as a form of healing during times when the community needs it most. The Malibu and greater Los Angeles areas have experienced tremendous trauma since December, with wildfires that left homes destroyed and hearts heavy.
The staff at Veritas was there to provide support however they could.
“We love doing the outreach for all the fire victims,” Strabala said. “So we’ve opened up everything on the schedule, all workshops, all events, all classes, to be complimentary for anyone affected by the fire.”
Strabala said no questions asked,
anyone who has been affected by the fires is welcome at Veritas to heal through movement free of charge.
“If we can start to create programs around healing and teach it to the community, I think we can really send ripples of change to a really traumatized, scared and shocked community,” Strabala said.
Strabala and Royse said they also felt the impact of the fire when they had to evacuate.
“We were told that our home burned down three times,” Strabala said.
Strabala said she later found out that their home was spared.
“When you come together in community, there is no other choice but to be of service to each other,” Strabala said. “It fills my cup up and I think that being of service actually heals.”
As an instructor, Wagner encourages the practice of yoga and being immersed in a community in times of shared turmoil.
“People can step out of what’s going on in the outside world and they can develop their internal world,” Wagner said. “And hopefully find a little bit of peace while there’s so much turmoil in their outside world.”
In a time when the community needs it most, Veritas will be there to help for the next few years, Strabala said.
“You never know who’s struggling because the fire reaches out in ways that oftentimes are unseen,” Strabala said. “So compassion, service and community is going to be the most important thing for the next few years.”
The Daily Practices
Veritas offers a wide selection of classes ranging from Vinyasa Yoga to sound baths.
Wagner said he advocates for all to integrate the practice of yoga into their lives.
“Yoga is not just for really wealthy people, it’s for everyone,” Wagner said. “It’s not just a luxury, but a basic human right for all people who want to put energy toward their practice.”
Wagner said his personal journey toward health and wellness involves integrating different yoga practices daily to regulate the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of his being.
Strabala said these aspects of being come together so everyone can live a spiritual lifestyle.
Veritas’ Vinyasa Flow class, one of the studio’s most popular, entails moving the body through different yoga poses while synchronizing one’s breathwork to allow for a grounded workout.
“I love their Vinyasa Flow classes,” Baker said.
Strabala said from the selection of classes to the outreach work, Veritas Yoga strives to cater to its community.
Sydney Strabala
Morgan Baker
Students Navigate Spiritual Health
story by Kylie Kowalski design by Betsy Burrow
Spirituality is a core dimension of holistic health, uniquely woven into the life of every individual.
Senior Brent Long deepened his faith through campus community and academic classes. Senior Helena Mekuanint was baptized after her sorority sister led her to better know Christ. Law student Caroline Lewis found home in a local Roman Catholic church and the Christian Legal Society’s Bible studies. Sophomore Gabby Cabai found her voice — literally — as a song leader at Vintage Malibu church and as a chaplain in her sorority. Others, like senior Francesca Nucci, took a step back from organized religion because of cultural differences.
What these students all have in common is they are on a journey to figure out who they are and what they believe. For those seeking deeper spiritual health, that journey includes
photo by Liam Zieg
periods of deconstructing and reconstructing their faith and living out their faith through personal study and community life.
“I would say spiritual health for me [is] being able to look at Christ or look at God and believe in Him in the highs and in the lows,” Long said. “Because if you’re continuing, keeping your eyes on the light and not being distracted by darkness, you are able to balance health in the midst of hardship.”
Pepperdine’s Religious Make Up
Falon Barton, campus minister of the University Church of Christ at Pepperdine, said there is a diversity of religious belief and spiritual engagement on campus.
“There are students who, of course, believe religiously in Christianity,” Barton said. “They have a sense of being Christian but might engage with that spirituality in a wide variety of ways.”
Similarly, there are people who identify with other religions and people who don’t identify with any religion at all. Some might consider themselves spiritual, but not religious, or not spiritual at all. Barton said it’s pretty rare she meets students who don’t identify with any sort of spirituality.
Pepperdine is rooted in the Churches of Christ, but only 5% of Seaver students come from that tradition. More than 57% of undergraduate students identified as a different Protestant denomination at the time of their application, according to Pepperdine’s
Office of Institutional Effectiveness in fall 2024, and most are nondenominational Christians. Roughly 4% of students identified as none/no faith identity and 8% were undeclared.
In her own life, Barton said she uses the terms holistic health and spiritual health almost interchangeably. She emphasized that definitions of spiritual health differ for each individual and across denominations.
“It is an indicator of the sense of self and the core things that define who we are, who we want to be, who is God, what kind of God do I believe in and other significant questions,” Barton said. “Spiritual health, regardless of one’s religious beliefs, is a useful term because it encapsulates that idea of core identity. How we answer those questions is core to how we are going to view ourselves, and then how we are going to interact with the world around us.”
A spiritually healthy person, Barton said, will have answers to those questions and a sense of their identity. However, she emphasized that students who don’t yet have the answers to those questions or who may feel unstable are not sinful and should not confuse unhealth with “badness.”
Barton said it is common for students to be in a space where they are trying to discern what they believe and why they believe it.
“If a student is apathetic, that probably means something is happening, that these questions are overwhelming,” Barton said. “It’s easier to withdraw and disconnect from these really important questions than it is to engage.”
Barton compared this to when someone gets a paper cut or a virus. Those cases are an indicator that something needs to be addressed and healed within the body.
“Regardless of where students are on their spiritual journey, they’re asking further in the background questions that are informing more
foundational questions,” Barton said.
Tim Spivey, vice president for Spiritual Life, said Pepperdine has a lot of resources to help students get the most out of their spiritual health in college. For example, chaplains in Greek Life and across campus provide spiritual support, lead Bible studies and offer guidance to students.
“My own sense is that the spiritual climate on the campus is trending north,” Spivey said. “For instance, if you think about Greek life on campus, most fraternities and sororities at this point have a chaplain. We have a student-led ministry called Greek IV. When I was [a student] here, none of that existed.”
President Jim Gash’s focus is on better integrating the Christian mission throughout the entire university and all aspects of life, Spivey said. This requires asking what Christianity within each area of Pepperdine looks like.
“That’s going to be baked into the curriculum and baked into the values of the people we hire as faculty and deans, so we can live out our Christian mission as we try to be a premier academic institution at the same time,” Spivey said. “We don’t see those as separate. We see them as natural partners and married together in a beautiful way.”
Spivey said he tries to engage students of all Christian backgrounds through love.
“We can’t do God’s part, but we can do whatever we can to bring that encounter that maybe lights a spark,” Spivey said.
Finding Faith at Pepperdine
Long said he did not grow up in a Christian household, but found his faith in his junior year of high school. He found a supportive Christian community that eventually led him to Christ and becoming a Religion major in college.
At Pepperdine, community is something that Long has sought out in his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, and friendships. He attends The Gathering in Malibu, a nondenominational Reformed church, and Waves Church, a Church of Christ, on Sundays.
“We [my roommates and I] have dinner every Wednesday night, where we talk about real things and how each of us are truly doing,” Long said. “Those dinners have been pretty beneficial for me. Having a mentor or relationships in general, someone who really seeks out my best interest, has been good for my spiritual health.”
Helena Mekuanint, senior and president of Greek Intervarsity at Pepperdine, said she grew up in the Christian church, but felt like her faith was missing something. Pepperdine helped her meet Jesus while also providing a safe space for reconstruction. She currently attends Vintage Malibu church.
“I wanted to wait until I was ‘the perfect Christian’ in order to get baptized,” Mekuanint said. “But then at this [Greek IV] retreat, I was getting prayed over and she [a retreat leader] taught me that there is freedom in following Jesus, and it isn’t supposed to just look like checking boxes.”
As a nondenominational Christian,
Mekuanint said a main goal she came to Pepperdine with was growing deeper in her faith with people who were in the same stage of life. She said she hoped to find community in those going through the same struggles.
“Coming to Pepperdine, I was kind of shaken up a little bit,” Mekuanint said. “In the sense of, like, I chose it because I wanted to go to a Christian school, but I think it was hard at first seeing people go to church on Sundays, but then do other things on the weekends.”
Things began to turn around for Mekuanint when she met her big in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, alumna Hope Dease (‘22).
“[Hope] really embodies that first question of like, ‘What did it look like to live like Jesus, and to bring His kingdom down to earth?’” Mekuanint said. “The way she loved others so selflessly, I was like ‘Whoa, we both are following Jesus, but like, you’re worshiping Him and following Him from a different place that I don’t think I’ve been yet.’”
Mekuanint said she then began to search deeper for what it looks like to live like Jesus, as opposed to the Bible-as-a-rulebook, routine faith she had been pursuing before.
Caroline Lewis, Caruso School of Law first-year and a Roman Catholic,
said her faith thrives on routine. Her decision to come to Pepperdine, after obtaining her undergraduate degree at the University of Mississippi, was with hopes to find a “baseline Christian community” that wouldn’t be present at many other schools.
“I figured law school would be really stressful, and I was right,” Lewis said. “I think a sense of calmness, I feel like, when you’re involved in a faith of any kind, you’re able to have a lot more peace in your everyday life.”
Lewis said working toward a higher purpose within the community is important to her. She also had to rely on her faith during the Franklin, Palisades and Eaton fires all within her first year on campus.
“I think that night, relying on my faith was helpful because there was nothing else to do,” Lewis said. “And I think having friends who are like, ‘I’m just gonna pray,’ helped calm me down a little.”
Gabby Cabai, a sophomore and a Presbyterian Christian who leans nondenominational, said she came to Pepperdine with an already strong foundation of faith that she built in high school.
“During COVID, me and my best friend Lily decided to do FaceTime Bible studies, and that provided me a lot of comfort,” Cabai said. “After that was my freshman year of high
school, and I really just think that I came into my faith super strongly after that.”
In just two years, Cabai has served as chaplain in her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, and as a worship singer at Vintage. She said she is able to maintain her faith in college through spiritual mindfulness.
“Just taking care of where your faith is, where your walk with the Lord is and taking inventory of that,” Cabai said. “On day-to-day, just kind of doing little check-ins with myself and figuring out how I’m feeling with God and how I’m feeling with myself.”
Questioning of Faith
Along with her colleague Rachel Collins, a former Hub for Spiritual Life chaplain and visiting instructor of Religion, Barton is conducting a research study called, “Why are the done’s done, and how do we care for them?” She said the purpose of this study was to survey and conduct focus groups with students who identified as “done with the church,” specifically considering Pepperdine’s Christian heritage.
A goal of this research was to understand how a religiously-affiliated institution can support students regardless of where they might be in their spiritual lives. Students were asked about how they defined spiritual health, and Barton said their answers often revolved around community and being connected with other people.
“They really connected spiritual health and social health, which are, of course, very connected,” Barton said.
Barton said the study also focused on the “nones,” or students who have never felt a connection with the church. These students pointed to hypocrisy and judgment within religious spaces for why they chose not to belong.
Senior Francesca Nucci said that much of her skepticism about Roman Catholicism and religion stems from her all-girls, private Catholic high school in Mexico City. She felt that religion was “imposed” on her through strict rules like school uniforms.
“There have been religious leaders in my community that have brought pain to our Catholic community,” Nucci said.
The pain Nucci felt from religion in Mexico led her to distance herself from the church upon arriving at Pepperdine. She also said she did not find a religious connection to the school because of cultural differences.
“I feel like I did not approach religion,” Nucci said. “I’m originally a Catholic from Mexico City, so there’s not a lot of worshiping like the Well — it’s very different from what I am used to.”
Nucci said she still believes in God, but finds ways to connect with Him outside of formal religion.
“I don’t think you need a religion to worship God in general,” Nucci said. “I think you can find your own ways of connecting with spirituality, connecting with whatever you believe.”
In her role at Pepperdine, Barton tries to help students, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey, through a lens of curiosity. She said it allows her to better understand what is resonating with students, because usually that is where God can be found.
The spiritual resources Pepperdine has to offer today are far broader and deeper than what he had as a Pepperdine student in the 1990s, Spivey said.
“Our particular niche is in the spiritual realm,” Spivey said. “Sometimes people will have a crisis of faith. They’ll go through, their parents will split up there and they’re wondering, ‘OK, what am I supposed
to do? Where was God when this happened? And is God mad at me? Is that what happened here?’ Those kind of questions, we’ll help them with that.”
Even as the president of a Christian club on campus, Mekuanint said her faith journey has included times of deconstruction.
After her baptism, Mekuanint said she had a newfound freedom and intimacy with Christ. She was “on fire for God” and felt that He was right by her side at all times. However, after a few months, she no longer felt like she could feel God’s presence as she once did.
This led to questioning and confusion for Mekuanint.
“It was almost like a 180,” she said, “and felt like I was talking to a void.”
During this time, Mekuanint said she sought out prayer at another Greek IV retreat.
“I signed up for a [prayer] slot because I was just like, I need to, I can’t hold this anymore,” Mekuanint said. “The only way to go about this, really, was to seek counsel from other people and be ministered to by people who are older than me, who probably have gone through similar things.”
Mekuanint said she learned that spiritual warfare is real, and it happens. She said she learned what she was going through could happen to anyone, at any time.
“Then you go through this sort of, like faith deconstruction and like, at the end of it, the Lord takes the devil’s works and turns it on its head for good,” Mekuanint said. “And it was just like I felt this peace and soundmind and clear-headedness that I hadn’t felt in months after talking to them.”
Long said he turns to Scripture in times of struggle, emphasizing that struggle and questioning builds endurance and spiritual health.
“We have text and Scripture that talks about suffering, and suffering actually produces endurance, which
photo by Mary Elisabeth Brent Long
then produces spiritual health,” Long said. “Being spiritually healthy and suffering are not opposites. They can coexist even though it may be hard.”
A key aspect that Long said helped develop his spiritual health is being critical of his faith. Contradictions and uncertainty about whether to believe some things he hears and reads has led him to figure out what he truly believes.
Mekuanint said that not putting her emotions on a pedestal, but really surrendering them to the Lord and trusting in who He is and His character, gave her a different perspective and mindset to approach her struggles.
“My biggest faith takeaway from being at Pepperdine is just getting to love people like Jesus does,” Mekuanint said. “We’ve gone through a lot, time and time again, and the way people have shown up for each other, not thinking about themselves first, but the interconnectedness of it all is something so beautiful to see.”
Practices That Develop Faith
Lewis attended church and Bible study in undergrad, which she said allowed her to think differently and more in depth about religion with peers. She recently started attending St. Mel Parish in Woodland Hills to maintain this routine.
Faith looks different at the law school compared to what it looks like in undergrad, Lewis said.
“I think at the law school, there’s not a lot of faith on the daily,” Lewis said. “You pick and you choose, but I think there’s an overall culture that’s very kind and very focused on community, which I think is rooted in the faith aspect.”
Law school is competitive, but Lewis said at Pepperdine, people are always smiling and chatting.
“People are always hugging,” Lewis said. “I don’t know if undergrad is like that, but everyone’s hugging all the time.”
The Christian Legal Society facilitates a Bible study that Lewis attends every Wednesday. She said she enjoys meeting people and hearing about other people’s perspectives on faith and the law, and learning more about how the two intersect.
Similarly, Cabai said she enjoys the community and people college has brought her.
“I served as my sorority, Pi Phi’s, chaplain last year, which was really intimidating as a freshman, but it was so sweet and a wonderful opportunity,” Cabai said.
Attending Vintage Malibu church has also allowed Cabai to grow her faith in community with people of all ages, and to learn from those who are older than her.
“There’s so much sweetness in, I think, like different age groups coming together just to have one common goal of worshiping Jesus and leading people closer to Him,” Cabai said. “One of the things that has been on my heart in that [singing at church]
and also in leading Bible study, is just reminding myself that it’s all for an audience of One.”
Cabai said taking care of her spiritual health looks like spending 30 to 45 minutes reading her Bible in prayer every day. However, a key part of her routine is being honest with herself. When she isn’t able to spend that much time in the Word every single day, she aims for at least a little every morning, even if it is just a verse.
“On my busier days, in the busier weeks, I will literally, just like say prayers in my head and talk on the way to class,” Cabai said.
Long explained balancing his faith is difficult in college, and he has failed at it many times. However, his community and foundation bring him back to where he tries to be. The Great Books sequence at Pepperdine influenced the foundation of Long’s faith, especially philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and Augustine.
“I give credit to Augustine and Great Books, but I kind of adapted it to myself, where I’m like, above the line is the kingdom of God. I am living in the transformation that God has called me to be in. I want to live above the line,” Long said. “So how I’ve built that foundation is categorizing things above and below the line. Building my Christian faith on a different foundation than in the past was super beneficial.”
Long said a core part of his spiritual health and community is when his roommates and friends help him “stay above the line.”
A core passage that Long subscribes his faith to is John 15.
“To follow Jesus is, in essence, like a communion between me abiding with Christ and being transformed by His Spirit,” Long said. “An overarching theme would be self-sacrificial, putting others before yourself. It portrays an essence of when you’re continually being transformed into the image of God.”
story by Alicia Dofelmier design by Ella Monte
Students and Faculty Enhance Spiritual Wellbeing Through
WORSHIP
For some, there are specific moments in worship that have transformative effects on their spiritual health.
First-year Ella Schmidtlin, a
nondenominational Christian who primarily attends the University Church of Christ (UCC) on campus, said the first time she worshiped God in a community at church camp was a moment that significantly
impacted her spiritual health.
“I always used to sing alone, but when I was at church camp we were all in the grass singing without instruments, and the way we were doing it was a way in which nobody
cared how well it sounded or if we got the words right,” Schmidtlin said. “We were just singing for Him and I realized how powerful and important it is to be in community when worshiping.”
Worship is deeply connected to spiritual health, and helps individuals connect with God through their daily routines. For students and faculty, worshiping through music serves as a way to foster spiritual growth and emotional wellbeing.
Why Spiritual Health is Important
Spiritual health is the feeling of integration, that one’s mind, body, spirit, all the different parts of life, are together, said Religion Professor David Lemley, a member of UCC.
“I view my spiritual health as taking care of all those aspects and how I want to exist in the world and in general,” Lemley said.
Sophomore Lily Amateau, a nondenominational Christian, said she views spiritual health as an important part of her life, where robust spiritual health aligns her mental and physical health.
“Prioritizing my spiritual health makes sure that my mind is on Christ,” she said.
Amateau participates in a weekly Bible study on Saturdays with her mom and friends.
Reading the Word of God every day is food for her body, Amateau said. It is the spiritual food that is necessary to get through each day because it fuels her body just like normal food.
“It’s definitely necessary to be healthy in a way where you’re trying to pray and trying to implement the spiritual aspect into what you do every day,” Schmidtlin said.
one way to worship. Different ways to worship include singing, prayer, Bible study, small group meetings, service and orienting one’s life around God.
For some, like Schmidtlin, worship involves singing.
“I think worship is just really singing and using your voice to cry out to the Lord,” Schmidtlin said. “It’s not about how well you do it or how consistently you do it but it’s about letting go and living with the freedom to verbally worship God.”
Lily Salanty, associate director of worship at Pepperdine, said worship is making sure to always put the Lord before oneself and participating with Him in every moment of life. This can look like just giving Him one’s attention or having a conversation with Him.
“Pure worship should always lead to a life that is turned outward and leads us to being good friends and serving our neighbors,” said Salanty, a nondenominational Christian who currently attends Vintage Malibu church. “Worship is a whole lifestyle that we get to engage in and a lifestyle in which I get to include the God of the universe in my most menial tasks.”
For both students and faculty,
“Prioritizing my spiritual health makes sure that my mind is on Christ.”
Different Meanings of Worship
While worship can help enhance one’s spiritual health, there is no
Lily Amateau Sophomore
there are many different ways to worship on or near campus. Salanty helps lead a weekly worship service at the Well as part of her job in the Hub for Spiritual Life.
Additionally, the Hub also offers various student-led ministries that provide their own worship services and Bible studies. There are two Churches of Christ that meet on campus, the University Church of Christ and Waves Church, and several churches within walking distance of campus.
There are also larger worship nights that happen such as the Worship Summit on Alumni Park every fall and baptism nights at the Brock House during the Well.
Worship Tied Into Spiritual Health
Salanty said there is something about music that can help people find a way forward and serve as a reminder of who God is.
“Worship is so good for the soul; just singing to God to everything,
photos courtesy of Lily Salanty
whether pain or joy,” Salanty said.
Lemley said worshiping through music engages different parts of the body at the same time.
“If I’m spiritually healthy, all the different parts of my body are healthy and connected,” Lemley said. “Music is unique because it engages all the different parts of us; we feel music, we take it into our memory and the words become part of how we think about the world and ourselves.”
Lemley said music is something to share with others.
“Music can change a mood or perspective, music can change our mood, whether we choose it or not,” Lemley said. “When we listen to music our bodies are involved; we move, we sing, we can put our full selves into it.”
Lemley said when he hears the songs he grew up listening to at church as a kid, he feels a deep sense of connection.
“When I hear those songs now, they connect me to God, to my own story and to my most important rela-
tionships,” Lemley said.
Amateau said worship is not about trying to provoke a feeling or emotion.
“A lot of worship songs are emotion-provoking, but it shouldn’t be more about emotion than worship,” Amateau said. “I really want to focus on the act of worshiping God because it fills my soul.”
Salanty said she feels the most like herself when singing.
“I feel the most firm in His promises when I’m singing of His truth and something shifts in the room,” Salanty said. “Scripture says the power of the tongue is life and death and there is power in what we say and when we declare His promises and His truth.”
Schmidtlin said engaging in worship through music is important because singing reminds her to channel her energy toward God.
“Worship reminds me to focus my energy toward an all-knowing, all-powerful God rather than singing or playing music for success, it’s all for Him,” Schmidtlin said. “It’s a good reminder to not constantly correct myself when I sing because I grew up worshiping somebody who is so forgiving and doesn’t judge you for how well you sing.”
Lemley said having music that connects him to God is important for him.
“On a personal level, having music that resonates with me is a way of connection with God and I often
turn to music to help me pray when I don’t know how to pray or what to pray,” Lemley said.
Making a Difference in Spiritual Life
By engaging in worship, Schmidtlin said she has strengthened her spiritual life by setting aside time to solely focus on God.
“It’s hard to always focus on Him and do everything in the way He would want you to,” Schmidtlin said. “Focusing solely on worshiping Him has helped strengthen my spiritual journey and helped me cope with my depression and anxiety.”
Amateau said during COVID, she did not watch any secular TV or listen to secular music. Instead, she focused on watching Christian films, listening to Christian music and reading her Bible.
“That really did help me through worship grow closer to God and made me also not crave worldly things anymore,” Amateau said. “Worship in general is when things just melt away and it’s a ‘you and God’ moment and the world melts away.”
Amateau said being able to worship God even in hard circumstances can help bring someone closer to God.
“Worshiping God in painful circumstances is a discipline that really does help bring you close to the Lord and give you the peace that you want,” Amateau said.
Finding Inner Peace
By Going Outside
“Searching for Serenity”
story by Karma Christine Salvato photos by Liam Zieg design by Betsy Burrow
Most people in the U.S. spend much of their day staring at a screen of some sort, even at the expense of their overall health and wellbeing.
However, some members of the Pepperdine community are resisting the tendency to allow their smartphones and other online media to distract them from what truly matters. Instead, they are choosing to reconnect with the world around them by immersing themselves regularly in nature to revive their bodies and spirits in a more holistic way.
“I’ve found getting outside is the best way to clear my mind and decompress, whether it’s from a busy day or a particularly stressful situation,” said Daniel Goldstein, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School MBA candidate. “It’s almost a meditative experience once I get into the hiking groove.”
Connecting to Nature
Spending time in nature can decrease anxiety and stress, lower blood pressure, lower cortisol levels, enhance focus, improve mental health, elevate mood, improve sleep and boost the immune system by increasing the essential nutrient of Vitamin D, which is necessary for maintaining healthy bones, according to a UC Davis Health article.
“When you are in nature, it is naturally calming the mind and the nervous system,” said Lori-Ann Speed, transformational healer, facilitator and clairvoyant. “Connecting to earth energy
helps us to feel grounded and balanced. There is a peace in nature that is ever present. All we need to do is deeply listen and our nervous system matches it. When we deeply listen and feel nature, we match the vibration of nature. The vibration — energy of nature — is deeply healing and balancing.”
Goldstein said his passion for exploring the outdoors through his love of hiking helps him recenter.
modeled by Lindsay Hall
“Hiking is my favorite outdoor activity,” Goldstein said. “It’s my favorite way to exercise, clear my mind and also get outside, even during busy times.”
Payton Thompson, another Pepperdine Graziadio Business School MBA candidate, said she refused to let her devices drain her energy or affect her mental health.
“Snowboarding is my favorite outdoor activity that helps me reconnect with nature and myself,” Thompson said. “It is my favorite because it is very physical and technical and helps to get me to live in the moment. It also gets me off my phone and to spend quality time with friends and family.”
Michelle Varju (‘03), a Pepperdine alumna, homeschool teacher and Moorpark resident, said she finds spending time outdoors is the perfect solution to stress.
“If it has been a long day at work, I love to sit outside in my swing with an iced coffee so I can feel the breeze on my face and legs,” Varju said. “If
I’m hiking, it makes me feel so small, like the things that are stressing me out really aren’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.”
Disconnecting from Technology to Recharge
Society is shifting toward a global trend of urban living, combined with an ever-increasing reliance on technology that is causing time spent outdoors to decrease, even though the evidence scientists are gathering supports “the value of getting out into the natural world,” according to an American Psychological Association article.
Smartphones may be a large focal point in the lives of many individuals, however, “it might be time to set boundaries or delete a few apps,” according to an article on Mindful, a wellness website.
Although some find it challenging to disconnect entirely while outdoors, Varju said she experiences more peace when she fully “unplugs.”
“Most of the time, I try to disconnect from technology,” Varju said. “I think it adds to my stress when I’m connected. I hate that as a society we have to rely so much on our phones.”
Utilizing nature as a way to temporarily untether themselves from technology, Varju, Goldstein and Thompson said they recharge their batteries by being outdoors and connecting with the elements.
“Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to decompress for me,” Goldstein said. “I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and have always found peace in the outdoors.”
Thompson said she focuses on gratitude while spending time outdoors.
“Being outside in nature is what it is all about for me,” Thompson said. “We are so lucky to be here, and I feel that it is my responsibility to enjoy it. There is nothing better than a sunny warm day at the beach. Spending time outside is so important for us. Sometimes it is well-planned trips to the mountains or a sailing trip, but more often it is just doing my reading outside.”
Thompson said focusing on the present moment leads her to finding an ever-present calmness inside.
“I feel that living in the moment is the best way to gain inner peace,” Thompson said. “I also feel like while I am in nature I am always learning, and I value lifelong learning.”
Varju said she loves to bask in the sunlight, dreaming about being “somewhere over the rainbow” and letting her worries melt away.
“Being in nature allows me to put everything else aside and live in the moment,” Varju said. “Everything on my list of things to do can wait. Spending time in nature does my body good and I feel myself breathe deeply, which feels so satisfying.”
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photos by Mary Elisabeth & Liam Zieg design by Betsy Burrow
Rise of
Larry Flores: Surf Trip
Supply
story by Victoria La Ferla
photos by Liam Zieg design by Lauren Brown
At just 14 years old, firstyear Larry Flores set out to create something he never saw in the surf industry: a brand that felt like a community.
What started as a simple sketch of items he’d take on a surf trip turned into Surf Trip Supply, a surfwearbrand that has quickly built a strong following. Flores said Surf Trip Supply is about more than just clothing — it’s about faith, perseverance and following God’s plan.
Flores recognized early on that many major surf brands were focusing only on pro surfers rather than the everyday people who actually wore their clothes. He said he wanted to create something different.
“Our slogan is ‘the brand that feels like a friend group,’” Flores said. “We’re really building a solid community.”
But the journey wasn’t easy. For two years, Surf Trip Supply saw little to no sales. While many would have given up, Flores said he remained steadfast.
“I knew this was going to go somewhere if I didn’t quit,” Flores said. “I knew I wouldn’t fail if I kept going.”
With no formal business training, Flores taught himself the backend of business. He recounted watching endless YouTube videos, reading books and listening to podcasts. He said he started with $150, no investments and he still has no outside funding or help.
“My parents didn’t help,” Flores said. “I just spent hours on YouTube, learning as much as I could.”
In Surf Trip Supply’s second year, Flores started posting on TikTok, and after “a million bad videos,” one finally went viral. Soon, influencers
and celebrities took notice. A major turning point came when the cast of ‘Outer Banks’ wore Surf Trip Supply pieces on the show.
“I posted about it, and the products sold out instantly,” Flores said.
He said he just kept scaling up slowly.
“I started with 10 shirts and now we’re doing 2,500 units in this next drop,” Flores said.
Despite his company’s success, Flores is enrolled as an Advertising major at Seaver College but he said he’s uncertain if it’s part of his longterm path. He is planning to take a leave of absence in fall 2025 and said he may not return.
From the beginning, Flores said he believed that God was calling him to this business.
“In worldly terms, it’s impossible for a 14-year-old kid to do this, to build
a company this big,” Flores said. “It was 100% God working through me.”
Flores said he is a Christian. “I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior,” Flores said. “I couldn’t have gotten to this place without Him.”
Each piece of clothing features small details that reflect Flores’ beliefs. Every hoodie, every shirt has a little “Jesus Loves You” tag on the inside. Even if someone doesn’t know about God, Flores said he hopes that maybe it will plant a seed.
A fellow surfer, Will Lamb, said he connected with Flores when the brand was looking to grow its audience. He was drawn to Surf Trip Supply’s mission, and he quickly became a part of the team, helping the brand expand while bringing his own expertise in managing the Surf Trip Supply brand athletes’ personal brands.
“I was going through a rough time when I met Larry,” Lamb said. “He never pushed anything, but just being around him and the supportive culture of Surf Trip Supply helped guide me toward a healthier relationship with God. It’s become a comfortable community where faith feels genuine and welcoming.”
Beyond the designs, Flores said he sees his success as an opportunity to inspire others to trust in God’s plan. Through interviews, social
media and personal conversations, he shares how his faith guides his decisions, giving credit to God for every milestone.
Despite rapid growth, Flores said he is committed to staying authentic. His designs reflect his ever-changing personal style. Some days he’s in flipflops, other days in cowboy boots.
Flores’ creative process is spontaneous, with ideas often coming to him in the middle of the night.
“I’ll wake up and design it right away,” Flores said. “You can’t let those moments pass.”
He said he maintains the brand’s identity through a meticulous creative process, using mood boards
and playlists to ensure each collection aligns with Surf Trip Supply’s vision.
“We’d have calls and meet-ups in Malibu and Huntington, surf together and bounce ideas around,” Lamb said. “It wasn’t just about business, it felt like building something bigger with a close friend.”
Every detail of Surf Trip Supply’s clothing is intentional, from custom zippers shaped like sand dollars and dolphins to intricate embroidery and high-quality fabrics, Flores said.
“Nothing is basic,” Lamb said. “Every piece has meaning.”
Flores said he has private manufacturers all around the world.
With major surf brands closing their retail stores, Flores said he sees an opportunity to expand into physical locations.
Surf Trip Supply has recently secured a spot at Atlas in Westfield Century City Mall.
“In the next two years, I want to open our own stores in every big surf city,” Flores said. “When people think of Billabong, I want them to think of Surf Trip.”
For Flores, it’s not just about building a business; it’s about building a movement rooted in community, creativity and faith.
Waves Heal that
The Ocean Serves a Therapeutic Purpose
story by Amanda Monahan photos by Mary Elisabeth design by Betsy Burrow
Overwhelmed by the chaos of life, the Malibu community turns to the ocean as a sanctuary.
The freeing feeling of running toward the water. The cool sensation of the waves. The salt in one’s hair. Catching a wave. The feeling of being healed by the open ocean.
Whether the ocean serves as the place for a quick saltwater dip or a sanctuary for letting go of all one’s worries, its healing powers are strong.
“The ocean is a place where you can clean your mind, forget about everything, all your problems, take care of your soul, take care of your spirit, take care of your spiritual body,” said JP Pereat, founder of Pelican Ocean Therapy.
The Open Ocean
Pereat said he has always had a deep connection with the ocean. He has been surfing since he was a young kid eager to escape the San Fernando Valley and make it to the water. However, he found a deeper calling to the ocean when his sister’s first child was born with autism, a condition that causes people to have challenges socially in their behavior, communication and learning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Pereat said that every time his sister brought her son out in public, people would treat her differently because her son was “all over the place.” This inspired Pereat to take his nephew somewhere that would relieve his sister’s child of social shame.
“Then I looked at the ocean a little differently, because I started taking him to the beach, because there was one place where he could go without having labels put on him and without having restrictions put on him,” Pereat said.
After witnessing the unmatched freeness the ocean granted his nephew, Pereat made it his mission to help others with similar conditions. He began working with the nonprofit “A Walk on Water,” which provides surf therapy for “children with unique needs.”
From there, Pereat started another nonprofit, “The Mighty Underdogs” in Malibu, which has since turned into Pelican Ocean Therapy, his official LLC. Pelican Ocean Therapy provides surf instruction to children and adults, and Pereat said he has worked with a variety of people, ranging from 2 to 76 years of age and with a variety of needs.
“As a society, we like to control everything and then we also like to label everything. Because, as we know, what’s great about the ocean is there is no labels when you’re out in the water,” Pereat said. “You can put 10 kids there, five with special needs, five with non-special needs, and you can’t tell which one’s which, they’re all having the same time — they’re all having a great time.”
Beyond teaching people how to surf, Pereat said he has decades of experience in grief, alcohol and drug counseling. What he has come to discover in his years of work is a beautiful connection between therapy and the ocean.
“You walk into a controlled environment: four walls, a door. You walk in, you’re sitting down with someone,
and now you’re going to talk about what weighs heavy on your heart, why you have so much grief, why you’re so unhappy, whatever it is,” Pereat said. “And for me, I take it to the next step, which is my office is the ocean.”
During therapy sessions, Pereat will take a client — even if they are afraid of the water — and paddle out roughly 600 yards with them. The two will then sit on two separate boards and just talk; being out in the open ocean makes all the difference in getting someone to open up, Pereat said.
“But when you’re in an uncontrolled environment and soon your body falls apart, so you really tap into what you’re going through — the grief, whatever it is, it’ll hit you,” Pereat said. “So then you have two hours of talking about it, laughing, crying, doing everything and then you leave it out there. So when you paddle in, you definitely are paddling in without that baggage.”
Throughout his extensive work in the ocean and with all of the previous groups he’s been involved in, Pereat said he has realized one thing — the ocean’s power is undeniable.
“That’s what Pelican Ocean Therapy is — it’s an extension of all my work brought into one focus. It’s not just surf lessons, it’s creating a relationship with the ocean for life,” Pereat said. “It’s the most monumental thing that’s overlooked for our healing.”
Personal Testaments to the Powers of the Ocean
Sophomore Kaylee Snyder grew up along the Oregon Coast, a scenic sanctuary in the Pacific Northwest with easy access to the ocean. Due to changing weather patterns throughout the year, Snyder said when summer rolled around and the sun came out, she could almost always be found in the water.
“There was just nothing that made me feel the way that the ocean did — like therapeutic, the peacefulness,” Snyder said. “It wasn’t just surfing, it was swimming, anything and just being in the ocean, it was just peace. I just gained so much care because of the way it made me feel.”
Not everyone grows up or lives in proximity to the ocean. Taylor Moore, an employee at Sea N’ Soul Surf in Malibu, grew up in Ridgecrest, California, with limited opportunities to be in the ocean until she was 11, when she started frequently visiting her family in Hawaii.
Moore now lives in Thousand Oaks and works in Malibu, allowing her much easier access to the ocean. She has been surfing since she was 11, and said it is an important part of her life and community today.
“It’s just my way of relieving stress and connecting with other people,” Moore said. “Especially in Malibu, the community is so surf-driven and it’s really cool to see other people
support each other, especially women in surfing.”
Though surfing is her main reason for getting in the ocean, Moore said feeling the water on her skin or floating in the open body of water is more than enough.
“For me, it’s more than surfing. Just being in the ocean in general is so therapeutic and definitely stress-relieving,” Moore said. “Anytime I have the chance to be in the water is just such a spiritual feeling to just be able to have that connection with the ocean.”
Ethan Joei, a Los Angeles resident and student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said he believes his love for the ocean was always within him. However, it wasn’t until he needed it most that he realized just how much the ocean could do for him.
Joei learned to swim at a young age and played water polo growing up. As a teenager, he said he had several friends who were great surfers who taught him to surf. Joei immediately fell in love with it, from the day he learned.
Joei eventually reached high school, which proved to be particularly challenging for him. He attended a very rigorous private high school, and said a lot of the students at his school faced a variety of mental health issues — including himself.
“I was lost. I didn’t know who I was, I didn’t know what I wanted,” Joei said. “I was angry at the world and I wasn’t living well, I wasn’t living righteously.”
Joei’s parents and therapist at the time worked together to find a teen treatment center where he could receive help. There, he said he met several lifelong friends and the staff was incredible. However, one thing helped him in a way nothing else did — Pereat’s Pelican Ocean Therapy.
“I just remember JP’s compassion,” Joei said. “He was just so nice. He was just so loving, so considerate, so
warm, so friendly and it really stuck with me. I opened up to him. I felt so seen by him.”
Joei said Pereat took him and others from the treatment center surfing as their form of therapy for a day, and described Pereat’s work for him and his peers as “life-changing.” Considering he already knew how to surf, Joei was not always in close contact with Pereat throughout the group therapy, but said he could feel his purpose, even from a distance.
“He doesn’t even need to be around you. He doesn’t even need to talk with you,” Joei said. “You can just feel what he’s doing, and that’s what I’m trying to cultivate, to just be so wise and loving that I can help people out just by being there, by being on the water.”
Joei was so inspired by Pereat’s work with the transformative powers of the ocean that he is looking to give back, years after his own life-changing experience. He is currently in the process of speaking with Pereat and others at Pelican Ocean Therapy to find ways to help others transform their own journeys and welcome ocean therapy into their lives.
“If I could give back to the community to help some kids surf, like catch a wave for the first time — that would be priceless,” Joei said.
Taking the Dive In
For many, a fear of the ocean can be a major setback in surfing, swimming or even going to the beach, according to Healthline. Those who have experienced the ocean’s influence encourage others, even if they are scared, to welcome the sea into their lives as a healer.
Snyder has spent her sophomore year studying abroad in Vevey, Switzerland. Having spent most of her life by the ocean, both at home and at Pepperdine, Snyder said her time away from the ocean has deepened her appreciation for it.
She encourages those who have the opportunity to explore their relationship with the ocean to take the first step toward a beautiful healing power.
“I personally believe that once you go in the ocean, once you go surfing, once you actually spend time in there, like you put that fear behind and you’ll never go back,” Snyder said. “I think it was created to be enjoyed for us, and I think that when you go in, you’ll never look back.”
Joei emphasizes, like with any new activity, going in the ocean or surfing can be scary. Furthermore, there can be a lot of frustration in learning something new and not being great at it. However, he said it is important to remember that it is a new thing that will just take time.
“Be kind to yourself, be gentle with yourself and [take] baby steps,” Joei said. “It’s like being a kid again, like a toddler — you’re gonna fall when you’re learning to walk.”
Regardless of what one might be feeling or experiencing, Pereat said the ocean can be the solution.
“If you feel sad, go get in the ocean. If you feel mad, go get in the ocean. If you want to be happy, go get in the ocean,” Pereat said. “Ocean therapy is incredible.”
modeled by Malibu local
story by Ava Heinert
photos by Mary Elisabeth design by Ella Monte
Mind, Body, Budget: Maintaining Healthy Habits
as a College Student
College: the land of late-night study sessions, ramen noodles, over-caffeination and juggling classes with work and a social calendar. Time is limited and budgets are tight, so health and wellness often takes a hit. While college life may not always
align with healthy habits, students and professionals said it is possible to be healthy in college, and crucial in order to thrive mentally and physically.
Health encompasses more than just nutrition, exercise or fulfilling relationships, but rather, all of these things working together for
holistic wellness, said Kyra Hatton, senior and Student Wellness Advisory Board (SWAB) co-president.
“Health is so interconnected,” Hatton said. “You can’t really only focus on one of those three elements of health. Every one of them is going to impact the other.”
Better to Keep it Basic
Audrey Byker, board-certified health and wellness coach and holistic nutritionist, said wellness is attainable for everyone when made a priority, but individual needs may vary.
“Truly with anything, if there is a will, there’s a way,” Byker said. “If you plan, you’d be shocked by what is possible if you just do a little planning ahead — your schedule, your meal plan.”
Byker works with clients of all ages but has extensive experience helping college students develop habits to help them maintain optimal health. Her curriculum focuses on individualized nutrition, and she walks clients through how to create a balanced plate tailored to their health goals.
“I just help meet them where they’re at with their skills and resources, and then help them make everything really, really simple,” Byker said. “We just focus on keeping it basic.”
Developing healthy habits now, while in college, will set young people up for the future and students should take advantage of the numerous free resources Pepperdine has to offer, Hatton said. She urges students to attend SWAB tabling events, visit the Student Health Center, seek out the Counseling Center and utilize the support of the Student Care Team, all of which are financially covered through the wellness fee.
“It’s far easier to maintain habits that have been built up than it is to build new ones,” Hatton said. “Your health is an investment in the person that you’re going to be 10, 20, 30 and so on years down the line.”
Balancing on a Budget
Everything is about balance, Byker said.
“All you need are healthy, balanced
meals,” Byker said. “That’s it. Noth ing more, nothing less, just water in between.”
All well-rounded, com plete meals will include each macronutrient: pro tein, healthy fats and car bohydrates, Byker said.
“I just call those your daily medicine you need,” Byker said. “You need them every day, ideally in every meal, and tailored individ ually to the individual’s health goals and needs.”
Senior Nutrition major Megan Anderson said she focuses on trying to eat mostly whole foods — unprocessed or minimally processed foods. She said the fiber she gains from prioritizing fruits and vegetables helps sustain her energy during busy days.
“It helps me stay full for longer,” Anderson said. “Just eating a varied diet, it’s hard to just describe, but I just feel good throughout the day.”
Byker recommends everyone take inventory of the resources and groceries they already have in their homes and begin there.
Anderson said when managing costs, it is important to find grocery stores that offer more for less. But, the less expensive stores may create a transportation barrier since they are not located in Malibu.
“I know the prices at Trader Joe’s are a lot less than some of the other ones, especially in the Malibu area, so that is something that I definitely take into consideration,” Anderson said.
For those who are cost-conscious, frozen foods and produce can be a cheaper way to hit macronutrient goals than fresh fruit and vegetables.
“Frozen produce is extremely high in nutrients because it’s picked at its peak ripeness,” Byker said.
Anderson plans her weekly meals around what is available at her local grocery stores, Ralphs and Pavillions. She said she has a base
list of ingredients but will alter her recipes depending on what produce is on sale or in season.
“Doing what you can is kind of the name of the game, especially in college,” Anderson said.
Meal prepping has changed everything, Anderson said. Usually, she preps on Sundays, cooking ready-togo vegetables and meat for her meals throughout the week.
“It takes maybe like 40 minutes on the weekend, but then the whole week I can just quickly grab some and add it to whatever meal I have,” Anderson said.
With meal plans centered around basic macronutrients, meals can feel redundant, Byker said. But, they don’t have to be — all it takes is a little creativity in the kitchen (or the dorm room).
“Simplicity — it gets boring,” Byker said. “That’s why you want to learn how to cook. It should be a goal for everyone to just get better at cooking so that you can make your food taste better than in a restaurant.”
Anderson cycles through recipes, getting creative and experimenting with different flavors while using many of the same ingredients.
“One week, maybe I’ll make a pasta and add the vegetables to that, or just have rice and chicken and mix it all together, or tacos, or sometimes I throw more fun, yummy recipes in,” Anderson said.
For those stuck with the Caf, Byker
recommended seeking out vegetables and proteins.
“It’s consciously not choosing the food that is not going to love you back,” Byker said.
Byker performed a deep-dive research project for a culinary nutrition class, simulating an ideal meal plan for a college-age woman, living on less than $8 a day. Byker said the report is big on minimal food waste in order to save money.
“That was a really big thing in my report, not wasting anything,” Byker said. “We would reuse stuff, turn it into something else, one-pot meals like hashes and soups.”
Going Out to Eat
As much as many college students don’t like to hear it, the best way to save money and sustain healthy habits is to avoid eating out, Byker said. Since eating out is often a way to socialize and connect, she encourages people to find non-food-related ways to hang out.
“Instead of going out to a restaurant with a bunch of your friends, one thing that I love doing is just cooking with friends, and usually that’s far less expensive,” Hatton said.
This does not mean restaurants need to be cut entirely, but she said that the most nutrient-dense options in a restaurant are often more expensive.
on that plate and not sweating too much of the rest,” Byker said.
People should do the best they can to create a balanced plate in their given circumstance, without overthinking it and focusing more on the food than the experience of being with one another, Byker said.
“Recharge yourself,” Byker said. “Do the best you can with what you know. Don’t sweat the quality. Just try to make it balanced. Enjoy every bite and move on.”
Physical Activity
Getting a daily dose of physical activity can feel overwhelming and over-complicated, Byker said. But staying active every day is actually quite simple and can be free of charge. Whether it is small exercises at home or taking some time to walk in nature, she said the goal is simply to move.
“Shut out the noise of over-complicating everything,” Byker said. “You don’t need a gym membership. You have your own body weight you can use.”
Similar to Byker, Hatton highly recommends walking in nature whenever possible, whether with friends or alone.
“Something like that is super accessible no matter where you go, and it can be a great way to engage with all areas of wellness,” Hatton said.
Prioritizing nutrition and physical movement every day in some capacity makes her more productive during the day and helps her sleep soundly at night, Anderson said.
“Being able to go out for walks, runs or whatever I feel like doing has contributed to me feeling energized and ready to go every day,” Anderson said. “And by the time it gets to bedtime, I’m like ‘I’m ready to sleep now,’ and then I just knock out.”
Long-term health is the ability to move in a functional way and should
remain the focus, Byker said.
“That’s picking up, twisting, reaching, step ping, you don’t have to jump, you don’t have to have weights and do all these crazy things at a gym,” Byker said.
Mental Health and the Power of Community
Finding a way to get the body in motion every day is not only great for overall physical health, but for mental health.
“Your mental health thrives when it can have those brain breaks too,” Byker said.
Byker emphasizes the need for everyone to go outside — it’s free, and the human body needs it.
“We can’t forget the power of nature,” Byker said. “The fresh air and sunshine will change your life, especially if you’re focused on the fact that that’s actually medicine.”
Health ultimately comes down to relationships and community, something college can provide in spades, Byker said.
“I believe that all of our struggles at the root are rooted in a lack of love and belonging,” Byker said. “So whatever we can do to address that route and seek out loving, belonging is really powerful.”
The wellness of the entire community helps to facilitate the health of an individual, Hatton said.
“It’s not just one person’s individual wellness,” Hatton said. “The entire community’s wellness helps everybody, being around people who kind of show healthy habits, whether that be healthy eating or just encouraging movement.”
Rising Above Pepperdine Students Overcome Life’s Toughest Challenges
story by Justin Rodriguez art by Sarah Rietz design by Betsy Burrow
At some point in life, everyone hits a wall.
It might come from an unexpected diagnosis, perhaps a personal hardship or even a mental challenge that makes the future feel uncertain. For many Pepperdine students, life is not defined solely by academic achievements or personal milestones, but rather shaped by personal hurdles encountered along the way.
Sophomore Ernest “Aidan” Sunkel was diagnosed with cancer when he was 3 and depression in high school. Senior Hannah Schendel has pushed through a late diagnosis of scoliosis in high school that is still impacting her. Senior Matthew Aizawa sustained a spinal cord injury during winter break, placing him in a wheelchair.
But through perseverance, community and an unwavering belief in their own strength, all three said they have found ways forward.
“You should take this setback and pain and use it as motivation for your future,” Schendel said. “Because if you can get through something as hard as this, you can get through anything, and I feel like getting through something like this [scoliosis] makes you realize that.”
Overcoming the Past and Facing the Present
Sunkel, an English major, said he has lived with the weight of survival ever since the day he could walk. At just 3, he and his family received life-altering news.
His family took him to the hospital because he was feeling fatigued with swollen lymph nodes. After some tests and a few days, his family received the call: Sunkel had leukemia.
“I was so little, I didn’t really understand what the stakes were,” Sunkel said.
For three years, Sunkel went through chemotherapy until he was 6, when he entered remission.
As a nondenominational Christian, Sunkel said his faith helped him make sense of his survival.
“Long after the fact, I realized that not many people get to say, ‘I beat cancer,’” Sunkel said. “I deduced that I’m alive for a reason. I think God wouldn’t have kept me around otherwise.”
While his body healed, another struggle emerged, one that felt even harder to put into words, Sunkel said. In high school, depression settled in,
bringing thoughts that were impossible to shake.
“I knew that people loved me, but I just didn’t have any reason to believe it,” Sunkel said. “That was the biggest struggle of ‘Who really wants me alive in their life?’”
Those thoughts lingered in his mind even though he said he could logically name people who cared about him — his family, his friends. But depression does not always respond to logic.
“I could definitely name people,” Sunkel said. “But I didn’t fully believe it, because I didn’t want myself.”
“Depression is a common and serious mental health disorder that negatively affects the way people feel, think, act and perceive the world,” according to the American Psychiatric Organization. Depression can occur at any time or any age, but on average, it first appears during one’s late-teens to early 20s.
Sunkel first told his parents about his battle during his first year of high school. He said he severely struggled with asking for help, but his health deteriorated to a point where he was forced to confide in them.
“If I hadn’t been somewhat honest with them, I wouldn’t have gotten anything out of it,” Sunkel said. “I wouldn’t have been here.”
Sunkel said he masked his pain so he wouldn’t burden others, forcing smiles and laughter while suppressing anything that might disrupt the moment. He pretended because he loved and cared about his family and friends — he never wanted to disrupt the vibe. By his senior year of high school, the weight became unbearable, Sunkel said. Unbearable to the point that Sunkel told his parents he did not want to live anymore.
“That was even harder because I know it’s selfish, and I know it sounds ungrateful, because you guys have given me life, and now I don’t want it anymore?” Sunkel said. “But at the same time, who else am I going to tell that’s going to get me help?”
That honesty was his first step forward. Through this, he decided to give therapy a shot, and he said it was exactly what he needed.
“That helped a lot just on the note of being able to talk to someone consistently,” Sunkel said. “Because I could tell my parents how I was feeling in the moment, but it’s hard to tell them how I’m doing all the time.”
During his first year of high school, he started taking medication. Sunkel took Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) for four years.
Sunkel said he stopped taking the medications on his own accord because he felt disconnected from his emotions. He did not want to have to take medication to be considered “normal,” in addition to hating the feeling of having his mood regulated.
Sunkel said this disconnection led to self-doubt. He worried about whether people cared about his true self.
“Do they like the mask that I wear?” Sunkel said. “Do they like that persona? Or do they really like me; me for who I am?”
At Pepperdine, Sunkel said his depression has improved.
“I find comfort in being at a Christian school in a community of believers, which I don’t really have at home,” Sunkel said. “Being able to go home and have a roommate who is so cool and will grant me alone time when I need it, or [who] is always willing to console me and specifically remind me that God is good and that God became a human and died for me — that wasn’t for nothing.”
Living With A Lifelong Challenge
Everyone is clumsy. Growing up, senior Business Administration major Hannah Schendel was often labeled as clumsy, falling over countless times.
“I think I was on crutches like seven times,” Schendel said. “From when I was little to freshman year of high school.”
After one too many falls, she said she was determined to find answers. She underwent a series of MRIs with
doctors first checking her legs, suspecting uneven growth. When that wasn’t the answer, they scanned her hips, and still nothing.
Finally, they scanned her spine, and they found scoliosis — a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents.
“The options are either you wait it out, and it gets worse as you get older,” Schendel said. “Then, eventually, it can get so bad that it can crush your lungs. So they were like, ‘You should do something about this now.’”
She had to choose between undergoing surgery or physical therapy.
“If I did surgery, I’d have to live the rest of my life with iron rods in my back,” Schendel said. “Then I wouldn’t really be able to bend over, like, I wouldn’t have a bunch of mobility.”
This led her to a rigorous physical therapy program near her home in Northern California. She said people from all over the world come for this treatment, but for her it was just a 30-minute drive each day.
Her drive was the easiest part.
“The treatment was really, really difficult to go through,” Schendel said. “The first time I went, I was there for
three weeks straight, so I had to miss three weeks of school. It was like a 9 to 5, but physical therapy and treatment.”
It was here Schendel said she was introduced to a special back brace specifically made for scoliosis treatment, a Boston brace. She wore it regularly, even while sleeping.
At school, she said she felt self-conscious and did her best to hide it. But sometimes, she couldn’t hide the pain.
“I would sit in class sometimes and just sit crying because it was so painful,” Schendel said.
Alongside the constant physical therapy, she said she endured a series of other grueling treatments, all aimed to help stretch and realign her spine.
She said she spent 42 minutes a day strapped into a scoliosis traction chair, her waist tightly bound while a knob was pressed into her spine before she was flipped upside down. Another exercise, spinal weighting, required her to balance on a bosu ball while weighted down, all while enduring the constant pressure of a spinal knob.
The final machine, she said, strapped her to a table, inverting her legs to counteract gravity and stretch nerve tension in her spine.
All the while, she said she was forced to miss class and quit swimming and water polo, sports she said she loved. The mental toll was heavy.
“It was really hard, because I felt like I was trying to figure out who I was,” Schendel said. “Then it was just like, bam, you have this disease that suddenly consumed my entire life.”
Right before her diagnosis, she was scouted to be a model. Although the diagnosis didn’t prevent her from modeling, she said the experience felt different.
“I always felt like an imposter, because I was like, ‘Wow, there’s all these beautiful girls, and then there I am,’” Schendel said. “I would always hide my brace whenever I went and I just felt like I didn’t belong.”
The Path to Recovery: A Comeback in Motion
In an instant, everything can change. For senior Chemistry major Matthew Aizawa, this change came unexpectedly while skiing in Mammoth in December 2024, a sport he was no stranger to, he said. It was the last day of the trip, basically the last run of the
trip, he said, and he wanted to clear a ramp before heading home.
He watched people hit the ramp a couple of times before taking his turn to dive in. He thought to himself the people weren’t going fast enough, not clearing it at all. He said he thought he had to go faster than them.
“Of course, my last words,” Aizawa said. “I ended up flying like Superman, horizontally in the air and then landed straight on my back. I got knocked out. Once I regained consciousness, there were a ton of people around me — ski patrol, my friends — trying to figure out if I could feel my legs or not. I was like, ‘No, I don’t feel anything.’ And that’s when it got serious.”
From the moment he lost feeling in his legs, a new chapter began in his life, a chapter he said he could have never imagined. He was airlifted to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada and taken to the intensive care unit.
“That’s where I had my [initial] surgery, and I stayed for about a week,” he said.
He was diagnosed with a T6 spinal cord burst fracture. In other words, his spine was compressed, leading to pinching in his spinal cord.
For Aizawa, he described hearing the news as an overwhelming wave of uncertainty. He is currently in a wheelchair, uncertain if it will be required for the rest of his life.
“I’m still trying to figure out what to think, but initially it was a complete shock, like no way this is happening,” Aizawa said. “Honestly, it didn’t feel real, I was like, ‘This is crazy. I feel like I’m living in someone else’s life, this is nuts.’”
Aizawa said he is taking a leave of absence from Pepperdine this semester, but despite it all, he said he decided he was not going to let his circumstances define him.
“I’ve always been more of a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy,” he said.
He said this positive mindset became the foundation for his recovery. He focused on the parts of his life he could still control: his determination and outlook.
“I had to relearn almost everything about my life, so that was hard, but also kind of interesting for me,” Aizawa said. “I thought of it as a challenge. Like, OK, once I get through this, I’m going to be so much better the next day.”
Aizawa said the toughest part of being in a wheelchair has been asking people for help, especially since he said he would rather help someone else.
“Having to ask for help to get out of bed, get changed, take a shower, like, all that,” Aizawa said. “It was real tough for me. Like, I would call my nurse again to help me get up or move my bed. So that was real tough in the beginning mentally, because I had to be real dependent on other people, which was so different.”
The mental and emotional challenges proved to be more demanding. Aizawa said he’s faced many ups and downs in his recovery process, with days when the weight of his situation feels unbearable.
He’s found support in the community he has found at his rehabilitation center at Renown, the hospital he was taken to for his initial surgery.
“I made a lot of friends here who are also in the same situation, around the same age,” Aizawa said. “You just kind of bond, being able to see them and see how they’re progressing and see how you’re also progressing. It definitely helps keep me motivated.”
On top of this, the support he has received from his family, friends and Pepperdine faculty have helped push him through this time in his life, he said.
“My friends and family — oh my gosh — if I didn’t have them, I don’t know,” Aizawa said. “Things would be way different. They push me to be a lot happier than I am.”
The Mental Side of Resilience
Injuries, in general, are not just physical setbacks. They carry profound psychological impacts that can disrupt a person’s sense of identity, confidence and mental well-being.
Lina Chmiel, a sports psychologist for Pepperdine Athletics and the
photo by Mary Elisabeth Ernest “Aidan” Sunkel
photo courtesy of Hannah Schendel
photo courtesy of Matthew Aizawa
Counseling Center, works closely with athletes to navigate the mental challenges that arise from injuries.
“Whether you’re an athlete or not, you are losing your function, your daily function, of how you move to the world,” Chmiel said. “You’re having to accommodate a lot.”
When someone is in the midst of an injury, the isolation from friends, the disruption of their daily schedule and the uncertainty of recovery can compound these feelings of loss. Accepting and understanding the grief is the first step toward recovery, Chmiel said.
“Naming this grief, naming the anger, naming the sadness, naming the depression of it, naming the despair that you will never get back to where you were,” Chmiel said. “But going through those and allowing those feelings, it helps you move through it and not be stuck.”
Moreover, Chmiel stresses that injuries are not just physical traumas, but emotional and psychological traumas that require intentional healing.
“It stays with us, the trauma,” Chmiel said. “The injury is a trauma, it is. It’s a physical trauma, it’s a mental trauma, it’s an emotional trauma. So we really have to treat it as such to be able to, in a way, attend to the seriousness of it and the time that it needs to heal.”
Sunkel said his journey provided him with a greater sense of empathy for others who have similar conditions, knowing firsthand how difficult it is to speak out, how isolating it can feel. However, he said he has also grown frustrated with certain stigmas around mental health, specifically with how casual people throw around depression and suicide in everyday conversations.
“People crack jokes a lot, but whether they’re funny or not is up to debate,” Sunkel said. “Like, ‘This assignment is so hard, I’m gonna kill myself,’ like OK? Having actually wanted to do that, it’s not that deep, you don’t want to do that. People might not realize that that joke is insensitive.”
His personal struggles have shaped his journey in life, but they have also given him a strong passion for
advocacy for both mental health and cancer research.
“The reason I care about both cancer research and mental health is because no one deserves to experience either in the first place,” Sunkel said.
He said he sees parallels between the two battles, and although cancer may sound more grave since one’s life is at stake, he can say the same thing about depression. Ultimately, his biggest takeaway is one of hope.
He knows firsthand what it’s like to feel as if things won’t change, that you won’t get better. But he said he also knows that’s not true.
“You can get better,” Sunkel said. “That’s the main idea. That’s something everyone deserves to know. That’s something everyone deserves to hear from God.”
From the day she found out she was diagnosed, Schendel felt broken, and her negative thoughts kept adding fuel to the fire.
“Now that I’m older, I realize it made me so much stronger — mentally and physically,” Schendel said. “I also realized that it didn’t define me and
that people would still love me for who I was.”
Schendel used her former identity as an athlete as a motivator to get well.
“I wanted to get better as soon as I could so I could go back to running around, swimming, doing all the things I loved,” Schendel said. “I needed that motivation to fight through everything, otherwise, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Aizawa said he is the same person as before, just with a wheelchair and an interesting story to tell. He is attempting to confront his adversity with resilience and courage.
“Be positive and be thankful for what you have, because when it’s gone it’s like, ‘Dang, that sucks,’” Aizawa said. “And more than anything, I wish I had expressed my love and gratitude to the people around me more, because you never know when you might need to lean on them. I just want to thank everyone who’s been supporting me through all of this. That’s the most important thing I want to get across — there’s no way I could’ve made it through this whole journey without them.”
Myers Mentzer:
Looking Beyond Her Titles
story by Nikki Quartuccio photos by Liam Zieg design by Carmel Drogin
Classes, homework, extracurricular activities, practicing healthy habits and maintaining a social life can seem like a balancing act that is almost impossible for college students.
For senior Myers Mentzer, however, it's her everyday: being the Student Government Association’s student body president, taking classes at Caruso School of Law and prioritizing her Christian faith through being involved in a church community.
Her reach extends far beyond the students in her classes and major.
“She has always been incredibly sweet and patient,” first-year SGA Senator Emily Espinosa said. “She fosters a community that is safe and family-like to excel in.”
The senior Business Administration major from Dallas, Texas, said she started as a class senator in SGA her first year. In her sophomore year, she served as sophomore class president. By her junior year, she was the executive vice president of the student body.
Under her leadership, Mentzer said she has created a new structure for the SGA committees that will better integrate students' voices and produce lasting results. These SGA committees seek to bridge the gap between SGA members and the student body, something Mentzer thinks is important.
She has also led initiatives to expand accessibility on campus through Pepperdine Mobility Transport Service, which provides rides to students who have chronic health conditions and disabilities.
In addition to her leadership achievements, Mentzer said she has completed a certificate in conflict management from the Caruso School of Law and plans to either go to law school or go straight into consulting after graduation. Whatever she does, she wants to make a difference in the community around her, just as she has at Pepperdine.
She said she emphasizes the importance of drawing distinctions between school and home spaces, which may be hard for students who live on campus. Mentzer makes sure she only does certain activities in certain spaces to make associations between a space for rest versus a space for work.
“If I am doing homework, I will be in the library. If I am doing SGA activities, I will be in the SGA office,” Mentzer said. “If I am relaxing and winding down, I will be in my dorm room or hanging out with friends.”
She has attended Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch since her first year, and she said that some of her best memories from Pepperdine have ocurred on the hour-long drive there.
Mentzer also practices a 24-hour Sabbath every week to give herself a full day off of school and work responsibilities. She said this allows her to reconnect with God and her faith, as well as provide a structured time to spend with friends and family.
“My day of Sabbath is one of my most important habits,” Mentzer said, “as it gives me time to rest and reset while preparing for the week ahead.”
Mentzer said these habits allow for strict boundaries between work and life,
promoting balance and healthy habits. It pushes her to still have time for friends and enjoy college without feeling overwhelmed by the workload and responsibilities associated with it.
Mentzer also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and teamwork. She often leads study groups and opportunities for collaboration with her classmates. She said working together with others has inspired her leadership and continued success.
“Not only is Myers a passionate and confident leader, she is also remarkably kind and has always made it clear that fostering a strong family-like community within our senate is a priority for her,” Espinosa said.
seniors connect with MALIBU
design and photos by Liam Zieg
Alex Davis
Maria Mocanu
Trent McDowell
Fatima Reyes
The Malibu Lagoon:
Where Ecology Meets the Ocean’s Edge
story by Alexa McGlathery photos by Mary Elisabeth design by Carmel Drogin
Nestled along Pacific Coast Highway lies one of Malibu’s greatest treasures. From the highway, most travelers speed past, unaware that just beyond the ocean’s break lies a hidden ecological gem, teeming with life and natural wonder.
The Malibu Lagoon, an estuary
and dynamic wetland, serves as a crucial habitat for diverse wildlife — including migratory birds, native fish and rare plant species.
The lagoon welcomes visitors daily, from surfers carving waves at Third Point Surf Break to ecologists studying its rich habitat. Open from sunrise to sunset, it invites all to experience its natural beauty.
“The lagoon is such a beautiful place to visit,” said Sienna Vassilev, a first-year Biology major and a member of the Pepperdine Surf Team. “I always walk by it on my way to surf.”
Although the lagoon appears serene on the surface, it faces a significant threat following the Palisades Fire that broke out Jan. 7. The diverse fauna inhabiting both beneath and above the water may be in danger as runoff from the fires contaminates the aquatic environment and climate change intensifies, Biology Professor Karen Martin said.
Before the Fires
The lagoon, which is a 31-acre shallow water estuary discovered in
1542, is the second-largest watershed draining into Santa Monica Bay, according to The Bay Foundation.
In 2010, the beach near the lagoon was dedicated as the first World Surfing Reserve, which means that it protects surfers and the environment, according to Save the Waves Coalition. The beach attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors a year, according to The Bay Foundation.
The lagoon underwent a restoration project in 2013, which led to the planting of thousands of native wetland plants. Martin, who specializes in beach management, conservation of shore ecosystems and coastal marine animals, said the lagoon is looking much better.
“The water quality is better than it was before the restoration,” Martin said. “The life within the lagoon is better and life in the terrestrial area around the lagoon, the plants, the birds, the other creatures that are out there are also much healthier than they used to be.”
Before Martin retired from Pepperdine, she said she took every opportunity she could to go and visit the lagoon with her students.
“It is really great to have that opportunity for Pepperdine students to go there.”
William Ortler, senior Sustainability major and member of the Surfrider Foundation, said he spends a lot of time at the lagoon. The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans.
“In a very small area, very close to the university, you have just a tremendous resource of lots of different things in one place,” Martin said.
“I like to learn a lot about the ecology in that area, as well as just kind of the biology there because it is a big biodiversity hotspot,” Ortler said.
The lagoon is home to a diverse array of avian life, hosting 100 different bird species, including brown pelicans, alongside numerous fish species such as the tidewater goby, Martin said.
Post Fires
Wildfires like the Woolsey, Franklin and Palisades fires have threatened the plants and animals of Malibu Lagoon.
“The ash from the fire will find its way into the water, and then it all funnels its way where the Malibu Lagoon is at,” Ortler said.
Ash, soot and other toxic materials can lead to significant respiratory issues in animals, triggering a trophic cascade that impacts these creatures, Ortler said. A trophic cascade is an ecological phenomenon where changes in the population of predators cause significant, indirect effects on organisms at lower trophic levels, altering the structure and balance of the entire ecosystem.
The tidewater goby, an endangered fish species only found in California, is especially threatened from the ash. In the 1980s, researchers noticed the gobies were vanishing
from many estuaries, according to CSU Channel Islands, and with the amount of water toxins post-fires, the gobies could potentially vanish from the lagoon completely.
Researchers from Malibu and Topanga are enacting a solution to help the goby population post fires, Martin said.
“They collected a bunch of the endangered fish that lived there, the tidewater gobies, and removed them and put them in aquariums until the area becomes less toxic,” Martin said. “Once they’re safe, they’ll be returned back to their native habitat.”
Gobies, Martin said, are not the only animal significantly impacted by the fires.
“The young brown pelicans feed in the lagoon, and learn how to do their pledge diving there,” Martin said.
With debris contaminating the water, Martin said the young brown pelican is at risk of ingesting soot, which could lead to severe digestive issues.
Other Threats to the Lagoon
Fires aren’t the only threat to the lagoon. Heavy rainfall between January and February had a damaging impact, stirring up sediment and making the ocean and lagoon appear to merge, Vassilev said.
For Vassilev, this merger affected her ability to surf at Malibu Third Point, the break right across from the lagoon.
“The breaks used to be better before all this rainfall,” Vassilev said. “One thing I’ve noticed especially is how the lagoon feels more connected to the ocean than it was before. Now the lagoon will dry up with the tide, whereas it used to be full 24/7.”
The influx of ocean water can improve or degrade the water quality of the lagoon, depending on the ocean’s condition. This can influence nutrient levels, clarity and pollution in the lagoon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Human development along PCH can also damage the lagoon.
“There’s been a lot of development, not only within Malibu, but also like higher up in the Malibu watershed,” Ortler said. “And when that development happens, whether it’s building new roads or, like, moving mountainsides or whatever, a lot of that erosion and sediment from higher up in the watershed is going to find its way into the lagoon.”
Next Steps for the Lagoon
Ortler said numerous measures have been implemented to conserve the lagoon, protect the species
that inhabit its surroundings and educate people about the sanctuary’s importance.
“I think it’s important for us to know our community and like what surrounds us, whether it’s not just the beach, but what kind of the beaches and how life lives there,” Ortler said.
The Surfrider Foundation organizes regular beach cleanups following catastrophic events such as fires or storms, enabling students to assist in maintaining the cleanliness and health of the lagoon and other natural resources in Malibu, Ortler said.
“First one we did was after the storms last year, and we actually got a lot of trash that washed up on shore after the storms, and then we had one recently,” Ortler said.
The Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society also does bird walks that are open to anyone, Martin said.
“Pepperdine students and anybody that lives in the area can come down and join in the walks and learn more about the birds that live there,” Martin said.
The Malibu Lagoon is more than just a picturesque natural reserve; it is an ecological sanctuary that demands attention and care, Martin said.
“It is really great to have that opportunity for Pepperdine students to go [to the lagoon], we just have to take care of it,” Martin said.
photo by Liam Zieg modeled by Victoria La Ferla
“Somewhere in the Middle”
Students consider social media’s impact on their health and wellness
story by Max Pohlenz
photos by Liam Zieg design by Carmel Drogin
Modeled by Lorenzo Mars
Modeled by Malibu Local
What does this article have in common with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Snapchat?
It’s competing for your attention.
“On social media, attention is everything,” Public Relations Professor Klive Oh said.
When it comes to health and wellness content on social media, Oh said the tactics to gain your attention are advanced.
“Health and eating, because it’s essential to humans, it’s one of the topics that everyone will constantly think about,” Oh said. “And so it has a very important place in people’s minds.”
Competition for viewers’ attention, Oh said, takes precedence over actually sharing good information.
While social media can promote unhealthy trends in health and wellness, students said they have learned how to navigate social media with intention and balance.
Social Media as a Tool
How users interact with social media greatly impacts their mental wellbeing, Psychology Professor Jennifer Harriger said. She investigates the impact of these interactions, specifically through the body positivity movement’s messaging. Harriger’s research defines body positive content as challenging unattainable beauty standards by accepting diverse body sizes.
“Social media is not good or bad, it is merely a platform,” Harriger said. “Research shows that the amount of time spent engaged in appearance-related type activities on social media — rather than total time on the platform — are at higher risk for body dissatisfaction, depression or eating disordered thoughts and behaviors.”
Many of these learned behaviors
can be traced back to how young adults learn to interact, or what scholars call social learning. Social learning, Oh said, is the process of children and young adults learning how to act by observing a role model — such as a teacher, older sibling or parent. Now, young people can also look to figures on social media.
“From what they see on social media they tend to figure out or learn, as in social learning, what trends are, what popular opinions are, how to behave. As in: ‘Oh, that’s cringe’ and, ‘We don’t want to do that,’” Oh said. “It’s about the way you dress, about the way you talk.”
Hooking the Viewer
Aspects of social media hook viewers in with strategies found in propaganda that induce fear, uncertainty and doubt, Oh said.
“I see that happening a lot with socalled influencers or TikTok accounts who share information,” Oh said. “‘If you are eating these and these foods, stop, it’ll kill you.’ And that’s fear.”
Oh said introducing uncertainty can take the form of hooks that suggest the user’s methods of weight loss are insufficient.
Nutrition Professor Loan Kim, who investigated pregnancy advice content on TikTok, said she observed similar strategies in her research.
“It sought to give advice from the perspective of fear,” Kim said. “It was a lot of ‘good and bad.’”
First-year Jack Taylor said the negativity he saw on social media was a reason why he eventually stopped using it altogether. However, prior to this, social media was a major source of information for Taylor when he was starting to get into weight lifting.
“There’s obviously going to be a lot of misinformation out there, but there’s also a lot of true information,” Taylor said. “So just do your own research — it brings up
a lot of good points.”
Taylor’s tactic of confirming information via research is a habit Oh said is important when engaging with social media.
“When you come across content, you want to research it, understand the context,” Oh said. “You’re not going to go to the science journal and read articles, but you should at least check and triangulate certain findings.”
TikTok influencers are known for promoting health trends, some of which are dangerous. The Cleveland Clinic did a rundown of trends ranging from harmful — like taking too much Benadryl or dry scooping protein powder — to ineffectual and gross, like adding lemon juice to coffee. Other trends, like drinking aloe water, can be OK in moderation.
Within the scope of her research, Kim said she did not observe any misinformation she considered egregious. Many of the accounts kept advice to vague recommendations. However, she did observe accounts that used a tactic of “bait and switch.”
“They were giving you free information, but then ultimately, the goal is to guide you to the website where they’re promoting supplements,” Kim said. “There was some of that, but I wouldn’t say it was an overwhelming amount.”
A search on Instagram using #healthtips had a top result of a reel containing a woman in scrubs saying “four reasons why you can’t lose your saggy stomach and muffin top,” with all four of the solutions to the reasons being specific supplements. The reel directed the viewer to the profile’s bio, which stated “buy from amazon here, (up to 50% OFF).”
Notions regarding the miraculous properties of turmeric or magnesium are examples of this, Kim said.
A search on Instagram using #turmeric had results such as a reel with 2.9 million views stating daily ingestion of turmeric with black
pepper, lime and hot water would reduce all of the inflammation in one’s body, ward off viral infections and cancer and promote weight loss. “Bloame,” a health and wellness brand, posted the reel.
“Food, we either elevate it as a cure-all, or we think it’s evil,” Kim said.
Black and white thinking, Kim said, is not limited to the scope of her research, but present in U.S. food culture at large. An example of this thinking is oily or fatty foods, which Americans typically perceive as being “bad.” However, many European diets incorporate these foods without health issues due to smaller portion sizes and moderation.
“Food in itself has no intrinsic moral value,” Kim said. “We put that on the food.”
In other words, Kim said, nutrition is not “black and white,” but gray.
Fasting from Social Media
Junior Carrie Birkhead moved from South Africa to Colorado at age 12. Birkhead said she downloaded various forms of social media at this time, and considers her initial posts on Instagram a timestamp beginning her life in the United States. However, she also considers this to be a time where she used social media to an unhealthy extent.
“I would be so concerned on comments and on people liking,” Birkhead said. “I got to a point where I was very wrapped up in my social media.”
In high school, Birkhead said she recalls getting bullied by her peers via social media. Oh said the age these interactions begin to occur for children continues to fall lower and lower.
“That stuff was very personal to me,” Birkhead said. “I don’t like people commenting on what I look like, how I act, what posts I have, what my content looks like.”
These experiences, Birkhead said, led her to disengage from social media as a whole.
“The only way you can actually see, like, the negative effects of it, is taking it away,” Birkhead said.
Putting Up a Wall
Junior Mason Turner said she had an experience similar to Birkhead’s in high school. Turner felt that social media influenced her health negatively during a period of her life in which she was already experiencing substantial change.
As Turner has grown as a person, she said she has learned how to better process the content she sees.
“I figured out a healthy balance for me in my life.”
Carrie Birkhead Junior
“I try to put up a personal wall between unrealistic expectations on social media,” Turner said. “Especially when it comes to personal figure.”
Turner still engages with social media but now better understands that much of the content exists to promote something.
“When I interact with media, I go into it thinking that this might not be a real expectation of what I should look like,” Turner said. “Especially as a girl, especially living out in California — bikini pictures and things like that — knowing that about myself and being like, ‘This is an unreal expectation.’”
When Birkhead chose to return to social media, she said she shifted her entire outlook, unfollowing certain accounts and setting her own account to “private.” She also does not engage with it in the morning or prior to bed. Birkhead compares social media to a food intolerance.
“I figured out a healthy balance for me in my life,” Birkhead said. “I figured out what things worked and what things didn’t.”
Consuming and Producing Protective Content
Harriger’s research investigates “protective” content, which seeks to counteract the messaging of harmful content. Protective factors in content are considered themes that challenge or weaken harmful narratives. Protective content, Harriger said, includes “positive” content, such as body positivity messaging, as well as “neutral” content, such as inspirational quotes.
Junior Diana Escobar, founder of female athleticwear brand Mauv Apparel, said she posts wellness content as part of promoting her brand. Escobar said she founded Mauv after experiencing dissatisfaction with the activewear she owned, as it did not feel “designed by a woman.”
“I wanted to introduce an activewear line that really enhanced the hourglass body,” Escobar said. “Especially people of my culture, of Latin background, people with more curves.”
Many of the posts on the Mauv Apparel Instagram page contain hashtags related to these ideas, such as #athleticwearforcurves, #empoweredconfidence, #hourglassfigure, #fitness, #healthylifestyle, #selflove and #gymfit.
Escobar said she primarily promotes Mauv through social media. This includes partnering with other influencers, along with building up
an online presence to put a face to the brand.
“I want the customer to know who I am too,” Escobar said. “So they can know that there’s an emotional connection back from the brand.”
Posts on Escobar’s personal account contain hashtags related to productivity and success, along with fitness. Many of the hooks of her videos, Escobar said, are some variation of “come with me and do this.” Her angle is creating content that motivates viewers to pursue their own goals.
“That’s sort of the hook,” Escobar said. “The invite into a community, or just into a lifestyle.”
Harriger said some studies have found body positive content can have a positive effect on the viewer. However, academic consensus on body positivity content is mixed, and other studies are less optimistic about body positivity content because it still leads participants to focus on their own bodies.
“Research demonstrates that exposure to body positivity posts may increase levels of self-objectification,” Harriger said. “Which is looking at your body through a third person’s perspective, viewing your body as an object.”
Studies have also examined neutral content, Harriger said. Neutral content is defined as content without photos or videos of bodies, but still containing an inspirational message.
“When people view positive quotes that do not contain images or videos of people’s bodies, that might be more protective than traditional body positivity content,” Harriger said.
Birkhead said she follows several mindfulness accounts that post inspirational quotes.
“It normally brightens my day,” Birkhead said. “I’d be swiping through and I’d see a quote that’s like, ‘Think of one thing you’re grateful
for right now.’ When I do it, suddenly I’m like, ‘Wow. Today is not as bad as I originally thought it would be.’”
Applying Lessons in a Connected World
While students said they harbor suspicions about social media, they also recognize it as a new essential.
Distancing oneself from social media, Birkhead said, can often be impractical.
“Our age is very tech focused and very social media focused,” Birkhead said. “So if you’re not online, you’re kind of out of the loop.”
Because of the different qualities within each individual, Oh said there is no one right way to interact with social media. He compares it to tasks like breathing or walking.
“People walk in different ways, just as effectively as I,” Oh said. “So I wouldn’t say there’s one
single answer or prescription that I might give.”
While individual experiences might differ, Oh said more conscious use and fact-checking might be productive.
As future generations grow up with social media, Harriger said it’s important to focus on educating young users on healthy interactions with social platforms. This includes having conversations with younger users about the nature of information on social media.
“Educating users about how the platforms and algorithms work,” Harriger said. “The platforms are not showing you content because they care about you and they want you to have a positive experience. The algorithm is designed to keep you engaged for as long as possible, which generates revenue for the platform.”
Students Find Community and Wellness through Pepperdine Running Club
story by Cassandra Barron
photos by Mary Elisabeth design by Lauren Brown
Pepperdine Running Club turns an individual sport into an opportunity for wellness, community and belonging on campus.
Alum Zach Dalzell (‘22) founded the club in 2019.
Pepperdine Running Club boasts 75 members and according to its mission statement, is centered around building community and finding
opportunities for everyone to exercise physical and emotional wellness.
Senior Morgan Croshal, the club’s current president, said the club hosts two to three events a week, involving a trail run on the weekends, Thursday track night and one other weekly running or training event. Members of Pepperdine Running Club can count on these events every week, rain or shine.
Track Thursday is the main consistent club meeting each week, involving running around the Pepperdine track or participating in various track-specific workouts, Croshal said.
“By having three practice days a week, people find a very consistent sense of community,” Croshal said.
From left to right : Anthony Benavidez, Everett Baker, Keira Leshinskie
Alumna and former President Cassidy Blaha (‘24) said the club offers a variety of events to accommodate different skill levels and interests within the running community on campus.
“We tried to mix up what kinds of runs we did so that we could suit everyone,” Blaha said.
The club is inclusive and open to all students on campus, regardless of their experience with running, Blaha said. At each meeting, club members have the option to run as a group, individually or participate in other workouts they would like. Some running club meetings include running from main campus to Ralphs Beach, running to Malibu Bluffs, hiking to the cross or just jogging on the track.
Sophomore Anthony Benavidez, the club’s race coordinator, started running in high school and found that it was a great way to release stress, especially during midterms and finals.
He began attending the running club this year, and was very excited about the energetic group the first time he attended the club.
“Everyone was super pumped and
hyped to run,” Benavidez said.
Benavidez has found a great sense of community through the organization.
“It feels great to have a lot of people that enjoy running with you,” he said.
Running is a great opportunity for people to take a break from school and bond with one another, Blaha said.
“Getting to go for a run with someone at 4:30 a.m. is such a great form of bonding that you can’t really find anywhere else,” Blaha said.
Croshal said running was a source of community for her before she came to Pepperdine, and she sought out similar communities as soon as she came to college.
“The second week of [my] freshman year is when the club hosted their very first Track Thursday,” Croshal said.
Croshal has been a member of Pepperdine Running Club since her first year and joined the executive board her junior year. During her first year, Croshal said she was recovering from an injury and found community support through the club.
“A lot of the girls would go on
runs with me when I was training,” Croshal said.
Blaha said running as an individual activity has been helpful in fostering mental and spiritual wellness.
“It is a very impactful part of my life, it’s such a constant,” Blaha said. “If I am stressed, I can go for a run, if I need to think about things, I can go for a run. It is a very gratifying thing for me to do.”
Each semester, the club participates in a local race. Croshal said the race is an opportunity for members to have a specific goal to train for during the duration of the semester. This semester, the club planned to participate in the Great Race of Agoura Hills at the beginning of April.
Participating in Pepperdine Running Club helped Croshal stay consistent, committed and accountable in accomplishing her goals.
“Whether my goal was to make it through a track workout or to run a half marathon, they were always there cheering me on in that goal,” Croshal said.
Home Away from Home: How ICA Helps Build Community and Connections
story by Ana Paula Ruiz Cervantes
art by Sarah Rietz design by Lauren Brown
Leaving home and moving to college to start a new life can be challenging and overwhelming.
Incoming students often feel a wide range of emotions; from the excitement of independence to facing the reality of cultural differences and even loneliness.
Terra Hall, associate dean of Student Affairs for diversity and belonging, said Intercultural Affairs (ICA) is a space where students from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences can come together to share
their cultures and inspire others to do the same. It encourages students to find their home away from home.
“As institutions, we play a role in helping students to rebuild and build community in this new space,” Hall said. “We provide comfort, a sense of belonging and identity.”
Amidst national critiques of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Hall said ICA allows students to find a space where they can be their true selves and surround themselves with people they can connect to and create deep connections with,
while also being able to celebrate their identities and feel supported. There are 23 identity-based clubs at Pepperdine, including ones for first-generation students, neuro diverse students and ones based around gender and sexual orienta tion. Whether it be through food-re lated events, cultural nights or just engaging in friendly conversation, Hall said ICA allows students from around the world and all back grounds to express themselves and feel proud of where they come from.
Celebrating Middle Eastern Identity
Senior Mirna Sophoclis, who was born in Cairo, Egypt, is the founder and current president of the Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA). She moved to the United States when she was 9, and said she has always tried to embrace her Middle Eastern identity. Sophoclis said she was inspired to create MESA after coming back from her time abroad in London in spring 2023.
“When I went abroad, one of my advisors was from the Middle East, and I met several people [from Pepperdine] and realized there’s a lot of us on campus,” Sophoclis said.
Sophoclis said after noticing this connection, she talked to International Studies Professor Amanda Rizkallah about creating a club that would bring together students who are from the Middle East, feel a strong connection to the region or who just want to learn more about Middle Eastern culture.
“A lot of people are not exposed to our culture or are aware of the issues going on in our region, and that’s why we wanted to bring awareness and invite anyone who is interested,”
Pepperdine. She said being president has helped her embrace her culture and give underclassmen the opportunity she never had — Middle Eastern representation on campus.
As the president of MESA, Sophoclis feels a responsibility to connect with students of similar backgrounds so that they can see MESA as a safe and welcoming place.
Hall emphasized that humans, at their core, desire to be with people who are similar to them. That’s why she said it is so important for students to be able to find community during college. For many students, finding a space where they can feel understood and supported is essential for personal growth and wellbeing.
Sophoclis said that when she came to Pepperdine as a first-year, she was amazed at how many cultural-based clubs Pepperdine had, but a Middle Eastern club was not one of them.
“If I am not feeling comfortable in a space, I can’t do well,” Hall said. “I am going to have a hard time thri-
“I feel like when we created it, it brought a lot of us together,” Sophoclis said. “People who I had known for months and I had no idea they were connected to the Middle East. It was a beautiful way of bringing
ICA clubs are open to everyone and it encourages people to come together and celebrate culture,
“We celebrated our culture, many families and many parents showed up and students who were not even aware of our club would stop and enjoy time with us,” Sophoclis said.
Sophoclis said MESA and ICA are more than just organizations — they are an opportunity to bring people together and share Middle Eastern culture with others. To her, those moments are special and beautiful.
photo courtesy of Mirna Sophoclis
photo by Liam Zieg Nairi Parsekyan
Nairi Parsekyan, a senior from the San Fernando Valley, said she has been able to continue embracing her Armenian heritage by joining the Armenian Student Association (ASA) and holding multiple leadership positions.
Though she was born in the U.S., Parsekyan said she feels a strong connection to Armenian culture.
Parsekyan’s parents were born in Armenia. Additionally, she attended Armenian school growing up and said her language plays a big role in forming connections and sharculture
“Language is a huge part of Armenian culture — when you meet other Armenian people you can easily communicate with them,” Parsekyan said. “It is really important to maintain the language because it makes you feel more connected, through
ICA, Parsekyan said, has allowed her to find a home away from home. She knew leaving her Armenian family and friends was going to be hard, but joining the Armenian club allowed her to build strong connections and meet people from all over the world.
“I am grateful to say I found community and I had the opportunity to work with other ICA
clubs from so many different cultures,” Parsekyan said.
Parsekyan said she feels she needs to have a strong connection with her Armenian culture, and she does that by speaking and writing in Armenian with her friends and family.
“I love having friends who speak Armenian,” Parsekyan said. “My roommates and I switch back and forth to practice.”
Parsekyan said there is a beautiful thing about finding people who grew up similar to her. Whether that be because of cultural or geographical similarities, finding people she can connect with provides comfort and safety, and the Armenian community at Pepperdine gives her that.
There is a Place for Everybody at Pepperdine
Lucas Borrilez, a senior from the East Bay, California, said growing up he struggled to navigate between his Mexican, Puerto Rican and white identities. Borrilez felt like he had to choose one or the other, but through the Latinx Student Association (LSA) he has been able to embrace all of them and feel proud of his heritage.
“Through LSA I feel super affirmed and confident of myself, and I am glad I am now able to talk to other people who feel like they are having an identity crisis,” Borrilez said.
Borrilez said coming to Pepperdine was intimidating for him, and at times he felt like he did not belong, but after joining LSA in fall 2023, he has been able to find people he is glad to call his friends. He said he cannot imagine a Pepperdine without LSA.
“Pepperdine without LSA would be so lonely,” Borrilez said. “We need LSA, it’s so fun to look forward to events checking in on each other, it gives us a space to advocate for one another and find connections that will last for the rest of our lives.”
LSA has allowed Borrilez and other members to embrace their Hispanic
heritage and feel proud of it. He said that after joining LSA, he became much more confident in himself and his Spanish skills. Borrilez said he is no longer scared of making mistakes because the LSA community is very accepting.
“We didn’t speak a lot of Spanish in my house and after being in LSA I am so much more comfortable with my Spanish, because I am no longer scared to be judged for not being perfect,” Borrilez said.
Encouraging Belonging
The Trump administration issued a so-called “Dear Colleague Letter” in February instructing universities to review and restrict their diversity, equity and inclusion policies, or lose federal funding. In the wake of the Supreme Court decision overturning affirmative action, also known as race-based admissions policies, the Trump administration argued that any policies or programs based on race were suspect. This led some
itary Academy West Point, N.Y., to ban all student affinity groups, according to Inside Higher Education.
The Biden administration had already directed universities in August 2023 that any student affinity groups based on race or national origin had to be open to students of all backgrounds, according to Ed Week. Pepperdine’s ICA clubs are open to everyone, Hall said.
President Jim Gash emailed the Pepperdine community Feb. 27 to share that the university was reviewing the implications of the guidance, but asserted that diversity and inclusion were rooted in the university’s Christian faith.
“Pepperdine is distinct in our understanding of biblical belonging as key to fostering a culture of radical hospitality and mutual respect as fellow image-bearers of God,” Gash wrote. “We honor the dignity of every human being and engage with each other as living expressions of God’s creativity, love, and providential care. In our quest for academic exellence and community belonging,
and perspectives into the Pepper dine community as necessary collaborators for enriching thought, scholarship, service, and leadership in fulfillment of our Christian and academic mission.”
Myron McClure, director of ICA, said all voices are part of the Pepperdine community, and ICA’s goal is to help students have a great experience so they can thrive.
McClure said that something as simple as offering a welcoming smile can have a positive effect on someone who is having a hard time. It is normal to feel lonely, but ICA is a safe place to talk about those feelings and form strong connections.
“ICA is an open door to your culture, to your faith, to your experiences and we want to learn from you as much as we want to encourage you to achieve your ultimate goal and get that degree,” McClure said. “ICA wants to make your extracurricular experience memorable and enjoyable and encourage and support it so you can go on and serve those beyond the Pepperdine walls.”
photo by Liam Zieg Lucas Borrilez
How Students Turn Bad Days Around
story by Viviana Diaz art by Sarah Rietz design by Betsy Burrow
For Olivia Bates, senior year has presented a plethora of hardship and change.
On one particularly bad day, Bates turned down a job offer for an executive development
program at Macy’s in Washington, D.C., because she believed she had a different vision and vocational calling in her life. But letting the opportunity go was challenging, as it left her post-grad future uncertain.
Just a week later, Bates went through a breakup.
Bates said she leaned on her mother and her friends to be lifted through both bad days and ultimately found clarity through their support.
“I had a lot of really, really, really, really bad days and I think that all of that change would have been impossible without my friends,” Bates said.
Bad days can often be nonlinear and difficult to face alone, but Pepperdine students said they are actively turning their bad days around by shifting their perspectives, leaning into their relationships, engaging in movement and practicing gratitude.
Navigating the Bad Days
Connie Horton, vice president for Student Affairs, said when students are having a bad day, they should always remember that they have a choice on how they choose to handle the emotion or situation. Sometimes, shifting one’s perspective can make a bad day better.
“Negative thoughts are going to come, you’re dwelling on something for a minute that’s going to come,” Horton said. “But I do have control whether I camp there.”
Through her work in the Resilience-Informed Skills Education (RISE) program, Horton and her team remind students that even though they may be worried about their academics or an exam, everything will be OK.
“There’s some big things in life, but most things aren’t big,” Horton said. Bates said through her past
experiences and hardships, she has learned to feel every emotion and advises other people to do the same.
“I’ve started seeing emotions like storms,” Bates said. “Sadness is real and it will happen but let it pass instead of trying to stop being sad or fight it or to cope unnecessarily.”
Bates said as a nondenominational Christian, when she is having a bad day, she also turns to her faith by engaging in Scripture and worship music. She said when she hyperfixates on certain situations in her life, she has learned to focus on God’s plan instead.
“I love God and I surrender to Him and I trust Him,” Bates said. “He’s working for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. And so it’s going to be OK.”
Sydney Wilson, a senior Psychology major, and Mireya Galacgac, a senior Sports Medicine major, are
having a smaller space.
During her sophomore year abroad in Vevey, Switzerland, she rediscovered her love for the piano after finding a music room in Pepperdine’s abroad campus.
“I would find myself in there al most every night or during our lunch breaks,” Galacgac said.
Galacgac said she has no ticed playing makes her feel good because she is able to step away from the outside world through playing random songs she heard that day or comfort songs.
“It almost feels like time just slips away,” Galacgac said. “It’s nice to have that space for myself.”
Wilson said being away from her family in Pennsylvania has challenged her to get through bad days alone, without her close support system.
“I’ve definitely learned how to manage bad days more, turn on [a] new leaf and grow up instead of ruminating and letting it affect my week,” Wilson said.
Oftentimes, for Wilson, simply watching something from the comfort of her room can aid in getting through a bad day.
Wilson said she distracts herself from life by immersing herself into a movie or a sci-fi TV show like “Severance” on Apple TV.
“It’s such a different world that it makes you think a lot,” Wilson said. “Kinds of shows like sci-fi or cartoons shake your mind off problems you have going on.”
Wilson said she prefers to watch “Severance” rather than reality TV because she is able to separate herself from relatable content.
However, on days when she is feeling heavier emotions, she visits the Counseling Center.
“That’s a resource I use sometimes, especially for things that are a bit more anxiety inducing and take up more of my negative mind space,” Wilson said.
Relationships
Having a strong support system on bad days can provide comfort, love and a sense of community when life feels overwhelming.
Wilson said joining SWAB has been one of the best decisions she has made at Pepperdine. She has gained helpful skills through the wellness education and seeing other SWAB members benefit from helpful practices like meditation and exercise.
“I feel like I behave so differently now because I see these benefits,” Wilson said. “I’m like, ‘Wow, maybe I should try that.’”
Bates said she feels grateful for the friends she can text or call at any time. She said supporting her friends is equally important because it allows her to have deep conversations and step away from her personal problems.
“My friends are the best part of my life,” Bates said. “Hearing about them takes me out of my own headspace and I love serving my friends in that way.”
For Horton, her family is everything. She said spending time with her loved ones, like her grandsons, husband of 38 years and calling her daughter in Philadelphia makes a big difference.
Finding Beauty in Exercise and the Outdoors
Senior Psychology major Diana Gordon said when she is having a bad day, she likes to take a break from her devices and do something in nature with her friends.
“Being off my phone, off my laptop, just kind of taking a step out of the social media world really helps,” Gordon said.
Gordon finds that going to Alumni Park with her closest friends to talk about what may be bothering them that day, playing music and doing random yoga poses are effective ways to get her through the bad days.
The weight of bad days often depend on situations, emotions and one’s busyness, Wilson said. When she has more time, Wilson focuses on her mental or physical health by taking advantage of Pepperdine’s gym or workout classes, like the yoga and spin classes.
Galacgac said she prefers being alone when turning to an active outlet.
“What I normally do is something active, so I usually find that exercising of some sort is a good stress reliever,” Galacgac said.
For Galacgac, running is a mindless activity. She feels a strong connection to the exercise because she played sports in high school and has ran half marathons and 5Ks in the past.
Running in particular brings her the most peace and closer to nature.
“I enjoy running along the beach, especially during the sunset,” Galacgac said. “I can just stand there and kind of soak it all in.”
Practicing Gratitude
Putting situations into perspective is something everyone should practice because there is always something to be grateful for, Horton said.
“Even on the worst days, there’s something to be grateful for,” Horton said. “I’m grate ful this day is over, that I have people in my life who care if I’m having a yucky day.”
Horton said that when she begins to dwell on a situation or feeling, she reminds herself that many would love to be in her place.
“My bad days are peo ple’s dream days,” Horton said. “Think about what oth er people carry, think about how much control I have in my life.”
Gordon said that when she is having a bad day, she re minds herself of the beauty with in her relationships.
“If I’m having a bad day and I miss someone, I just think of how beauti ful it is to have the opportunity to love whoever it is I’m miss ing,” Gordon said.
It can be difficult to stop ruminating on emotions throughout a bad day and not let it affect the rest of the week. However, Galacgac said she turns to gratitude when she feels herself ruminating.
“Being grateful for your sur roundings and where you are and kind of trying to put into perspec tive, ‘Guess this is a bad day, but look at all the past good days that you’ve had that have brought you to this moment right now,’” Galacgac said.
Wilson said when students are struggling, they should seek out re sources on campus like RISE, SWAB and the Counseling Center.
“There is always somebody there for you,” Wilson said.
